Talk To Me [Zarry]

THREE

Zayn sat opposite Liam at a picnic table, in one of the University's courtyard, while the busyness of lunch hour started to slowly settle in. He absentmindedly smoked a cigarette while Liam busied himself by working on some calculations for his Statistics class. Louis and Niall had no classes today so they obviously stayed at home or at their dorm room,  leaving Zayn with Liam. He stared curiously at him, realizing they were rarely ever left alone like this, whenever he spent time with Liam it was usually with someone else and he felt it explained their current lack of conversation. 

"So uh, how's it been?" Liam asked suddenly and Zayn felt himself panic slightly internally, he wasn't one for conversations when they weren't necessary and he had been quite comfortable in the silence they had been sharing previously.

"Good, I'm good. Already sick of this place though." He joked, reaching into his pocket for a pack of cigarettes, ready for another cigarette despite just finishing his first stick. Liam nodded before going back to his work, leaving him to smoke in peace. There was a sudden commotion by the entrance to the courtyard causing both Liam and Zayn to turn their heads and see what was going on. 

Zayn found himself instinctively standing up, throwing his cigarette aside as he walked over to where Harry had just had his tray knocked over by a group of guys. 

"Come on then, say something." One of them teased and Harry looked down at  his hand that were still outstretched as if he were holding a plate. The guys laughed, turning around only to be met with Zayn's furious gaze. 

"What was the point of that?" He spat angrily, "No, tell me, what the fuck did you gain from doing that?" They had stopped laughing by now, looking at one another awkwardly.

"Mate, it was joke." One said and Zayn scoffed. 

"Jokes are supposed to be funny, mate. Need I remind you that you're in university, not fucking primary school, grow the fuck up." With that he had turned around and walked back to the bench he had been sharing with Liam. 

"You good?" Liam asked, watching as Zayn lit another cigarette, replacing the one he had lost. 

"Yeah, it's whatever, just fucking assholes." He muttered, ignoring the glances he was getting from people around him, heightening his social anxiety. 

"Zayn." Liam spoke, catching his attention before nodding to look behind him. Zayn turned around to see Harry standing there, hands fiddling with each other nervously. 

"Hey Harry." Zayn greeted kindly before taking a puff of his cigarette. The lad smiled softly, pointing backwards towards where the altercation happened before putting a hand on chest in a way that could only symbolize gratitude, at least that much was obvious to Zayn. "It's nothing, Harry, just doing my duty as a fellow human being." Harry rolled his eyes before gesturing to the rest of the courtyard who had just stood by and watched. 

"Yeah, well I'm a special one. Sit with us?" Zayn scooted aside so Harry could sit, only now turning to see Liam, who had been staring at him with a baffled expression, wondering how he had understood all of that. 

"What?" Zayn asked and Liam shook his head before turning to Harry. 

"I'm Liam." He said, stretching out his hand which Harry shook, sending him a smile. Harry then pointed between Liam and Zayn before pretending to give himself a fist bump, which the others assumed was his way of asking if they were friends.

"We have mutual friends." Zayn answered just as Liam was about to agree that they were indeed friends, the latter frowned, shaking his head before standing up. 

"I'm going to go the library to get these done. Harry, it was nice meeting you and Zayn, I'll see you around." He said as he packed up his things. "Maybe with some of our mutual friends." He mumbled before walking off and Zayn watched him go before shrugging, slightly confused.