OBSESSION - h.s.

9

Liam's POV - a couple weeks later

I pull the covers off the corner of my bed and hop up, slipping on my UGG Boots and walking into the living space. My roommate is watching cartoons on TV; I think it's SpongeBob. I walk over and sit next to him on the couch.

"Hey, Liam. Wassup?" He pauses his program and turns to face me.

"Not much, just super tired after the past few weeks."

"Yeah me too. I'm really nervous for today, what if I don't make it through?" He sighs and looks down, playing with the drawstring of his shorts.

"You'll get in, Niall. You're a great singer, mate." I pat him on the back.

"Ya reckon, ey?" He goes full blown Irish on me. I nod and go back to my thoughts. What if I don't get in? What if I screw up in front of the whole world? I can't think about that.

"You'll do fine, Liam. Stop stressing." Niall broke me out of my thoughts. He's really great at reading people. 

"Thanks, mate." We both turn back to the TV and finish the episode he's watching, getting dressed soon after. We double check the schedule to find the time we need to get down to the rehearsal space for bootcamp and then head down.

"Are you any good at dancing?" Niall asks as we head across the campus, if that's what you'd call it.

"I've never really thought much about it, but I wouldn't say I'm uncoordinated." He frowns, and looks down to his feet. "Why?"

"I can't dance." He looks back up and turns to me.

"Everyone can dance, Niall. And don't worry, half of these people will suck."

"Yeah, me." He stops walking and I turn around to face him.

"Niall, you sexy little potato sack, come 'ere." I don't really hug my friends, but Niall definitely needs it. He puts on a cool, carefree persona, but that's just there to hide his insecurities. Over the past couple of weeks, I've gotten to know him on a more personal level, as he has me, and I've become aware of his true self; he's kind, silly, hardworking and swears a shit-ton but he's selfless, and puts other people before himself. At this point I don't think he even realises it.

I welcome him into my arms and we stand there for a bit, a little awkwardly if I'm being honest. Someone whistles behind us and we both break away from the hug to find the source. Walking closer to us, a guy with short, dark brown hair nears.

"Didn't know we were on an episode of Love Island." The guy stops a metre or so away from us.

"Uhm, how about you just mind your fucking business?" Niall puts up his defensive front once again.

"Chill, mate. Just joking. Love whoever you want or whatever." He begins to walk off, but I grab his shoulder to stop him.

"We aren't a thing." I look at Niall, his eyebrows are knitted together, clearly not in a good mood.

"Didn't say you were."

"What's your name?" I change the subject.

"Zayn. They keep spellin' it wrong though. Gotta go." He walks off with his arms crossed.

"Let's just go." Niall walks off ahead of me, leaving me alone and annoyed.

.⋅ ✯ ⋅.

Lia's POV

"Wake up sleepy head! You need to go now!" Abby screams in my ear.

"I'm up! I'm up! What time is it?" It goes silent for a second while she checks the time on her phone.