𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐃𝐒 .

11.

᪥᪥᪥

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯.

in accordance to the time of the night, the streets were almost as bare as mahi'ai thought, just like the sky seemed to be as black as the very essence of midnight itself. though the fifteen year old was rather used to the dark and even liked the natural transition of lighting, it would've easily struck him as rather eerie; the emptiness of the roads, only with one or two cars to see- the quietness of the night.. the shadows of those big, industrial looking apartment complexes. however, coincidentally it did not quite appear to the fifteen year old like that; not with the rather compelling presence next to him that he was much too focused on instead. easily unnerved, the hawaiian was so very focused on it that he couldn't stop playing with the drawstring of his pajama shorts he had thrown on before they left.

mahi'ai's long lashes batted as he buckled in his seat belt, straightening up whilst oblivious to being watched by the boy who completely discarded his. even so, the younger couldn't help but to feel as if every single action he took was the farthest thing from normal, hoping that he didn't appear as incredibly awkward as he felt and that he genuinely wasn't sweating- even though it felt like it. even so, mahi'ai rather liked the boy's car; it was sleek and clean on the outside and inside, easily blending into the night with its' midnight color. it was nice enough for someone like mahi'ai to appreciate- someone who really, didn't give a damn about most things; especially not those of the material kind. the fifteen year old swallowed silently, his heart dropping ever so slightly as the gentle silence they had once wallowed in was suddenly snatched away, complemented by a low, soft music that was just loud enough to hear but quiet enough to talk over. it seemed like the calming music was almost perfect the way that it took a sort of unexpected tension off mahi'ai's chest, and more than unexpected from the person it was coming from.

"you good?" zayn wondered, an underlying amusement that the younger could not detect humming in his voice as he glanced over at the hawiian who nodded, a bit too quick, not even aware his own bare, honesty that he could really never hide.
"yea." the younger said, trying for his voice not to sound as squeaky or stupid as he imagined it to be. however, zayn's lingering stare, even after he had said something didn't help. taryn tried to ignore it, his large amber eyes staring out of the front windshield for some time before roundabouting back to zayn's that he swore constantly held the intent to choke him out of whatever comfort zone he had.
"aight." zayn hummed, but only after the younger had looked at him before focusing his eyes on the road, swiftly pulling out of his spot and pushing onto their unnamed destination. "whatchu want to eat?"
"uh, anyt'ing's good for me.."

zayn glanced at the younger out of the corner of his eye, making mahi'ai freeze a little bit as the brunette turned the corner.

"you ain't gotta do that. just tell me what you want."
"i told you," mahi'ai chimed, a bit confused. "any'thing."
"mai, just tell me what you want."
"i did." the fifteen year old squeaked. "i want wha'ever you getting."

"...yeah, ok." the older muttered, almost as if he didn't belive the baffled hawaiian who didn't understand why, his serious exterior intact as always. mahi'ai fiddled with his shorts a litle, awkwardly staring down at his brozen legs whilst wishing he knew how to better make conversation.

"soo... w'at's your favorite animal?"

"what?" zayn muttered, glancing over at the boy through red eyes.
"uh.. w'at's your favorite animal?" the fifteen year old repeated, nibbling on his lower lip in slight hesitation that showed in his sweet features and could be heard in the sudden quiet in his lowering voicee. "i like.. stingrays."