Some things change. | l.s.

4

"Guys?" Liam came into the living room where Harry and Zayn were sitting in front of his laptop looking up job advertisements they could apply to after Liam had made them unmistakably clear they needed to change something in their lives if they wanted to achieve anything.

"Hey, we just found a few advertisements." Zayn smiled at him restrained, not wanting him to be even more disappointed in them- in him. They still weren't able to get around their problems and Zayn knew Liam was still disappointed with him, not only by feeling the tension between them and the distance Liam put between them purposely.

"I don't think that's necessary." Liam held up two fairly thick envelopes.

"What's that?" Harry wondered and placed the laptop on the couch next to him taking one of the envelopes Liam held out for them.

"Take a look at the sender." Liam smiled.

"Narrative Games? Are you kidding me?" Harry's wide eyes shot up to Liam in surprise after reading the small sticker in the top corner of the envelope.

"That's a joke, right?" Zayn asked baffled.

"I don't think so." Liam shrugged.

"Maybe it's the cancellation. We can all agree they would never hire us." Harry muttered, although he knew it was bad news it itched in his fingers to rip it open.

"Then it wouldn't be this thick. I think that's a contract." Liam said knowingly and pulled a chair from the dining table towards them and slumped down.

Zayn and Harry looked at each other uncertainly, but then Zayn shrugged and opened the envelope, Harry copying him. Liam sat there quietly watching how both stared at the cover page not moving a muscle.

"And?" He asked eventually.

"What fucking game is he playing? This can't be real." Zayn huffed and threw the contract on the coffee table, not having to say out loud who he was meaning, Liam and Harry knew who he was talking about. Liam didn't comment on that, he simply snatched the stack of papers and browsed through them.

"It's a legit contract. Cover letter, company principles, information on the employment relationship, salary, working hours, parties to the contract, notice period. It's all included." Liam said enthusiastically.

"No." Zayn shook his head. "I told you I'm not going to work for him, they can shove that contract up their-"

"Zayn!" Liam interrupted him quickly. "We talked about this. You're going to sign that contract otherwise you know the consequences, I was serious about that." He said harshly.

"You can't expect me to do that!" Zayn exclaimed.

"Look..." Liam sighed. "I don't know what your problem is, but if you miss the opportunity designing video games however you want with humane working hours and a good salary then you're just stupid, no matter who you are working for."

"I didn't apply for designing video games, what the hell are you talking about?" Zayn frowned.

"Look." Liam reached the contract over to him and he took it, letting his eyes wander over the paper. "They want to hire you as a graphic designer."

"What does yours say?" Liam asked Harry who turned the page and furrowed his eyebrows confused.

"Mine says testing and documenting." He said. Then he looked at Zayn when he remembered what they said at the assessment center. "They told us they have vacancies in different departments."

"Babe, that's what you always wanted to do. At least once upon a time. You loved being creative and now you have the chance to do it professionally." Liam urged and prayed Zayn wouldn't be too stubborn to at least think about it.