Twenty Two Year Olds Aren't Scared of Fireworks » z.m.

03: Twenty Two Year Olds Aren't Scared of the Dark

☀️ Jenna Walker - July 4, 2015

"Do you miss home?" Niall questions, sitting beside Zayn with his legs stretched in front of him. Clover was by his side, her head on his calves.

About an hour or so after I'd frightened Zayn with the sparklers, Niall and Clover left the real party to come join us outside. We were talking about random things, Zayn and I, and it made me feel at ease knowing that I had achieved what I had planned by coming to this party: I got a friend. And as the evening transformed into night, I realized I might have made two more friends tonight.

"Yeah," I mumble, my eyes watching as other people start leaving the Output building to set up for the fireworks. I turn to look at the three Europeans to my left. "What about y'all, your home is across the ocean, must miss it sometimes."

Zayn snorts, "You said 'y'all'."

I roll my eyes and punch his shoulder. "Shut up."

Niall chuckles at the small interaction between us before reaching down to stroke Clover's hair, she smiles up at him before turning her eyes back to the sky that was clear of any clouds or stars. He continues to pet her hair and looks back to me. "It's an occasional feeling but then I remember that my love and my best mate is here."

"You sound so cliché," Clover comments with a smirk. Niall flicks her nose before murmuring that it's the truth.

I look away from them and watch as the other party-goers begin to step away from the clearing. I smile and lean back on my hands, ready for the colorful lights to fill the sky. (Not that New York doesn't have colorful lights already.)

"It's nearly dark, they're about to start the firework show," I say before looking to my new friend, Zayn. He doesn't seem as ecstatic as I hoped he would. It was the same look he got when I offered him the sparkler.

"Um, I think I'm going to go inside and get us some drinks, yeah?" And then he scrambles to stand up, quickly fleeing back into the probably deserted nightclub since the real fun was about to happen outside. I frown and look to Niall who was smiling and shaking his head at his friend.

"What's up with him?" I ask, tempted to follow the uncomfortable looking man into the building.

Niall just smirks. "He's scared of the dark."

Clover slaps her boyfriend's arm before sitting up, running a hand through her shoulder length hair before meeting my eyes. "He's not a big fan of fireworks."

"Or sparklers," I mumble to myself before following the path Zayn had taken to re-enter the building. When I step inside, I realize I was correct about it being deserted. The only people that seemed to actually be here were the workers - and of course, Zayn who sat at the bar with his head hung low. He doesn't hear the click of my heels as I approach him.

"What lame explanation did Niall give you?" Or maybe he did.

"He said you were scared of the dark," I say taking a seat on the stool beside him. Zayn turn and faces me, glaring at the floor. "Clover said you were scared of fireworks."

"I'm not scared of fireworks," he claims while meeting my eyes.

"Are you sure?" I question before tilting my head. "It's okay if you're scared of fireworks. I mean, I'm scared of koalas but it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's - "

"You're scared of koalas?" He interrupts, an amused smile spreading across his face. "Why? They're cute and cuddly."

"My interaction with one in the fourth grade would beg to differ." I send him a glare. He chuckles at me."Shut up. At least I'm not the one who's scared of fireworks."

"I'm not scared of fireworks," he says with a frown, "I'm scared of the chance of getting burned or catching on fire by one of the sparks - it's the same thing with sparklers."

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(A/N): look at the cuties bonding. And Niall's teasing. I love it (:

p.s. hope you're enjoying this! x 

p.p.s please comment!