One Direction Preferences

Exam Week

Harry: "Babe, I'm home," Harry calls out, shouldering his way through the door with his arms full of two large grocery bags. He uses his boot clad foot to kick the door to the garage shut behind him before he ventures further into the home he'd recently purchased. He passes through the mud room into the white kitchen where he sets the bags down on the quartz counter top you'd picked out while he glances around the open floor plan to see if he can locate you. "Babe... hello," he calls out louder, grabbing things out of the bags to start putting them in their proper place while waiting for a response. After he's done, Harry leans against the island in front of him while he looks through the open floor plan of his farmhouse but he can't spot you on the first floor. He notices that the barnyard doors he'd installed at the front corner of the house to make a make-shift office are slightly opened so he makes his way there. Pushing the door open, he finds you at the desk. There are several open books on the large desk, passages highlighted in pink and yellow. There's a notebook and note cards at your side but you're sound asleep, slumped against the desk top. Harry ventures closer, careful not to step on the one floor board that squeaks, to investigate what you've surrounded yourself with. He reads the book titles to himself and then suddenly feels like an ass for not realizing that it's exam week at your university. He's been so bogged down with band stuff he'd forgotten about your final week of exams. The last exam week you'd ever have. Your graduation was next weekend, something Harry could never forget even if he tried. He's been preparing for your graduation for years now, too proud at your accomplishments that he feels far outweigh his own. Being a college graduate meant more than being a pop star in his eyes. He'd been on this collegiate journey with you from the beginning. He'd been there for every exam, every failed test (which were rare), every meltdown, and every research paper. He'd been there for internships and inappropriate lab partners. Harry had never been more proud of someone in his life than when you'd gotten a job offer at the London Museum as the display coordinator. For once, you'd be the one traveling the world for work and Harry would gladly follow you anywhere and look at any ancient artifact as long as you continued to have him. This had been your most challenging year with your senior thesis class but Harry had offered all the help he could provide. He'd even taken you to Moscow over Christmas break in preparation for your class on Russian history during World War II. From the looks of it, you're in the midst of writing your senior research paper on the lack of gender equality in the armed forces of a war-torn Russia during World War II. Reaching over your slumped form, Harry signs in to your laptop to ensure that your work is saved before he slides the desk chair out far enough for him to lift you from the seat. You mumble incoherently about aviation regiments while Harry cradles you to his chest and shushes you. He makes his way up the stairs to the master bedroom, intent to put you bed for a few hours rest before he allows you to continue the final draft of your final paper. "I have to finish my paper," you mumble tiredly even as you snuggle deeper into the soft white sheets. "Later, take a nap and rest for now. I'll wake you in a few hours love, promise," Harry assures you quietly, pressing a kiss to your forehead and you surrender to his suggestion. Several hours later, Harry sits across from you on the sectional as he edits your paper. He's always known you were smart but as he reads over your research paper analyzing the lack of equality among the sexes in the Russian army, Harry finds himself once again astounded by your knowledge on the subject. He edits out the few grammatical errors you'd made and he's rewarded with a home cooked meal later that night.

Liam: "Could you take me to my exam today? I need the extra time to study," you question, looking up from the laptop in front of you towards your boyfriend. Liam pauses the show he's been watching to turn towards you, sitting sideways on the couch to look across the room to where you sit at the dining room table. "Yeah... what time do we need to leave?" Liam asks and you bite your lip, glancing to his favorite show and then back to him. "Two hours... 1:30, the exam starts at 2:30," you explain, watching as Liam glances back to the TV and then down to his watch. The DVR is full of the latest episodes of 24 and Liam has been most looking forward to catching up on his favorite show during his limited down time between tour dates. "You know what, it's fine Liam. Honest, I could use the time to relax for a moment," you rush with a bright, reassuring smile. "If you're sure then," Liam responds, turning back towards the TV and presses play. You were somewhat shocked at his response, half expecting him to fight you on the issue until you caved. But, Liam has done some growing since you'd first started dating. He wasn't so quick to need or want to please you and was more than content with allowing you to do things for yourself. He had backed off considerably since two years ago, happy to let you go through life on your own terms without him crowding you. Allowing a moment to reflect on the man across the room, you return to your studies. Your ancient Roman history exam is fast approaching and while you're more than confident that you know the material, keeping all the gods and goddess straight had proved to be somewhat difficult. "I've got to step out for a bit love, band business has apparently come up. Good luck on your exam, yeah?" Liam says, leaning across the table to press a kiss to your lips before he leaves through the garage door. You liked the new Liam, honest, but you missed his old ways. Exam week was always difficult and you always ended up more than incredibly stressed. You continue on and drive yourself to campus all the while going over a few last minute difficult gods out loud before parking. As you make your way through the crowded pathway and awnings, you hear a soft murmur going through the students. You're mostly tuning them out but you catch pieces of their gossiping and apparently there's something "unbelievable," up ahead. "Li?" You say aloud, pulling an ear bud out when you spot Liam leaning against the stone wall outside your exam location. "I should've driven you," he states quietly, hands sliding around to the back of your neck while pressing his forehead down against yours. "I'm sorry love, I'm trying to back off and let you do you but... I like hovering, I like doing things for you," Liam admits, eyes closed and you are unsuccessful in biting back a smile. "Liam... I like you doing things for me as well, I just didn't realize how much until you didn't fight me on the matter of taking me to my exam," you offer, manicured fingernails scratching at the growing beard covering his jaw and he smiles sweetly at your words. "You'll do great love... no one knows this stuff more than you, don't second guess yourself," Liam reminds you, proving that he is indeed perfect and always knows what you need to hear in desperate times. "I love you Li... will you..," you start but Liam silences you with a kiss. "I'll be right here, waiting... always," Liam assures you, turning you towards the open doorway and gives you a gentle push. "Cheeky," you tease over your shoulder, giving him a playful smirk after he's given you a hard tap to the ass and he shrugs. "Good luck," he calls out once you've entered the classroom, chuckling at the blush burning your face as he takes a seat against the wall outside.