Loved You First

Chapter 1

He liked breakfast at dinner time, sidewalk chalk, legos, and popcorn at football games.

He didn't like nap time, and he definitely didn't like swimming. It wasn't because he didn't know how, if he wanted to learn, he would. But he didn't like the cold water, he wasn't a fan of stripping naked in a room full of strangers, and most of all he didn't see any point in it. When would he even need to know how to swim? It was useless and unnecessary. At least, that's what Zayn thought, at the ripe age of six. However, Zayn's obvious dislike of the public pool was utterly ignored by his mother as he found himself being drug out to the wet cemented area for the third time this week.

After making it through the smelly and wet locker room, the black haired boy made his way out and sat himself on the edge of the shallow end of the pool, his displeasure displayed on his face as his younger sisters splashed and squealed in the water a few feet away from him. Zayn looked down at his feet in the water, he hoped they could go home soon. He'd just been working on a new lego car when his mother had come to drag him to the pool once again. It seemed to him that she always interrupted him at the most inconvenient times.

Zayn was so lost in his thoughts about his legos he nearly missed the boy running by him to jump into the water, causing a splash to hit and completely soak the unhappy boy. The brown haired boy emerged from the water, batman floaties on each arm and a big grin spread across his face, he was missing his front two teeth. The water rolled right off his head since his hair was cut short. The unfamiliar lad saw Zayn by the edge of the pool all alone and immediately swam over to him.

The boy clutched onto the edge of the pool and looked up at the now-soaked Zayn. "Why aren't you swimming?" he asked, his voice high and quite lively, seemingly unaware of Zayn's desire to be left alone. Zayn just stared back at the boy, lips shut tight. He wished he would just go away and leave him be until his mother would finally be ready to leave the pool. Not to mention Zayn had never been one to talk to strangers, whether they were his age or not, although this boy undeniably was. Plus, the stranger hadn't earned himself many points with the darker haired boy by splashing him just moments earlier.

At Zayn's lack of reply the boy edged closer, using the side of the pool to pull himself into position. "Hello?" the brown haired boy stuck an arm out of the water to wave it in front of Zayn, as if he didn't already have his attention. Water dripped off Zayn's black hair as he shifted his head a bit to look at the other boy, still not saying a word. Although, the shift of his head seemed to be enough for the other boy. "Can't ya swim?" he pried, his voice high and energetic-like.

Zayn shook his head.

"Oh!" the boy quipped, pushing off the wall so he was floating a bit in the water. "It's real easy, I can show you. Watch!" the boy ducked his head into the water and began kicking his legs quickly, causing water to splash up everywhere behind him. Zayn watched from the side, slightly amused by the lad's attempt at swim lessons.

After a few seconds of the flailing sort of swimming, the boy re-emerged from the water, flashing a proud toothless grin at Zayn. He swam back over to him, "See, told ya it was easy!" Zayn just gave him a slight nod of his head to show he'd heard his words. The boy moved around a little in the water, unsure of what to make of Zayn's silence before an idea hit him and his face lit up like a light bulb. "Here," he said, pulling his batman floaties off his arms and shoving them into Zayn's lap. Zayn looked down at the floaties and then back at the boy, unsure what to make of his overpowering friendliness. "Well go on then, put them on and get in! We don't have all day ya know," the brown haired boy made a gesture with his free hand towards Zayn to urge him on.

Zayn sighed, slipped the floaties onto his arms and lowered himself into the pool. "See that wasn't so hard, was it, erm..?" the boy tutted, realizing he'd never learned Zayn's name. "Uh, what was your name?" he asked bluntly.

"Zayn." He replied quietly, still a bit shy in front of the bold and friendly stranger. Although, he liked that the other boy didn't push him to talk more than necessary.

"Oh! Zayn!" the boy exclaimed, as if he'd just remembered the dark haired boy's name. "Well, I'm Liam." He stated proudly as he bounced on his tiptoes to stay above surface of the water.

Zayn tilted his head a little, "Liam," he repeated to make sure he'd gotten it correct. His mother had taught him that once, he remembered she had said it was polite.

Liam's face lit up at Zayn's words, even if it wasn't much, it was something. "I like you, Zayn." Liam quipped boldly, a toothless grin spread over his face. "We're gonna be great friends!"

Zayn nodded.