Talk To Me - Ziam

Chapter 3

The pulsing bass of some Top 40 remix rattled through the house, vibrating off the walls and drowning out the hum of laughter and chatter. Zayn leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping from a half-empty red cup, his head already a little fuzzy. The familiar taste of cheap vodka lingered on his tongue as he watched the scene unfold around him: people dancing, clinking glasses, conversations too loud to make out. It was a typical college party, nothing particularly special. But tonight, he felt a restless energy sparking just beneath the surface, and he knew exactly why.

He glanced across the room and spotted Liam talking to someone in a corner, the faintest of smiles playing on his lips. Despite the noisy chaos around them, Liam somehow looked as if he belonged—grounded and calm in a sea of drunken mayhem. Zayn couldn't help but notice how the dim lighting cast soft shadows across his face, making his features sharper, more defined.

Liam must have felt the weight of his gaze because he looked up, catching Zayn's eye. For a second, they just stared at each other, unblinking, as if silently testing one another. Then Liam's lips curled into a half-smile, a familiar, slightly teasing expression that Zayn had come to recognize over the past few weeks. It was almost an invitation, and Zayn didn't need to be told twice.

Without a second thought, Zayn pushed off from the counter and crossed the room, weaving through the crowd until he was standing in front of Liam. "This party's getting loud," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. He could feel the slight buzz from the alcohol making him bolder than usual.

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, not exactly the best setup for a chat."

Zayn chuckled. "Who's here for conversation?"

They shared a glance, and in that instant, Zayn knew they were both on the same page. The music blared, but all he could hear was the rush of his own pulse as they slipped through the hallway together, searching for a quieter space. They found a dimly lit room at the back of the house—a spare bedroom, maybe—and Zayn shut the door behind them, muffling the music and noise to a dull thump.

The silence that followed was charged, a tense, heavy thing that hung between them. For a moment, neither of them moved. Zayn took a step closer, his gaze never leaving Liam's, and he saw Liam's expression flicker, a mix of anticipation and something else that sent a thrill racing down his spine.

"You know, I don't usually do this kind of thing," Liam said, his voice low and a bit unsteady.

Zayn gave a small shrug, inching closer until there was barely any space between them. "Neither do I," he replied softly, not even sure if it was the truth or not. His hands found their way to Liam's shoulders, and he felt Liam exhale, his breath brushing against Zayn's cheek.

There was no turning back now. He closed the distance, their lips meeting in a slow, hesitant kiss that quickly grew heated. The tension that had been building between them for weeks finally snapped, and in that moment, Zayn felt like he was free-falling, caught in something raw and real. Liam's hands found his waist, pulling him closer, and Zayn's mind blurred, lost in the feeling of Liam's touch, the press of his body.

The night melted into a haze of tangled sheets and whispered breaths, a rush of skin against skin, their unspoken connection finally breaking through in the most reckless, exhilarating way possible. Zayn wasn't sure how much time passed—minutes, hours—but he didn't care. All that mattered was the heat, the closeness, and the feeling of finally giving in.

The morning light seeped through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Zayn blinked awake, his head pounding slightly from the night before. For a moment, he lay still, piecing together fragments of hazy memories until it all came rushing back.

He turned his head and found Liam lying next to him, half-asleep, with his arm draped loosely across Zayn's chest. His hair was slightly messy, his breathing steady, and there was something so normal about the sight that it almost made Zayn laugh. If someone had told him a month ago that he'd be waking up next to Liam Payne, he would've brushed it off as a joke.

Liam stirred, opening his eyes slowly. The second he realized where he was, a flicker of surprise crossed his face before it faded into a sheepish smile. "Morning," he muttered, pushing himself up on one elbow.

"Morning," Zayn replied, suppressing the urge to laugh at the absurdity of it all. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the tension settle in as the reality of the situation sank in. "So... last night happened."

Liam let out a small chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. I guess it did."

For a moment, they sat in silence, each trying to figure out what to say. It was strange, Zayn thought, to feel so comfortable yet awkward at the same time. He wasn't used to this—wasn't used to waking up next to someone and not knowing what to do next.

"So," Liam finally said, breaking the silence. "What now?"

Zayn shrugged, trying to play it cool. "We could just... I dunno, keep things casual? No strings, no expectations." The words sounded easy enough, but he wasn't sure if he was saying them because he meant them or because he didn't know what else to say.

Liam seemed to consider it, his expression thoughtful. "You mean like... friends with benefits?"

Zayn grinned, feeling a spark of relief. "Yeah, something like that. I mean, it worked last night, didn't it?"

Liam laughed, and the sound was warm, cutting through the lingering awkwardness. "Guess it did," he replied, nodding in agreement. "Alright, friends with benefits it is. But... maybe we keep this between us? I don't think the others need to know."

"Agreed." Zayn felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Keeping it a secret would make things simpler, easier. He wasn't sure why, but he had a feeling that telling Louis and Niall would only complicate things.

They shared a grin, and for a moment, it felt like old times, like they were just two friends sharing a joke. But as they got dressed and left the room, Zayn couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted, something he couldn't quite name.

And though he tried to brush it off, to tell himself it was just one night, a small part of him knew that it was already more than that.