Zayn:
You tried not to let it get to you, but it did. It wasn’t like Zayn ignored you—he didn’t. He was always kind, always there when you needed him. But when it came to your twin brother? It was different. It was like they just… connected more.
Maybe it was the way they shared inside jokes, the way Zayn always seemed to turn to him first, or how they could talk about music for hours while you sat there, feeling like an outsider. It wasn’t that Zayn was mean to you, but sometimes, it felt like he just liked your twin more.
Tonight was just another reminder.
You sat on the couch, arms crossed, as Zayn and your brother laughed over something on his phone. You didn’t even bother asking what was so funny—you already knew you’d just feel like the third wheel in their conversation.
“Oi, what’s up with you?” Zayn suddenly asked, nudging your leg with his foot.
“Nothing,” you muttered, staring at the TV even though you weren’t really watching it.
He raised an eyebrow. “That didn’t sound like nothing.”
You shrugged, not in the mood to talk about it. But Zayn wasn’t the type to let things go when he knew something was wrong. He nudged you again. “Come on, tell me.”
You hesitated before finally mumbling, “You like him more than me.”
Zayn blinked, looking genuinely caught off guard. “What?”
You sighed, keeping your eyes on the screen. “You always laugh more with him. You talk to him more. It’s like… I don’t know, you just prefer him.”
Zayn was silent for a moment before he exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “That’s not true.”
“Sure feels like it,” you mumbled.
He shifted closer, his tone softer. “Look, I know he and I talk about music a lot, and maybe it seems like we have more in common, but that doesn’t mean I like him more.”
You finally turned to look at him, and he gave you a serious expression. “You and I have our own thing, yeah? Who’s the one I always go to when I need real advice? Who’s the one who calls me out on my shit when I need it? Who’s the one that actually checks up on me when I go quiet?”
You bit your lip. “…Me?”
Zayn nodded. “Yeah. You.”
You swallowed hard, not expecting him to say that.
“Just because I bond with him over certain things doesn’t mean I love you any less,” he continued. “You’re my little sibling, and I wouldn’t trade you for anything.”
A small smile tugged at your lips. “Really?”
He scoffed. “Obviously. Don’t be daft.”
That made you laugh, and Zayn grinned. “There’s that smile.”
You rolled your eyes, but the heavy feeling in your chest was gone.
Zayn smirked. “Now, next time you feel left out, just tell me instead of sulking. Or, I don’t know, throw something at me. That usually works.”
You laughed. “Noted.”
Niall:
It wasn’t like Niall meant to make you feel this way. He wasn’t cruel or dismissive. But sometimes, you couldn’t help but notice how easily he gravitated toward your twin sister.
She was outgoing, effortlessly funny, always the life of the party. Meanwhile, you felt like you were just… there.
It was always the same. If she cracked a joke, he’d be doubled over laughing. If she needed something, he’d drop everything to help. And you? You weren’t invisible, but you weren’t her.
