Color My Senses Cherry Red

Chapter 24

The next day after classes, Zayn finds himself alone in his dorm, staring at the phone. He isn't expecting a phone call but contemplating one. He's been thinking about his very successful meeting with Liam's mother the previous night all day and can't seem to stop wondering how his own family would react if he just told them.

He can't help but feel like maybe he's being too pessimistic about the whole thing. Maybe it wouldn't be quite as apocalyptic as he thinks it'll be. Liam's mum's coolness has given him hope. The only thing that matters to her is her son's happiness – and isn't that what all parents really want? Maybe if he just rang up his mum right now and told her that he's met a wonderful boy, she wouldn't even blink and tell him to bring him over so the whole family could meet him?

He sighs, knowing it probably wouldn't be quite that easy. Or maybe it would be – with his mother. But his father…

His relationship with his dad used to be good when he was a child. His father was there, played with him, openly showed his adoration for him. He isn't sure if it was the fact that he grew up that made his father distance himself from him, or if it was something he did, but at some point, they stopped spending time together. His father started expecting things of him, wanting him to be good at school, take care of his sisters. But for some reason, no matter how hard Zayn tried, nothing was ever good enough for his father. He always found something to criticize; whether it was the B+ Zayn got on a test, or the friends he made at school.

Zayn never stopped trying, but when the time came to leave his parents' house and come to university, he was relieved; glad not to have to prove himself to his father on a daily basis anymore.

For a moment, he imagines telling his father he's dating a boy now. Then he stops, knowing there's no point in thinking about a scenario like that. Zayn is a realist and knows his father wouldn't be cool with it, no matter how great a guy Liam is.

He still finds himself reaching for the phone after a moment or two; watching Liam with his mother the night before has made him miss his own mum and sisters, and desperate to hear their voices.

"Hello?"

A smile tugs on the corners of his mouth when he hears his mother's familiar voice. "Hey mum," he says softly. "It's me, Zayn."

"Zayn!" his mother exclaims, and he can imagine her dropping whatever she's working on to fully focus on him. "I feel like I haven't heard from you for ages. How are you doing, love? Studying hard?"

"Yeah," Zayn says, smiling fully now, and feeling a little bad for not calling her more often. "Yeah, you know me. Always studying."

Which obviously isn't the entire truth, but hey, it's not as if he can tell her about his extracurricular activities, right?

"Aw, well, make sure to have some fun every once in a while too, all right? Good marks aren't everything." He can feel her smiling on the other end of the line. "So, talk to me. Tell me everything. How's your room mate, have you made any new friends since last time, how are your lectures?"

"Great," Zayn says, leaning back. "Everything is great. Niall and I are still getting along, my lectures are… well, some of them are boring, obviously, but I'm enjoying most of them. I've made some great friends recently; I think you'd like them."

He's silent for a moment, then adds, "I miss you and the girls, though."

"We miss you too," his mother says softly. "The girls keep asking when they're gonna see you."

"Well, maybe we can meet up soon? I could come up there at some point. Soon."

"That would be lovely," his mother says softly. "I'd let you talk to them, but they're all out at the moment, I'm afraid. Visiting friends. Your father is here, though, so if you want to–"