Brixham berry head was a poor town, but if you could sell a whisper, it would've been the financial centre of the world. And that day, in the harbour market, the whispers had just one theme - the offer Edmund Paphitis had made to the couple and how Zayn and Liam had sent him away empty handed. This latest only confirmed the popular belief in the couples terrible pride and foolishness. No one in the town could offer the couple a better second chance than Paphitis'. Strange as it may seem, there was not a jolt of sympathy for the odd pair, who had always been misfits but now seemed to have withdrawn utterly into the lighthouse that would soon cease to be their home. There was just one person, besides the Paphitis', who still entertained the thought of offering shelter to the couple. Even now, she was turning dirty bed covers inside out to make up two bunks for them, and emptying out a warped little cupboard to house their possessions. As she added a drop of oil to the squeaking hinge, Natalie Buxton smiled. In twenty four hours, the couple would step through the tall green gates and enter her place. They had left themselves with no other option.
Up in the lamp room, Liam and Zayn looked down on the ant like swarm of people down below.
"Times running out,"
Liam said, Zayn winced and said nothing.
"What are we going to do tomorrow night, the bank forecloses on my dads loan and takes the light house."
Zayn wasn't sure what 'forecloses' meant but he got the jist of it. In twenty four hours or so he and Liam would be out on the streets, or bedding down at the Brixham berry head orphanage. Neither was an enticing prospect.
"Maybe we should reconsider,"
Liam said at last.
Zayn turned his face to his and broke his silence.
"Can you imagine what our lives would be with the Paphitis'? They don't want children, they want slaves!"
Liam nodded. He shivered at the thought. Him and Zayn had always been free to do what they wanted, go where they wanted, think what they wanted,(even have sex) their father had given them those freedoms. It was rich and rare legacy and one they could not betray. To go live in the luxurious and suffocating realm of the Paphitis' would've been a complete betrayal of everything Liam's father stood for, everything he had believed in.
"Why can't we just stay here and work the lamp like your dad?"
Zayn said almost at the point of crying his eyes out.
"You heard mr Paphitis. He said he'd already taken on a new lighthouse keeper"
Liam walked over to cuddle Zayn. He sensed that their options were dimming.
"Besides, he'd probably say it was an unsuitable job for two kids"
"Kids!"
Zayn spat the word out and started sobbing in Liam's arms.
"Shh, I know, I know, he makes out he's so caring, but you either fall with his plans or forget it"
Liam sat there with Zayn for god knows how long caressing his soft black hair and shushing him. Reassuring him that everything was going to be ok.
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The next day, Liam was making breakfast when he heard a plump white envelope slip through the letter box. Setting the bowl of porridge aside and stopping spoon feeding Zayn like the romantic cute couple they are, and walked over to pick the envelope up which was addressed with scratchy ink.
Master Liam Payne and Master Zayn
Malik, Esq.
Liam opened the envelope and unfolded the thick single sheet of crumpled paper. Seeing the name at the end he frowned, then began scanning the words.
My dear Liam and Zayn,
Today marks the last day of your old life.
at midnight tonight, the new light house
keeper will be given the keys to the light
house and take on the burden of lighting
the lamp and watching the harbour
below. There is, as my old father used to
say, a kernel of goodness in the nut of
misfortune - you just have to bite down
hard enough to find it. For you, my dear
young adults, it will not be so hard to see
what good is coming your way.
tomorrow marks the FIRST day of your
new lives, you will be free from the
burden your father shouldered all these
years. Come down from the lighthouse.
come and accept a new care - free life.
some say I am a proud man, but I am
not too proud to offer you a place in my
family ONE LAST TIME.
What do you say? When you think
about it, what other options do you
have? My wife and I will give you guys
everything you could want from this
life. Just ask and it shall be yours.
meet me at the lighthouse door at
midnight. Pack only a bag of memories
- for we will soon be making new
memories, better memories, as a
proper FAMILY!
With open arms,
Edmund Paphitis, aka "dad" !
Liam dropped the letter to the floor in horror and stood there, feeling the tide of fear at last rise up over him.
"What's that?"
Zayn asked with a mouthful of porridge. Striding over to Liam. Seeing his boyfriends expression, he let out a long heavy sigh. He picked up the letter and read it, taking in each sugar caked threat. Finally he took the sheet of paper and tore it up, scattering rough pieces over the floor and on top of Liam's head like confetti.
"That's a fine gesture Zi but it doesn't change anything"
Liam said
"We've run out of options and now, we've run out of time"
Zayn looked at his boyfriend squarely in the eye and rested his hands on his shoulders. He smiled and shook his head.
"On the contrary, leeyumm. You may have run out of ideas. But I've worked everything out. Now lets have some toast and Nutella and i'll tell you exactly what we're going to do."
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So what do you think Zayn's plan is? Hmm? Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed and now I'm off to school. Chapter 4 is next. Buhbye :D
YOU ARE READING
Lost Boys (Ziam)
FantasyWhat happens when Liam and Zayn get lost at sea? Who will they meet... Or what?
