Maybe I'm the Wrong You Like

iii.

*&*

After Zayn left, the three friends were left to stare at the space he vacated just seconds ago.

It was Liam who broke the silence minutes later. “Did we fail? You think he’s going to actually refuse?”

“He can’t. I’ll make sure he doesn’t.”

“But what if he does, Lou?” Liam insisted.

“We’ll just have to persuade him to do it. There isn’t a plan B, Li. We can’t let him walk away. Not without giving it a chance.”

“Well maybe we should have a plan B?” Liam asked.

Louis bit his lip as he racked his brain for a plan B. Fifteen seconds later, he held up both hands to declare, “I got nothin’” and stare at Liam like the latter might spout a plan B. Liam shrugged and looked to Harry for help.

“Err. Don’t look at me. I go for plan A,” he said.

“Plan A’s all we’ve got, love,” Louis said as he smiled at him.

*&*

Later, as he sat on his couch sipping a sorry excuse for a coffee, Liam wondered how he could have agreed to such an insane plan it was practically just waiting to explode on their scheming faces. It’s not like he didn’t want his friend to be happy because, more than anything, Zayn deserved to be happy. He was just lamenting the fact that they could not do it the normal way (i.e. introduce the two).

He sighed. They needed an insane plan precisely because Zayn wouldn’t agree otherwise. Liam just desperately hoped that it will somehow work out and nobody has to end up with his heart in the gutter.

*&*

There was no way he’d do it.

No way. No way. No way. was the track that kept ringing in his head as Zayn headed home. Much as he loves Liam, the idea of putting himself out like that just isn’t sitting well with him. They want him to be the wingman. The bridge. What sort of an absurd idea is that anyway?

Liam may be scared, he knows. But, heck, Zayn is scared too. And he isn’t even the one who just figured out ten seconds ago that he’s gay and already falling for someone. But he knows he isn’t the right person to do that kind of thing for Liam. Sure, he’d be willing to help any other way, just not with this. Because, yes, he is a little sad and a lot mopey since he and James broke up…but that doesn’t mean that he’s looking for the sun to shine in his life again. He isn’t.

And if what Harry said was true, that Niall was sunshine and daisies personified, then Zayn doesn’t want anything to do with him because he’s fine the way he is right now. And the sunshine-and-daisies kind of people always gets him in trouble. Like James.

James who brought Zayn out of his dark and broody self.James who always saw the positive side of things. James who understood him when no one else could (aside from his three friends but he isn’t counting them right now). James who…eventually broke his heart because you aren’t the same Zayn I fell in love with. Which Zayn translated as, you aren’t the bad boy I was attracted to anymore.

The next thing he knew, he was either spending countless hours in front of the telly, pretending to watch whatever’s on while simultaneously drowning his liver in alcohol until Liam had had enough and dragged him into his flat one day and gave him a lecture he wouldn’t remember even if he was sober.

This was followed by days of endless movie nights with Harry and afternoon tea sessions with Louis.

After a while, Zayn realized that the depression he experienced wasn’t because James left him. At least, it was not the only reason. It actually was the dreadful realization that he wouldn’t have anyone to share his days with because Liam has Dani and Louis and Harry have each other and Zayn…didn’t have anyone anymore.

But as they, sort of, took turns looking after him after that terrible episode of his life, Zayn also realized one thing: that no matter what happens, or where life brings them, his friends would never abandon him and each other.

Which meant that, even if Zayn would have to say no to Liam in the morning regarding Niall, Liam would still forgive him. He’ll just have to think of how to get out of it.

That night, secure in the knowledge that he’ll somehow convince Liam to not let him be involved in the wooing of one Niall Horan, Zayn got ready for bed. 

*&*

“Enough already! I’ll do it, okay? I’ll do it.” It was three days later and Zayn’s ears were about to fall off from the irritation and radiation or whatever electromagnetic shockwave shit he’s been exposed to, courtesy of his phone, from Louis’ insistent calling and pleading and threatening. And frankly, the damage it was causing his brain (he couldn’t even sleep at night anymore what with Lou’s voice echoing in his head throughout the night) just isn’t worth the refusal anymore.

“Swear on your quiff, Zayn.”

“What the actual fuck, Lou?”

“Just bloody swear on your quiff!” Louis shouted.

“Fine. I swear…on my quiff,” Zayn relented. This is bloody stupid, he thought.

“Great. Knew you’ll come around eventually, Z. Meet Harry at the park by the uni today after his class. He’ll call you.”

“What about Liam?”

“He already knows Niall. Haz will introduce you to him. Besides, Li doesn’t want to be around Niall too much. He thinks it’ll be too obvious that he likes him.”

“But isn’t that the whole point?”

“Jesus, Zayn. Look, Liam just wants to make sure that if he makes a move, that Niall wouldn’t flat out reject him. So you befriend the kid, build Liam’s image somehow, and make Niall interested.”

“So, I’m like a salesman? I’m going to sell Liam to this Niall?”

“Exactly. You have to make sure he’s going to buy, okay? Now, I have to get back to work. Let me know how it goes, yeah?”

“Yeah, Lou,” Zayn said as he ended the call and stared at his phone accusingly. He should have thrown it away the moment Louis decided to torture him with endless phone calls. And then maybe he wouldn’t have to go through this…this…will-be-awkward situation he was sure he just agreed to.