Zalien Invazion

5

"Dinner is served," Liam states formally as He carefully sets two plates of pizza adorned with all kinds of toppings on the table, one in front of Zayn and the other at an empty spot where he would sit. Zayn stares down at the pizza with a confused look on his face. Liam delays  eating and looks at Zayn.
    "What's wrong?" He asks worriedly.
    "Nothing," Zayn assures him, still staring at the pizza. Liam waits a few seconds, then picks up a rather large slice of pizza and takes a bite of it. After watching Liam take a few bites, Zayn finally picks up his own pizza slice, holding it gingerly in his hands. Liam watches in amusement as he slowly takes a bite of it and makes an appalled face in disapproval but swallows it determinedly.
    "Is it really that bad?" Liam asks jokingly with a hurt laugh. Zayn glances up at him then back at the pizza and takes another bite. This time, he finds it easier to swallow and soon takes another bite.
   "See, now it's not that bad, is it," Liam says with joking pride as he takes another bite. He watches with an open mouthed stare as Zayn devours the 3 pieces of pizza he had in less than 30 seconds. Zayn burps and sits back in his chair, staring longingly down at his empty plate.
    "Do you want more?" Liam wonders in surprise. "I mean, if you're that hungry I can always make more to eat. I wouldn't mind," Liam tells him. Zayn nods and stands up, walking to his pantry.
"Or you could just make it yourself... Yeah that's cool too...." Liam comments in confusion as Zayn starts to go through his food, picking out random items.
      He returns back to the table with a head of lettuce, vegetable oil, and noodles.
    Liam watches in surprised distaste as Zayn uncaps the vegetable oil and takes a sip of it. Zayn catches Liam staring and holds the bottle toward him.
    "Would you like zome?" He offers politely.
     "No... No thank you... I had some earlier," Liam replies in complete puzzlement. He was at a total loss for words right now as he watches Zayn eat, making the lettuce disappear quite quickly and soon turning to the box of noodles.
   "do you want to cook those? It may make them less.... Crunchy," Liam suggests.
   "Oh no. They're perfect," Zayn tells him.
    "If you say so, man," Liam accepts with a sigh. He had finished his meal and was now just watching Zayn questioningly.
     When Zayn finishes that, he stands up again and returns to the pantry in search of more food.
   "Oh my god... When was the last time you ate?" Liam wonders in awe. Zayn shrugs and continues searching through the cabinets. Liam watches his tattooed hands curiously.
Zayn returns back to the table with a box of saltine crackers, taco seasoning, a jar of canned strawberries, cereal,  and a granola bar.
"And I though I ate a lot..." Liam comments with a sigh. "Damn you're so lucky. You can eat all that and still be so skinny," Liam adds longingly. Zayn stops eating and glancing up at Liam with a questioning look.
"Sorry..." Liam apologizes. "I just- it amazes me how some people can eat so much and stay the same and look so good while other people can eat can a piece of lettuce and gain like 5 pounds," Liam adds jokingly with a laugh but Zayn doesn't laugh and continues eating.
     Liam doesn't say anything else until he assumes Zayn has finished eating. There was no use in talking; Zayn wouldn't talk back. So why try anymore?
      "What's wrong with this? You don't like it?" Liam wonders, pointing to the packet of taco seasoning. Zayn shakes his head.
    "Too zpicy," he explains.
    "Ah... I see," Liam nods understandingly as he picks the packet up to put in a plastic bag to save for later since Zayn already opened it.
Liam  sighs and picks his plate up from the table.
"Are you finished finally with this?" He asks as he reaches for Zayn's plate.
    "Oh yeah. I couldn't eat anything else," Zayn replies, resting his hands on his flat stomach in a sat sucked manner as Liam takes it from him and sets them in the sink.
    "Good because there's almost nothing left for you TO eat now," Liam mutters. He quickly washes the plates  and sets them back in the cabinet. He sighs and turns to Zayn. "Well... It's getting late and I have work tomorrow morning," he says. "I'm going to bed soon.
And you can sleep on the couch if you like. I'm sorry, it's not much," Liam tells him.
   "It's better than the ztreet," Zayn assures him with a slight smile. "Thank you," he adds.
   "You're very welcome," Liam replies with a smile. "Good night Zayn," he adds.
    "Good.... Good night," Zayn repeats after a few seconds with a slightly pleased smile. Liam returns the smile then turns his direction to his dog who was chewing on a toy on the floor.
   "Come on Watson boy," Liam calls. Excitedly, Watson jumps up and runs to Liam's side and follows him into his bedroom, leaving Zayn alone in the kitchen. Zayn looks around, unsure what to do now. Slowly, he stands and walks to the living room and sits down on the couch and gets ready to go to sleep.