Lover Dearest (Ziam Vampire AU)

Chapter 11

Bright light shining in through the curtains wakes him. He rolls over, facing it, letting the heat of it warm him as he slowly blinks open his eyes. He's never awake at this time, when the sun is high in the sky. It's got to be maybe five, six o'clock, and he knows he had his curtains closed when he went to bed, so why are they open?

"You're up."

Liam sits up, focusing on Zayn, who's standing just at the end of the bed. "What are you doing?" he demands. Maybe that weird, confusing conversation with Louis yesterday had put him in a slightly better mood, but he's not ready to deal with Zayn just yet. It was easier to forgive Louis, because Louis hadn't broken his trust. Liam never liked or trusted Louis in the first place. But Zayn? It felt like Zayn betrayed him in a big way. "I don't wanna talk to you."

Zayn sighs at him. "Liam, I'm—"

"Trying to wake me in the middle of the day?" Liam snaps. "Because you succeeded. Now get out."

"Sorry," Zayn says, insincere. "I can't do that, babe. Get out of bed."

Liam looks at the window again, then back at Zayn. "Why would I do that?" he yawns. "I'm still tired. I wanna go back to sleep."

"Just get up," Zayn says, a little sharply. "Get out of bed. Go shower. Get dressed. Hurry up."

Liam eyes him suspiciously. "Why?"

"It's a surprise."

"A surprise," Liam repeats. "What kind of surprise?"

"Defeats the whole purpose of 'surprise' if I answer that, doesn't it?" Zayn teases. Aside from the annoyance at the fact that Liam isn't cooperating, Zayn is in a good mood. His lips keep twitching up, and his eyes are crinkling just at the corners. "Please," he add. "Just do it, Liam."

A sigh passes Liam's lips, but he pushes back his blankets anyways. "Fine," he says. "But I showered last night. I don't need another one."

Zayn comes over, walking deliberately slow. If he wanted to, he could have been at Liam's side in one long bound, but instead he takes careful steps, like he's approaching an animal that will run if he moves too fast. Liam doesn't. He stands stock still as Zayn reaches up, fingering a few clumped together strands of Liam's hair. "You slept with it wet," he says. "It's a mess. You need to fix it."

Liam waits a beat to slap his hand away. As angry as he is at Zayn, he still likes Zayn touching him. "So?"

"So," Zayn drawls, "fix it. Get presentable."

"Why? I don't think Harry or Niall care if my hair's a mess."

Zayn raises his eyebrows, lips set into a thin line, offering nothing. Liam throws up his hands in annoyance and stomps off to the bathroom, slamming the door behind himself. He stops, looking in the mirror, and Zayn has a point. His slightly curly hair is a mess, all frizzy and rumpled, but he doesn't see what the big deal is. Still, he does as he's told (because he always does) and tries brushing it, first, but that only makes it frizzier and messier, so he jumps in the shower quickly before heading back out into the room in just his sweats, with a towel wrapped around his neck.

"Happy?" Liam asks of Zayn, who's lounging on his bed like Louis had been last night. Only Zayn looks like he fits there, amongst the brown comforter and the white pillows, ankles crossed and arms behind his head.

"Won't be until you're dressed," Zayn answers. "Hurry up. We're on a schedule."

Liam snorts and pulls open his drawers. "No one'll be up for hours," Liam points out as he riffles through his neatly folded shirts. "Why are you rushing me? Why are you even in here right now?"A finger slowly glides up his spine, and Liam shudders at the tingles that go through him. He fists a hand in the nearest shirt, eyes squeezing closed, and snaps, "Don't touch me." He hadn't even heard Zayn come up behind him, which is just unsettling, honestly. He hates that they can all do that to him.