It's Complicated || Larry & Ziam [COMPLETED]

thirteen

"He wouldn't care. He isn't like that. And we're his best friends; he wouldn't hate us."

"He'd hate us for not acting like we're actually his best friends," Zayn said. "Why won't you sit with Lou anymore? You know I'll sit with you wherever you go, and I think it's great you've made a new friend, but what's wrong with sitting with Louis? He's our real best friend. Are you mad at him?"

Liam sighed. "He won't tell me why he's been acting weird."

"And you think that it's okay when Harry hasn't been telling you that? That's messed up, Li. And you never told him about us, so he's probably thinking the same thing, except he's alone."

"He's not alone. He has the cheerleaders."

Zayn rolled his eyes. "Louis doesn't like the cheerleaders. The least we could do is invite him to sit with us and Harry."

"What about we tell him about us and let him decide if he wants to sit with us after that?"

"You're ridiculous. We need to apologize and build the friendship back up and make sure we're sure when we tell him."

"You're just stalling so we don't have to tell Lou."

Zayn grinned. "Know me so well."

"Yeah, yeah," Liam said with a smile. Zayn was so cute. "Always have."

"If we weren't in the middle of the hallway, I'd totally kiss you right now."

"You should kiss me no matter where we are."

This was good. Easy, smooth flirting with no hesitance or worry about people overhearing. Liam liked how quickly Zayn was adjusting to things with Liam in public — next thing he knew, Zayn would be holding his hand and showing Liam off. It was all he wanted.

"And you should help me fix whatever passive aggressive fight you're having with Louis," Zayn whispered into his ear. Liam groaned in complaint, but watched Zayn walk off with a mischievous grin and wave anyway.

"Fine," he muttered fondly, because he'd do anything for Zayn.

/ / / \ \ \

"Are you okay?" Liam asked.

"Am I okay?" Louis repeated in surprise. He was fine. Looking back at Harry, who was preoccupied with bakery chores, he thought that maybe he was good for the first time in his life. Maybe these weird feelings he felt whenever he looked at Harry weren't so weird after all. Maybe he would be okay. "Yeah. I'm alright."

"Good. Zayn was worried about you."

And you weren't? The question made Louis feel guilty. He should give his best friend the benefit of the doubt. He should just assume that Liam was worried about him and his well-being. "Are you and Zayn talking again?"

"What?"

"You guys were fighting," Louis said pointedly. "Are you two friends again?"

He didn't notice Liam's quick glance to Harry, and he didn't notice Harry's shrug and look that he gave Liam.

"Yeah. We're good again."

"Are you ever going to tell me what the fight was about?"

"Are you ever going to tell me why you were being so weird for the past couple weeks?"

Louis looked down. "My parents were worried about my grades, so they made me put a pause on my social life. I was having some personal problems, but I think I'm okay now." He glanced at Harry yet again, who only smiled. It felt like they hadn't even fought in the first place. Like their friendship wasn't really affected — they simply put a brief pause on the friendship, much like Louis's stupid social problem with his parents. It made Louis happy that he was going to be forgiven.

"Your turn?" He tried, even though he doubted Liam would tell him.

This time, Liam looked down. "Soon, I promise. You'll know why when you know."

"Okay." Louis sighed. He guessed that was all he could ask of him.

"Glad you guys worked it out," Harry said, handing them the cups of tea with a kind smile. Louis almost laughed at his new thought — the bakery must be booming from their daily business. Louis or Liam or both hanging out there after school and buying tea or pastries or anything must be really beneficial.

"I wonder how much money we've spent here," Louis said to no one in particular.

"Well, you're doing wonders for my paycheck, so keep doing it."

"You must only be friends with me for the money, then," Louis teased.

Harry sighed dramatically. "You caught me."

They'd look good together, Liam thought to himself as he sipped his tea. They had no problem laughing and messing around together, and they just seemed to have the chemistry together that resembled Liam and Zayn's. But he doubted Louis would like Harry — he had given Liam no evidence or even the suspicion that he might not be straight. Perhaps if Louis weren't straight, Liam would have an easier time convincing Zayn to let him tell Louis about them.

"Well, since I'm only here to spend money, I'll take another tea."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Okay."

Liam hid his grin at his two friends' budding friendship by taking a sip of his own tea.