London Bridges

Chapter 9: Avoidance

"Is Liam home?" Louis asks, as he kicks off his shoes and shuts the front door behind him.

"He's in your room," Zayn answers with a sheepish grin, his ears pinked.

Louis shoots him a questioning glance, his eyebrows raised, but Zayn just chuckles and gestures his hands in surrender.

Liam is laying in their bed when Louis opens the door. He's in joggers and one of Louis's old sweatshirts Liam pilfered from Doncaster, insisting that it fit perfectly even though the sleeves barely reached his wrists and he had to be careful to move slowly as not to split the torso in two. He's on his back, an arm swung across his eyes preventing Louis from getting a proper look at his face.

"Alright, love?" Louis asks, his voice quiet and soft as he lowers himself onto the bed next to Liam.

Liam grunts in response, not making a move to uncover his face.

"Are you feeling poorly?" Louis questions again, concern for the younger lad starting to build.

"Did you know Zayn was here?" Liam asks. "Oh right, of course you did, he's got your key."

"He stopped by my job," Louis answers, confusion increasing by the second. "I gave him my key so he wouldn't have to wait around for me. I messaged you."

Liam's arm falls from his face then, and he raises himself onto his elbows to meet Louis's eyes.

"I didn't get your message," Liam says, his face blazing. "I got out of class early and was in the shower. I heard the door open and naturally assumed it was you, because who else would have a key to our flat? I came out to greet you, was excited about the possibilities of us both being home early. Except, you weren't home, Zayn was."

Louis realizes what happened half way through Liam's recounting, and he has to exercise all his self control to contain his laughter.

"Did you give Zayn a show, love?" He asks Liam, unable to keep his lips from curling just a little bit.

"Its not funny," Liam scowls at him, slumping back down into the bed.

Louis chuckles. "It's a little funny."

Liam scowls again. He turns over onto his side so that his back faces Louis, and Louis has no choice but to laugh again and pull the lad close to his chest.

"Come on, Batman," he soothes. "Its nothing to be embarrassed about. Zayn's seen my willy, I've seen his. I reckon Niall has probably seen his as well, and we all saw Harry's at least once. These things happen."

"How am I supposed to look him in the eye?" Liam pouts. "Every time I talk to him now I'm going to think this guy has seen my dick."

"He's not even gonna give it a second thought," Louis assures. "Theres no need for you to."

"What makes you so sure?" Liam asks, skeptically.

"Well, for one, he knows I'll break his face if I thought he was thinking of any part of you. And secondly, I reckon he only has eyes for our little leprechaun these days."

Liam's interest peaks at that, and he turns over in Louis's arms so that they're facing each other, their noses almost close enough to brush.

"You think Zayn likes Niall?"

"Yeah," Louis says. "And Niall likes Zayn. Something must've gone down though, cus Zayn came running here with his tail between his legs and won't tell me whats going on."

"Should we be worried?" Liam frowns.

Louis leans in, kissing the pout off Liam's lips.

"Not just yet," he says. "But we should probably go be good hosts now before I decide not to get off this bed."

Zayn is sitting at the kitchen table when the lads leave their room. He's scrolling through his phone and doesnt realize they've come up behind him until he feels Louis's arms wrap crushingly around his torso.

"I heard you were perving on my boyfriend, mate."

"Should I bill you for the therapy I'm gonna need?" Zayn playfully teases.

Louis laughs, mussing Zayn's hair. "The best you've ever seen."

"Can we please just forget about it?" Liam asks, his face bright red and eyes trained to the floor.

"Yeah," Zayn answers. "Let's do that."

Louis hooks a finger under Liam's chin and Liam raises his eyes to find soft blue ones shining back at him. A grin begins to pull at the corner of his mouth, and it widens when Louis softly pecks his lips.

"I'll order a pizza," Louis announces.

"Wait," Zayn calls him back. "Before we never mention this again, let me just say, congratulations, mate."

Louis laughs, playfully shoving Zayn, and even Liam lets out a shy chuckle.

Despite the potential for awkwardness, Zayn settles in with the boys easily. The chat over their shared pizza, and he's grateful when Louis steers Liam away from talk of Niall and plans. Liam allows the avoidance, its only Zayn's first night, but he gives Louis a pointed look, letting him know that it'll have to be discussed sooner or later. Louis tells Zayn that much after Liam has gone off to their room and Louis is making sure the guest room is all set for the night.

"We're gonna have to talk about it eventually," he says, throwing a few extra blankets on the bed.

"About what?" Zayn asks, playing dumb.

"The 1964 Summer Olympics," Louis answers sarcastically.

"Great games, that year."

Louis rolls his eyes, throwing a pillow at Zayn's head.

"We have to talk about what you're running from."

"Who says I'm running?" Zayn challenges.

"The pile of cases in the corner, mate," Louis says. "And the fact that you haven't mentioned Niall's name once since you got here."

Zayn sighs heavily and slumps onto the edge of the bed.

"It's different for us," he says. "You and Liam, you guys were idiots, but you always worked."

"You and Niall don't work?" Louis asks, skeptical.

Zayn sighs again.

"Not properly."