See My Demons (Zarry AU)

Chapter 10

"Now this is a little different for an art class... But I'm not your average art teacher." Mr. Boudia smirked, pacing the front of the room as he watched his class.

"I'm going to have you all do partner projects. I want you to collaborate on a piece, it an be anything you want. Painting, sketch, charcoal.. whatever. It just has to be something that represents the both of you in one piece."

Zayn listened curiously, his chin on his knuckles. The idea of a partnered art project was interesting. He already had ideas blooming, involving painting and sketching and maybe something to do with soccer. He turned to look at Perrie, grinning at her knowing she'd want to partner up. She returned it, wiggling her brows. Of course she was on board.

"But before you all start buddying up. I'm telling you now that I'm partnering you up myself. So you get to know someone new." He warned, pointing at everyone before grabbing a hat sitting on his desk.

"Fuck," Zayn whispered under his breath, his stomach dropping. 

The idea of working with someone he didn't know in the class made him insanely uncomfortable. Perrie was someone he could open up to artistically, they'd grown close over the course of these last few weeks. But he wasn't so sure he could do the same with someone he didn't know...

"Write on a piece of paper and throw it in the hat, and we'll draw partners."

Zayn sighed and ripped a piece of paper out of his sketchbook, writing his name on it. Once the teacher came around and got everyone's paper in the hat, he went back to the front of the room, sitting on the edge of a table. He reached into the hat and started pulling names.

"Mariah.. and.." He pulled another name.

"Zach."

There was a highfive in the room and then the teacher continued. Zayn only perked up when he heard Perrie's name finally get pulled out of the hat.

"Perrie, and... Taylor."

Zayn instantly deflated, looking at Perrie sadly. She returned the look, pushing her lower lip out. Of course this wouldn't work out in his favor... He wasn't exactly the luckiest person in the world.

"Harry," 

His amber colored eyes flicked back to the teacher quickly before glancing over at Harry sitting at a table across the room. Ever since they kissed a few weeks ago, he'd sat as far from Zayn as possible. Even after their talk last night over text, things hadn't seemed to change. He sighed through his nose and looked ahead again.

"...and Zayn." Mr. Boudia finished before setting the now empty hat aside.

Zayn felt the color quickly drain from his face, his eyes slowly widening. Oh of course. Because he really did have the worst luck in the world. 

"Shit. Maybe you can ask to switch?" Perrie whispered.

Harry wasn't looking at him, but Zayn could see his jaw clenching, defining it more than it already was. He hated that it took every ounce of him to peel his eyes away. Hated that he was attracted to Harry at all. Hated that his worst enemy was slightly becoming someone he was infatuated with. Not that he'd admit it.

"You'll have to work outside of class on these projects, but go ahead and partner up and brainstorm for the rest of class." The teacher instructed before moving to sit at his desk.

"You'll be fine. Just don't let him get to you, you can do all the work." Perrie suggested as she stood up. 

"It's whatever." 

She gave him a sympathetic look before walking off to go sit by Taylor. Zayn knew they were friends, and that she was slightly ecstatic to work with her. He was green with jealousy, but he sucked it up and grabbed his things before moving to the empty table Harry was sitting at.

This wasn't the first time that this had happened, believe it or not. Back in middle school, in social studies, he and Harry had been paired for a partner project. They were meant to work on it out of school, and he was surprised when Harry had actually come over to his house. His surprise was only short lived though when the curly haired boy had eaten all his food and made Zayn do all the work. He was convinced this time would probably be no different. 

"So what are we doing?" Harry asked, glancing up at him with those bright green eyes.

Zayn sat down next to him, setting his sketchbook carefully down in front of him. Hearing his voice sent a flurry of butterflies through his stomach, and he silently chastised himself for it. He wasn't supposed to be feeling that way about Harry. He wasn't supposed to be liking his stupid deep voice and how he talked so slow it was aggravating. 

"I dunno. I was kinda thinking like. A painting?"

The idea sounded great at first, but seeing Harry ponder and purse his lips made him all self conscious.

"Or not, I mean. If you have a better idea..." Zayn shut himself up.

"No a painting's cool. We can work on it at your house. I'm not supposed to have people over this week."

He was about to ask why, but he decided against it. For once he didn't want to argue with Harry, he just wanted this to go as smoothly as possible.

"Alright. We'll work on it at my house then."

"Today after school?"

"Yeah.. sure." 

Zayn bit his lower lip, eyes cast down as he played with the bendy corner of his sketchbook. The last time Harry had been at his house had been so long ago... He was nervous. Would they talk about what had happened too? He hoped not... But maybe it would be a good idea. God, he hated this.

"Cool. Guess I'll see you then." Harry said with a smirk, just as the bell rang and signaled the end of class.