Pretend (ziam fic)

Prologue

Prologue

Liam

He first saw the boy with some girl, looking nervous and biting his lip in a way that could only be described as adorable. The girl was rubbing his arm lightly and Liam wanted to be her and he didn't understand why. And then Liam's called on stage and during his audition all he can think of is the boy, with his puckered lips and cute little mohawk. He's barely paying attention to the judges, just hears '4 yeses' from Simon and he realizes he's supposed to react, smiling clumsily and running off stage. He's hot and sweaty and his family's jumping on him and screaming but all he's aware of is that the boy is watching him. He pushes out of the group to cool off and, trying to look as cool as possible, makes his way to the water fountain next to the boy.

Being Liam, he falls on his face. He's burning all over and he refuses to get up because oh my god he just saw that. He can't look up, he wants to sink into the floor, why does he have to be so clumsy? He opens his eyes from being clenched shut in an effort to disappear and realizes he's literally staring at the boys black converse. "You okay mate?" The boy asks and his voice- his voice is pure sex. It's thick and northern and raspy and Liam wants to drool.

Liam nods furiously, hoping the boy will go away but of course not, the boy kneels down on the floor and pulls him up so he's seated next to him.

"Hey," he says quietly, gently. "I'm Zayn. Are you quite sure you're alright?"

Liam looked up, and makes eye contact with Zayn. Liam nods furiously, not yet quite trusting his voice. "Y-yeah--yeah." he croaks out finally, cheeks still burning. "C'mon then, Liam Payne." Zayn grabs his hand and pulls him up, and must have noticed Liam's struck expression because he laughs- fuck what a beautiful laugh- and smirks. "Nice audition." He grins, leading him over the girl. "Doniya, meet Liam. Liam, this is my sister. Doniya."

His sister. Oh. Liam feels stupid. "Hello, Doniya." He stutters. She smiles teasingly at her brother and gives him a thumbs up. "Shut up Doni." Zayn mutters, blushing himself. Liam is confused. "Zayn Malik?" a woman, the stage coordinator walks over and beckons him. "Good luck- uhm- mate." Liam's throat feels dry. Mate. Zayn nods and hurries after the woman.

Liam doesn't even know why but he's more nervous that Zayn's audition will go well than he was about his own.

Zayn does get through, though, of course he does, his voice is incredible.

Liam doesn't see Zayn until a few weeks later, at bootcamp. They say hi awkwardly and hang out for a bit, making small talk, both of their cheeks red. Before they're called up, they exchange numbers- in a friendly way of course- just in case they don't both get through. They look at each other while the names are being called, crossing their fingers for each other. And when neither of them get in, they just hug and hold each other for about ten seconds longer than a normal hug should. When they're recalled, re-put in a band they can hardly believe it. They cry and Liam only thanks God and Simon Cowell because this-this has got to be fate.

Liam starts to fall in love. By week one of live shows, really, he's completely and utterly infatuated with the 'Bradford bad boi". (Stupid name, Liam had thought, because Zayn was such a sweetheart). Then they had placed third. And then they had gotten big. That part was all a big blur, a blur of interviews and and videos and insanity.

That had been three years ago. Today was July 23rd, 2013, and Liam can't stop crying.

OKAY NEW ZIAM

I'LL UPDATE ASAP BUT IT'D BE MOTIVATION IF UOU VOTED OR COMMENTED OR FEEDBACK THANKS XXO