Earn Me (Niam)

Seven Years Earlier

Just a little warning(s): It's unnecessarily long and there is a bit of vulgar language. Other that that, enjoy! :)

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Liam James Payne is supportive. And he doesn't judge. He's pretty damn sure that his parents (thanks, Geoff and Karen) taught him to be as respectful as possible. Because it's not gentlemanlike to pass judgement on other people, or some other virtuous crap like that.

Liam James Payne is supportive.

The sixteen year-old supported Harry Styles when the boy taller than Liam himself started to unbutton the tops of his shirts and wear the tightest skinny jeans known to man during sophomore year. Well, that's a lie since someone else wears really tight skinny jeans that leave nothing to imagination, especially in the back. And Liam had some things to say about that.

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"God, why the hell does Mr. Foster give out so much damn homework?" Louis whines the second he slams his tray of questionable, gelatinous cafeteria food loudly on the table. The oldest boy shrugs his backpack off of his left shoulder and a heavy sound gracelessly shocks the students closest to the group of boys. Zayn just rolls his eyes and Liam lazily smirks while keeping his arm placed on Niall's shoulder. Niall just doesn't look up from the book with multiple dog-eared pages opened in front of him.

"I don't understand," the stormy blue-eyed boy continues while plopping himself onto the table bench. "He just drones on and on and on about some war that America has - Jesus, that country has had too many wa --"

"But our country has had a lot of wars, too," Niall timidly whispers, his eyes quickly and frustratingly soaking in the words of Katniss Everdeen once again denying her feelings for Peeta. But Louis either doesn't hear the petite blonde or pretends the very valid point wasn't spoken at all.

"-- and somehow he expects us to listen when he talks about something so boring. Like how am I not supposed to sleep in class?! And now he wants to give us all this homework even though no one knows anything about the relationship between President Jackson and the Native Americans. Why is he doing this to me?! Doesn't he know that I'm a growing boy who needs to have a social life and not sit at home at my desk doing history homework about why in the world America now has a primarily two-party system government?!"

Louis takes a deep inhalation of breath, his face actually having gotten a little bit like a ripe tomato from all that constant talking without any break in between. His head droops sort of uncomfortably onto his chest, the over-exaggerated pout a hilarious sight for Liam and Zayn. Suddenly, two tanned hands come flying down onto the table, a painful smack slicing through the ambient conversation in the air. Once again, the students sitting near the group of four boys - including Zayn, Liam, and Niall - flinch and glare while they choke on their food in surprise. A mischievous glint sparkles across Louis' slightly crazed eyes and a wide, toothy smile makes the oldest boy look like he's bordering manic. Both Liam and Zayn feel something very uncomfortable twist and turn their guts when the dark look on Louis' face is pointed directly at the obliviously reading blonde.

"Niall," Louis sings, Zayn cringing and subconsciously twitching his fingers and Liam tightening his arm around Niall's shoulder at the sound of the light vibrato shaking the feathery-haired boy's airy voice. The blonde looks up, wide blue eyes brimming with curiosity and innocence. Liam internally groans, because honestly, how does one pull that off even in high school? Not that the black belt is proud of it, but he sure as hell lost all sorts of innocence during that one party freshman year ...

"Yes, Louis?" Niall asks while tilting his head. Louis just chuckles like the evil mastermind he is.

"You are in the AP American History class with all of the juniors, right?" Louis asks saccharinely, eyes flickering between his small blonde friend and the two stiff motherfuckers acting like they're guarding the most precious thing in the world. However, Louis isn't going to lie to himself, Niall is probably the most precious thing in the world. He would probably be acting the same way if someone else was acting just as creepily as he is at this moment. But hey, Louis Tomlinson will get a good grade any way he can.