Jinx

3

       On Friday, Zayn was looking at the bulletin board in the English building, trying to see if anyone was looking for a tutor or any other job opportunities. He was reaching to pull a phone number from a flier advertising for someone to type up and edit their papers when he felt a body slam into him. He jerked around, ready to yell when he realized the person was Liam.

"Zayn! Zayn!" he said, excitedly. "I'm so glad I ran into you!"

"Quite literally," Zayn said, trying to pretend to be irritated as he rubbed at his arm, but was afraid the look on his face was nothing but fond due to the boy's extreme excitement.

"I did what you said!" Zayn tried to figure out what Liam was going on about when the boy pulled him into a tight hug, lifting him off the ground. Zayn feared for a second he was going to spin them around in circles, causing Zayn's feet to injure the other students who were passing them, eyeing them warily.

When it seemed like Liam wasn't letting go anytime soon, Zayn returned the hug and found Liam's laughter contagious. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he finally admitted when Liam let him out of the hug, but kept his hands grasping Zayn's upper arms.

"I told O'Brien that I thought the story was shit!" Liam said, his voice loud and carrying. Zayn really hated the way everyone was staring at them, but he didn't have the heart to burst his bubble. "And he said I was the first person in two years to be honest with him!"

"I told you," Zayn said, laughing and wondering if he should point out to Liam that he was the last person to be honest with the teacher about something. "Did he say anything else?"

Liam started nodding his head so enthusiastically that Zayn was afraid it would bounce right off his neck. Reaching out, he grasped both sides of his head, laughing when Liam did. "Yes. He had me stay after class. Told me that as long as I remain honest with him, even if we have differing opinions, I can drop my three lowest homework grades at the end of the semester!" Liam threw his hands in the air and let out a whoop of joy and doing a ridiculous little shimmy.

Zayn kept shaking his head and laughing, realizing that he still had his hands on Liam's face and dropping them suddenly before he did something stupid like pulling him in for a kiss. This was beginning to feel far too similar to some of his fantasies. He backed off quickly, not missing the hurt look on Liam's face.

"That's great, Liam. I'm really thrilled for you," Zayn told him, glad when the words took away the hurt, but there was still confusion lacing through his brown eyes.

"We need to celebrate!" Liam started looking up and down the hall. "Do you have a class now?" Zayn shook his head. "Great!" He grabbed Zayn by the wrist, dragging him down the hall towards the doors. Zayn kept apologizing to the kids they were running into, but couldn't help laughing. They made it outside and down the steps of the building before Liam stopped, causing Zayn to run into him.

"Why'd you stop?" Zayn asked, laughing.

"I want milkshakes to celebrate," Liam said. "Where can we get good milkshakes?"

"I know a million places to get good milkshakes, but only one to get great milkshakes," Zayn supplied as his mind went immediately to the diner that he'd discovered one night when he'd been having trouble staying awake at the library while studying.

"Lead the way," Liam said, gesturing and then smiling when Zayn looked at him for a moment before grabbing his wrist and breaking into a run.

Fifteen minutes later, they were sitting across from each other in a booth, Zayn breathless and Liam still looking like someone had brought down the stars and given them to him in a gift wrapped package. Zayn shook his head fondly when the waitress came over to the table, her eyes tracing Liam's face before a slow smile crossed her face. Liam looked uncomfortable, so Zayn spoke up. "Before I die over here, love, do you think you could bring me a water?"