Jinx

5

           Liam was sitting on the top step outside the front doors when Zayn came running out, nearly tripping over him. "You're late," Liam teased, handing over a napkin wrapped object and a bottle of water.

"You brought food?" Zayn asked, settling onto the step next to him and opening the napkin to reveal a blueberry muffin. He sniffed it before taking a large bite. "This is amazing," he mumbled around a mouthful of exploding muffiny goodness.

"Harry made them this morning," Liam said, smiling as he drank from his own water bottle. He was glad for the food when he'd woken up so that he could take his pain meds right away. He was feeling better than yesterday, but he was still hurting quite a bit.

"This morning? Does the boy sleep?" Zayn asked just before shoving the last bite into his mouth. "Can I bribe him for more?" Liam laughed, picking up a bag that was sitting next to him and handing it over. "Yes!" Zayn cheered as he pulled another muffin out of the bag.

"He sleeps, but I guess he was up texting with your roommate last night?" Zayn looked up, eyes wide in surprise, mouth wrapped around the muffin. "Louis, not Niall, believe it or not." Liam's eyes were sparkling, he was still surprised when he found a sleepy looking Harry standing over his bed with a bag of muffins and a wide grin on his face. "Guess they bonded in the time we were in the lift."

"We weren't in there that long," Zayn argued.

"Long enough, I guess." Liam stood and brushed off his trousers, blushing when he realized he was a bit overdressed as he looked from his chinos to Zayn's ripped jeans.

"No dress code at the museum, mate," Zayn said, standing and knocking his shoulder into Liam, tapping the done up button at the top of Liam's blue checked oxford. "You can change if you like." Liam looked like he was debating the idea as his eyes trailed over Zayn's snake shirt and leather jacket. "Although, I think you look right nice, so maybe I should change."

Liam shook his head. "You look great."

"So do you," Zayn assured, smiling. "Although..." he trailed off, looking thoughtful as he reached up and undid the first three buttons of Liam's shirt, revealing a bit of his chest and the top of the white vest he was wearing beneath. "Now, you look per-" He cut himself as he looked up at Liam's head. "Not perfect, but alright."

Liam ran a hand over his hair, feeling the soft bristles beneath and feeling self-conscious. "The curls, yeah?" Zayn shrugged a shoulder. "I had to get rid of them. It's how everyone identified me, ya know?"

"Yeah, plus you'd look like Harry if you still had them, but maybe you should grow out a mohawk or something." Zayn nodded as he glanced up. "A curly mohawk." They both laughed as Zayn pitched the now empty paper sack towards the trash bin and missed.

Liam picked it up and deposited into the receptacle before falling into step next to Zayn who was looking at his watch. "We've got to hurry or we'll miss the bus." He started to run down the street, knowing the laughter he was hearing was Liam poking fun at what Louis called Zayn's "penguin run".

"Or we can take my car," Liam shouted, laughing when Zayn stumbled to a sudden stop and turned to look at him. "May not like being famous, but it has its advantages." He pointed towards the lot to a black BMW that suddenly started as Liam fiddled with the key fob in his hand. "Wanna drive?"

"Can't," Zayn muttered, giving him a glare that was belied by the warmth in the hazel of his eyes, waiting for Liam to laugh at him.

"Shame, but not a big deal. Didn't get my license until just before I came here." Liam was quiet as they walked towards the car. "Didn't really have time to learn while filming." Zayn's step faltered, it was the first time Liam had mentioned anything about the part of his life and it had taken him by surprise. Glancing over he was glad to see a smile on the boy's face. "Wow, that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be."