I'm Still Me || Zaniam

12. Issues

Niall has never felt any better. He's with someone who makes him feel special and wanted, while also having a group of friends that always have his back.

The Irish boy couldn't ask for a better situation, even if something was still eating away at him in the deeper part of his heart.

He threw away all of the thoughts that he could though, focusing on specific tasks at hand that gave him this pure joy and happiness in his life.

Zayn, his greatly paid job, his group of friends and family, but also Liam who seemed a bit off again.

Niall didn't want to think about him too much as his feelings for the English boy were pushed in the very far back of his mind, but he couldn't help it.

He had to know what the issue was and try to figure out a way to fix it. Even if those feelings and the attachment that he had for Liam was being ignored, he wouldn't leave him behind for a second.

Zayn noticed this trend still happening and got very jealous whenever he saw the pair together, them smiling and laughing at whatever they were talking about on different days.

It made him very angry as well, to the point where he'd have to talk with Niall privately to discuss the matters.

It always only lead them to sneak a quick make-out session, the Irishman leaving the room they were in afterward with messy hair and a very wrinkled shirt.

Zayn would come out looking the same each time, sneaking a quick kiss from his other half before getting back to work.

Liam continued to see this occur and felt that strange aching in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't pinpoint what it was, but he didn't care about it too much as he spent more time with his best friend.

But that same feeling faded whenever he did spend time with the younger male, his smile seeming more genuine and realistic when being by his friend's side. Nothing else matters when they are talking, but it does matter greatly when they're apart.

Liam can't fight the feeling of wanting to be by Niall's side, in a normal type of way. It was like he needed the Irish boy to be calm and happy as when they're apart, he feels broken and alone all over again.

Bringing this up to his younger friend can only cause issues for him, so hiding his feelings seems like the right passage for him, at least, that's what he thinks.

Nicola and Ruth have only gotten progressively more worried for their brother though, as they could hear him either sobbing or groaning during the night when he wasn't with Niall.

They felt awful for him and knew that the only way to calm him down was to bring the Irishman over and it would always work out in Liam's favor, but Zayn grew more and more tired of this ongoing and childish issue. Niall didn't know what to do about it.

Seeing his partner go off to be with his friend constantly, rather than with him seemed wrong.

Sure, Liam needed support at times, but so did Zayn whenever he had an episode here and there. He needed Niall just as much as Liam did, but it's completely one-sided as Niall always goes to Liam when he needs him by his side.

It nearly happened again after a rough shift, Niall receiving a call from the boy as Zayn wiped down the counter in front of his Irish partner. He could hear Liam complaining on the phone, it being clear that he had been crying for a bit.

Liam always has these episodes, just like Zayn does whenever his demons come out to play, but Niall usually pays more attention to the younger male.

The elder male wasn't having it though, as he had then grabbed Niall's phone and turned it In a matter of a few split seconds.

“I know that Liam needs you constantly, but so do I, Niall. The fact that you always go to him rather than stay with me is agonizing because Liam and I have the same issue, but you leave me alone. You know how that makes me feel?” Niall sighed, carefully leaning forward and placing a slow kiss on Zayn's lips.