Perfect // 1D AU ✓

Chapter 16

~If you like to do the things you know that we shouldn't do~

The squad was waiting in the car at the curb, waiting for Niall, of course. Louis had wanted a donut, and as usual, had forced Niall to buy it for him from his favorite shop. Niall was happy to do so, was the thing, and he happily handed it to Louis once they got in the car. "Where to first?" He asked his mates.

"I need to stop by my apartment." Liam said, punching the address into his phone. "I have a bag there, and my clothes."

"Then, the dry cleaners is close by. We can pick up our suits." Harry said.

"Then, my apartment?" Zayn asked, and Louis nodded.

Rather soon, they were at Liam's apartment, and waiting in a parking garage across the street. "This is a good donut." Louis commented to Niall, who sipped his iced coffee silently.

Harry was on the phone with his mum, pacing outside the car. "Yes, mum. I'm going to get her a bag packed, and I'll walk her to the gate, make sure that she gets on a plane safely. And you'll pick her up at the airport. It'll all be fine." Harry was talking about Gemma, of course, and her plans to fly home for Christmas. Anne, Harry's mum, was still upset that he wasn't flying with her, but Gemma was a big girl. 25 years old.

After Liam returned, Harry went and got the dry cleaning, and Zayn all invited them inside his apartment, since he needed a few. He packed up some technical equipment, some clothes, and then he cleaned out his fridge, and then the group started walking towards the mall. Harry didn't want the group to come to his apartment - not even Louis. And all of Niall's stuff was already at the house, since he lived in New Jersey.

Target was separated into three different levels, and the group quickly found the travel section. They all clamored over each other's needs and wants. "Toothbrushes." Louis told them all.

"I can't use that toothpaste." Niall whined. "And I need more hair dye!"

"Deodorant!" Liam announced, putting some in the basket Harry was holding.

"I need lotion. I have very dry skin." Zayn said.

"Face wash." Harry said, reaching over Louis' head, which pissed him off.

"It's a nice hotel. They'll have shampoo and conditioner in the rooms. We just need to pack our clothes and the supplies for the job." Louis told them, trying to put the excess of stuff back on the shelves.

"I need this." Niall whined, holding up a baby bottle of hand sanitizer. "It's cute." They all glared at him, and he put it back with a pout.

Once they had checked out, finally, they went and got coffee. Liam was the one to take their orders, go up to the corner, and then come back with them a couple minutes later. "Iced coffee for Niall." He handed it to the blonde-haired lad.

"Hot chocolate for Harry."

"Did you get sprinkles?" The six foot tall man asked. "And whipped cream?"

Liam nodded. "Vanilla latte, Zayn." He handed it to the usually fashion conscious member of the group, but who today was just wearing a sweater that covered his hands, and glasses, along with ripped jeans. Zayn was very careful to not brush Liam's hand as he took his drink.

"Thanks," He whispered.

"And for Louis, a Grasshopper Mocha." Louis gratefully took his drink, and almost burned his tongue before his boyfriend covered his mouth and preventing him from drinking before blowing on it.

"Slowly, Lou."

"That's what she said." Louis said, moving his drink away from his mouth. "Anyways, where to? Are we done shopping? Does everyone have everything that they need for Vegas? Is everyone's health concerns taken care of?"

"Yes. I won't have another flare, because they are pretty infrequent." Harry smiled.

"I won't drink, and my doctor talked to the dialysis lab closest to the hotel, just in case. I'll go frequently before the trip. All my appointments are lined up and planned." Liam smiled.

"I mean, I'm bringing my retainer." Niall smirked, and most of them chuckled.

They walked down the street, and after a while, Louis put his hand in Harry's. Niall was having another fangirl attack about it, in that moment, and Liam looked over at Zayn, who stared down into his latte. But he seemed to be thinking about how he could never have what Harry and Louis had with Liam, even if he so desperately wanted it.

"You good?" Liam asked, slinging an arm around the boy.

Zayn shrank away from him. "Stop asking, please. It's only making it worse." He tried to take a deep breath, but he couldn't handle it anymore, so he ran ahead of the group who was making their way back to the car, threw his mostly full latte in the nearest trash can, and ran all the way back to the parking garage.

Niall looked back at Liam. Liam's face showed so many emotions at once, that his face was blank, but his eyes told the story, and Niall could see that. "I'll meet you at the car."

Liam turned and went back towards the Starbucks, the wrong direction. Niall ran to catch up with the couple, who didn't ask about the whole other encounter. Zayn appeared again once they got on the elevator. "We can't leave without Liam." Niall said.

Zayn's face was red from crying, and his hood was drawn in to help against the cold.

As Louis unlocked the car, Harry spoke. "Who's cup is on the car?" He grabbed it, and then handed it to Zayn.

"I threw mine away." Zayn sniffled, and noticed his name written on the cup. It was another vanilla latte.

"Liam said that he's walking back." Louis said, putting his phone back in his pocket. "I mean, that's a long walk, but alright."

Zayn stared down at his new latte, wondering how Liam could've gotten him a new one, got into the parking garage without him noticing, since he was standing right outside waiting for the others, and made it up to the car, before the others did.

Liam was a mystery. One that Zayn wished that he could forget.