New Beginnings. (Jiam AU)

Chapter 13.

Liam's POV

Zayn calls me up a couple days later, inviting me over to his place. I reluctantly agree; and now I'm seated on his couch, next to Harry, across from Louis, who is seated next to Niall. Zayn sits by himself on the loveseat, his arms crossed over his chest, his lips pursed in thought.

"So," Niall starts, "What're we all doing here?"

Zayn snaps out of his thoughts at Niall's question, a soft smile on his lips as he shrugs. "As you can probably see, Perrie and the girls are out of town, and I-"

"-am not going to act like one of the girls for you. We know how much you like it, but I'd rather not." Louis interrupts, a cheeky grin on his lips.

"Fuck you," Zayn glares at the man, a hint of humor in his voice.

"I'd rather not. El's a really good-"

"Don't want to hear it," I say, glaring at Louis. He and Zayn were the only ones with steady girlfriends, and somehow, it managed to annoy me.

"What are we here for, anyways?" Harry presses on, running his fingers through his curled, messy hair.

Zayn's serious demeanor is back. He takes a deep breath before speaking. "Perrie's coming back from South Shields this Saturday, and I'mgoingtoproposetohersopleasehelpmegetmyshittogetherbecauseIdon'twanttofuckanythingup."

"Zayn," Harry starts, "Talk slower. I can understand Niall when he's drunk better than what you just said."

"Hey!" The blonde interjects.

"Love you, sugarplum." Harry says, winking at Niall.

That earns an eye roll from Louis and I.

"Oh, Allah," Zayn groans. "Perrie and the girls are coming back from South Shields this Saturday, and I'm going to propose to her. Propose. Marriage. I need you to help me get my shit together because I'm freaking the fuck out, and I hope you're happy for me because I'm happy."

Nobody speaks for a moment. I guess we were at a loss for words.

"I'm happy for ye, mate." Niall is the first to speak up.

"Yeah, the first in the band to get married." Harry says, nodding.

"Next thing you know, you'll be the first in the band to have a baby." Louis says jokingly.

"Woah, wait," Zayn says, a grin on his lips as he speaks, shaking his head. "That won't be in the near future. Besides, I think someone's already claimed that title." His eyes flit towards the other boys before resting on me.

"Someone in the band? Who?" I ask, curious to who in the band it was.

It couldn't be Louis, he was far too detailed with his sex life and always specified which condom he used. I shudder at the thought.

It couldn't be Niall, he hasn't gotten laid in ages.

It couldn't be Zayn, because he just told us that someone else already laid claim to the title.

It could be Harry, but I was pretty sure it wasn't, because his relationships were mostly publicity stunts.

It sure as hell couldn't be me. I barely went out, let alone get any action. I always used protection, anyways. At least, I remembered to.

Zayn freezes in his seat, his face pale at my question as he casually shrugs. "Uh, I don't know... I'm just saying one of you would get someone pregnant before Perrie and I get any action."

"Kill the visual. Better yet, just kill me." Louis winces, his eyes shut. Harry reaches across the table with a shake of his head, slapping the grown man on the cheek.

"What do you need us to do?" I reluctantly ask.

"Glad you asked, Li." Zayn grins, launching the band into a detailed conversation about how he wanted us to be at his house on Thursday and Friday to set up the tent in the backyard and how the chairs had to be set in some specific order, and how the movie screen had to be on one side- no, it's the other side, he said- and what movie to watch, and he breezed past all of the basics of Saturday's events in less than an hour.

"That was the fastest I've ever heard you speak, Zee." Harry says, arching a brow at Zayn, who was panting.

"Love. Ring. Hiding place. Louis." Zayn responds, glancing at Louis, who looks as bewildered as the rest of us.

"Me?" Louis says, pointing to himself.

Zayn nods, collecting himself before speaking. "I need you to hide the ring for me. I kept it in my underwear drawer until Perrie came home. I'm scared she'll find it."

"Two questions, mate." Niall says, clearing his throat. "How long hav' ya been plannin' this, and doesn't Perr fold yer underwear?"

Zayn's lips curve up into a crooked smile, his voice sincere. "A long, long time. I love her a lot, you know. I started doing the laundry so she wouldn't seem too suspicious."

"Okay, wait. Why me?" Louis asks, his eyes wide. "Why not Harry or Niall or Liam?"

"Because it would be funny if Eleanor found the ring and thought it was you who was going to propose?" I suggest, waggling my brows at Louis.

"I'm going to have to hide it in my ass if that's the case."

"Visual. Fucking visual, Louis. Stop. Please." Harry says, squeezing his eyes shut.

"I'm kidding!" Lou replies, his gaze focused on Zayn. "Seriously. Why me?"

"Because you're the oldest, and I know you'll keep it safe, because I'll bash your head in if you don't." Zayn states.

"Fair enough," Louis says. "Can I see it?"

"Yeah, I've got it here." Zayn says, a grin gracing his plump lips as he reaches into his pocket, pulling out a red velvet box and slowly opening it, his warm, caramel eyes lighting up at the glimmer of the ring. "Is it good?"

"I do, Zayn. I do." Louis mumbles, his icy blue orbs focused on the ring in the box.

Zayn chuckles softly before closing the box, handing it to Louis. "Keep it safe until Saturday, bring it here, and I will forever be indebted to you."

"Will do, captain!" Louis says, giving Zayn a salute before I speak up.

"Hey, what are Perrie and the girls doing in South Shields?"

"Yeh, why'd they leave?" Niall asks curiously.

"Something about looking for Jade and her daughter. She had a breakdown, I guess." Zayn says, still awash in nostalgia of the ring.

"Jade? Daughter? I didn't know she had a kid." Harry says, furrowing his brows.

"Yeah, she does." Zayn responds.

"Who's the little girl's dad?" Niall asks.

"I-"

"-Probably some douche that used her or something," I say, shrugging.

"Yeah," Niall says, "It's a shame. She's nice."

"It's okay, she's happy. She and El and the rest of Little Mix hung out once. She couldn't stop talking about how nice Jade was and how bubbly her personality was."

"Jayla's really nice too," I say, a smile on my lips at the thought of the little girl. "She reminds me of someone. I still can't quite pinpoint who."

"Li," Zayn starts.

"Yeah?"

"You're good with kids."

"Uh.. Thanks, I guess?" I say, unsure of how to reply. His compliment had just come out of the blue, but I pay no mind to it.

"Yeah." He says, dismissing the conversation with a nod.

"So, about Friday night... Can we have a sleepover?"

(I kinda hate how this chapter ended. I like the rest, though. I felt like you all needed a bit of Liam. Enjoy, and tell me what you think! I love you all! x)