Chalk Dust || z.p.

four

Time for me to move up
So many hours have gone

~ BeFoUr. Zayn J Malik

>>>>

zayn exited the building, but first, he need to sign out. since the timetable was changed the previous day, marcel got all his classes in the morning and early afternoon, what a lucky guy. so, niall picks him up as soon as he's done or marcel just goes to niall. boy, they're so in love. niall owns a cafe - the one louis works at - and works there late mornings and afternoons. marcel joins to help him whenever he's not so tired. so that makes zayn as the only casual staff member to leave the school last.

zayn saw the usual security guard sitting at his desk behind the small Plexiglas - that barely reaches the level of his chest - dressed in his baby blue half-sleeve shirt, with the words 'security' embroidered on the sides. he always imagined that he'd had such a toned figure underneath that uniform. he reached for the log book to sign out, silently wondering if he could ever have a proper conversation with the guy.

"mr. malik" he greeted with a smile.

zayn looped the final letter of his name and looked at him, "liam, we've been through this, call me zayn."

zayn liked the way liam's name rolled on his tongue. so, he uses it as much as he can. liam leans back in his chair and zayn is half tempted to scold him for doing such a thing.

"and extinguish this wonderful routine that you and i have established? perish the thought" liam smirked at him. challenging him.

"working hard?" zayn smirked back.

"hardly working" liam replied without missing a beat.

zayn caught some familiar voices coming from the small television screen in front of him and angled himself to get a better view and when he saw the display, he gave liam a pointed look.

"clearly. really liam? tom and jerry?" he asked, amused at the viewing pleasures of that mysterious, cool, calm and collected man.

"jerry's a genius! get's away all the time! i'm amused at how the cat still chases after him even after so many failed attempts. As a security guard, it may help for when I thwart criminals that try to bypass or outsmart me" liam half shrugged.

"only if they're less than a feet. what if they're taller?" zayn arched an eyebrow.

"then it looks like i'd actually have to do some home work" liam replied sitting straight, with a childish grin that could turn the hardest criminals into jelly.

zayn chuckled and conceded to his logic, enjoying the casual and easy banter that seemed to flow between them without any awkwardness.

"well, as a teacher, i'll be damned before i ruin one's education. please continue your stories" zayn turned to leave.

"no wonder why the kids love you" liam said just above just a whisper.

zayn paused to think back on his last lesson.

"they weren't so loving when i gave them their homework this afternoon" he repkied, not really knowing if he was meant to hear liam's remark in the first place.

"don't let the kids grind you down. you hear a lot being in the background" liam gave him a comforting smile and turned his attention back to telly screen without waiting for a response, as if he hadn't spoken at all.

"goodnight mr. malik" he greeted, without looking at zayn, dismissing him.

"goodnight liam" zayn smiled at him.

.

and as zayn sat in the front porch with his black coffee mug, his brain skimmed through the memories from past ten days and all the changes. especially to that conversation with the puppy-eyed lad, which got him all worked up.

< few days ago >

"mr. malik!" liam greeted as zayn exited the building.

"it's zayn for you" zayn smiled sweetly.

it's just something about liam that makes zayn's insides go soft and warm. he can't help but smile affectionately at liam and liam is so wonder-stuck in that smile of zayn's, where his eyes crinkle, the tongue presses to the back of his teeth. liam wonders how his smile always reaches his eyes.

"how was your day?" liam asked ignoring zayn's previous statement.

"oh. interesting. how was yours?" zayn asked back.

"hmph" liam sighed "lacks that exact thing"

zayn chuckled at his boring expression.

"you should try something else, maybe" zayn shrugged, still a small smile dancing on his divine lips.

"oh how i wish" liam shook his head pushing the log book towards zayn.

"wish, it is" zayn signed out.

"mhm" liam nodded "you take what life gives you, mr. malik. sometimes, it's just confusing and tiresome. we struggle to change it and cry over it. but that's how it's planned" 

"you seem so confident" zayn appreciated.

"have you seen a snowflake? a very close look, i mean" liam asked, raising his eyebrows.

zayn nodded.

"if god - or whatever the supernatural power - has put that much detail in a snowflake, he -or it- must have put as much detail in your life also. just as beautiful. but you just gotta wait and welcome everything" liam smiled. 

zayn froze. he never expected such deep words from liam. he shook his head fondly as he noted how a dimple forms under liam's eye on his left cheek, every time he smiles. zayn feels confused yet confident. he now believes that he may or may not have a little crush on this man.

"you've a better place to be, liam" zayn spoke, putting the pen down.

liam just shrugged with a smile. and the next words didn't go unnoticed.

"everything's in place right now, mr. malik. even the chalk dust"

but zayn wasn't sure if he's meant to hear them or not. so, he just walks away with a nod.

>>>>

word count: 1000