Touch | zouis

Chapter 8

This was something Zayn doesn't remember experiencing before the accident.

The wind blowing against his face and the smell of seawater filling his nostrils with the sand slowly wrapping around his feet as he sunk down.

There were so many different things he could feel, the gentleness of the wind, the softness of the sand, the warmth of the sun and this feeling of happiness inside of him.

It's true, he was happy.

The happiest he's been in a while.

Right now, it was just him, the sun, the ocean and Louis. This was possibly all he could ever want.

Zayn took a few steps forward, his smile growing when he felt the warm water tickle his toes and then the soles of his feet and then engulfed him up to his ankles.

This water was different from the lake water behind his house. This water was warmer and.. thicker, like it was harder to move through due to its density.

"Louis?" Zayn said loudly over the rush of the wind. A small hum came from behind him and then Louis was standing next to him. "Can I ask you something?"

Zayn reached to his right until his fingers were interlocked with Louis'. "Go ahead," Louis answered, his hand holding onto Zayn's hand tightly.

"How'd you convince my parents to let me come here with you?" Zayn licked his lips and stepped closer to Louis until he could feel his warmth.

"Didn't need to convince them. I asked your dad and he was all for it," Louis said truthfully.

"Really? They must really trust you." Zayn's lips are curving into a smile once again.

"Do you trust me?" Louis asked quickly.

There was a moment where only the sound of waves crashing against their calves could be heard, nothing else. Just them and the sea.

Zayn tightens his grip of Louis' hand. "More than anyone."

There it goes again, Louis' stomach filling with those butterflies that never seem to rest their wings.

"You trust me?"

Louis wastes no time to answer. "I trust you, always." It's too quick, Louis knows that but he doesn't care. He doesn't need to think about it, he knows he trusts Zayn.

When Louis saw Zayn's smile, something inside of him flipped like a light switch, turning on every star and sun inside of him.

His heart was expanding with every thump, to a point where his heart was pressing against his ribcage and he could hardly breathe.

Today was the last day before Louis went back to college, Zayn knew that but he didn't see any point in mentioning it. Louis wouldn't forget him, right? They'd still be friends like they've always been, they didn't need to see each other everyday to be happy.

Although he had hope Louis wouldn't forget him, there was always this thought that maybe he would.

Louis had Harry and tons of other friends at college that were better than Zayn. Ones that were funnier, kinder, and more independent.

"I'll miss you," Louis whispered, his lips near Zayn's ear and their arms pressed against each other.

"I'll miss you too," Zayn replied. He licked his lips and rubbed the back of Louis' hand with his thumb. "We'll talk."

Louis nodded. "Yeah, we'll talk." He smiled.

Would they really talk though?

"I leave at eight tomorrow morning, by the way."

"You won't stay at home?" Zayn knew Louis wouldn't.

"Nah, it's a better college experience if I stay on campus." Zayn nodded and found himself dreading tomorrow.

"Do you really have to though? Can't you change your mind?" Zayn asked.

"I already paid my bill, so there's no going back," Louis shrugged.

"But then I won't see you."

Louis felt his eyes burn before he bit down on his bottom lip.

"I realize how dumb that sounded but you know what I meant," Zayn stated immediately afterwards.

Louis laughed, loud and proud. "I love being around you, I'm always smiling when you're here," Louis said in between laughs.

That sound, much more beautiful than any song or melody Zayn's ever heard.

Zayn started laughing too, the corner of his eyes crinkling and his smile growing. They laughed for a while.

"Just don't forget me, okay?" Zayn said once their laughter died down.

Louis has always looked into Zayn's eyes, he's watched them move and watch the color shift inside of them, but he's never seen them how they are now. They weren't a faded brown like usual, but they were a bright golden, like the sun.

So golden, yet, so sad.

A sun isn't supposed to be sad like that.

"How could I forget you?" Louis let go of Zayn's hand and turned Zayn towards him.

He placed his hands on Zayn's shoulders and gave him a slight shake. "You're my greatest friend! I could never forget you!" Louis yelled. Zayn's lips curved into a smile.

"Do you really mean that?" Zayn's voice was higher and happier.

Louis placed one of his hands on the back of Zayn's head, his fingers laying flat on the dark soft locks. He pressed their foreheads together and stared into Zayn's eyes.

"You trust me, right?" Louis asked again.

"I do." Zayn seemed to be staring right back into his eyes.

"Then trust me that I won't forget you."