HIGHWAY TO HELL - Ziam, Larry (Completed)

Chapter 5

     The "calm" reading day was stopped for the second time in a single week, but nobody was as anxious about it anymore. The book rested in its usual box, as the boys took their backpacks and jackets and left the warmth of the too familiar library.

- Do you have anything special in mind? - Zayn asked, not even trying to be subtle about his excitement.

     Liam looked up at his confident grin and smiled.

- You're the one who asked me out. Isn't this kind of your responsibility? - he teased.

     The librarian let out a full-hearted chuckle and nodded.

- Yeah, can't argue with that!

     They wandered in the busy narrow streets, slower than ever, not hurrying anywhere for the first time, just being there and engulfing the momentary union, the first moment Zayn didn't feel like playing with Liam, and Liam wasn't annoyed by him. After a few minutes Liam noticed they weren't headed anywhere particular. They were just walking wherever Zayn's legs went with Liam's following them blindly.

- What are you thinking about? - he asked Zayn, who looked quite concentrated.

- Just counting. - he shrugged.

     His eyes were narrowed, hiding the hazel orbs behind the eyelids, and his teeth kept biting the thin pink lips. He looked really into it.

- Counting what? - Liam asked.

     He couldn't think of anything that could be so important for Zayn to count like that, in the middle of the street.

- How many days passed since I first saw you. - Zayn answered calmly.

     Liam stared at him for a moment, but Zayn kept walking.

- And was it that hard counting to four? - he giggled, secretly hoping Zayn wasn't actually that bad at math.

     Suddenly Liam's head bumped into something. When he looked up it turned out to be Zayn's back. Zayn, who didn't notice he was walking a bit faster startled Liam with his sudden stop. The younger one brushed his hair away, as they fell forward after hitting the librarian's back.

- What? - he whined and rubbed his temple.

     Zayn's eyes widened again until his whole face brightened up again.

- You really think I never noticed you before? You practically live at my workplace. - he reminded.

     Liam nodded, as it was true. He visited the library almost every day. But how did Zayn know that?

- But you're new, right? - he asked.

     Zayn motioned for him to walk again, as they stopped in the middle of nowhere.

- Well, I'm newer than other employees, that's true. But it's been over a month since I started working there. - he explained.

     Liam's eyebrows furrowed, as he tried had to remember him. No success. None at all.

- But I never saw you there. - he whispered to himself.

     Zayn didn't seem surprised, though.

- I was mostly arranging some bookshelves away from your spot. Then Niall decided to share the desk duties with me. - he added, as it was obvious he was out of most people's sight when he was working under the shadows of the tall bookshelves.

     He turned around the corner and Liam followed him quietly, looking down and thinking.

- Still trying to understand how you never saw me? - Zayn asked, grinning to himself.