boys //ziam

chapter twenty-one

"what are you doing?" noah asks when he walks into the room and sees his twin brother talking to himself.

"practicing for when i make my youtube channel. how's this," oliver says. "hello guys, welcome back to my channel, my names olly and today, i'll be singing a high note."

"you can't even do a high note," noah says.

"really? then what's this?" oliver asks before breaking into a screech that leads to his brother covering his ears.

"that was terrible," noah says.

oliver frowns at him. "shut up, you're just jealous of my talent. bet you can't even do a high note."

"i can probably do better than you," noah says.

"yeah? then show me," oliver requests.

"no," noah shrugs.

"see, this is why you don't have any friends," oliver says, making sure to hit a sore spot.

"i get it, i don't have any friends, i'm boring and i creep people out," noah mumbles. "you don't have to keep repeating it, i already know and i'm not bothered anymore."

"whatever," oliver says, though something feels off about noah but he's too proud to apologize to his brother.

...

the house is practically empty, everyone seems to have gone out so zayn decides to watch a movie in his bedroom alone. only a few minutes in and there's a soft knock on his door.

"come in noah," zayn says. he's lived with his kids long enough to know each of their knocks. jordan and oliver usually just barge in, lucas and noah both knock but noah's is the quietest.

noah comes in with a sad look on his face.

"what's wrong baby?" zayn asks, concerned. he doesn't play favorites with his kids but he's always had a soft spot for noah.

"is there something wrong with me?" he asks, his lips wobbling and he looks like he's about to cry any moment. zayn's heart breaks so he quickly envelopes his youngest son into a hug.

"no no baby, of course not, why would you think that?" zayn says. noah sobs into his shoulders.

"the other kids are so mean to me," he says. "and no one likes me."

"don't say that, i love you and so does your dad and your brothers," zayn says.

"but you're my mom, you're supposed to like me. and olly is my twin but he hates me," noah laments.

"your brother doesn't hate you."

"he does, he joins all the other kids to make fun of me," noah whimpers. "and he's only nice to me at home but sometimes he isn't. i feel so alone mom,"

"what? who makes fun of you?" zayn frowns, ready to fight. "and why didn't you tell me?"

"some kids at school," he mumbles.

"and your brother joins them?" zayn asks.

"sometimes," he looks down. "please don't be mad at him, and don't say anything to him too."

"of course i'll talk to him about it, this behavior is unacceptable," zayn says.

"no, mom, please. he's only going to hate me more," noah pleads with tears falling down his face.

"i can't let his behavior just slide by. i promise he doesn't hate you," zayn says.

"yes he does! and this is why i didn't want to tell you, because you're only going to yell at him and make it worse," noah says.