Moments In Time (One Direction Fanfiction)

Chapter 3 - Zayn, Niall, and Liam

As usual, Zayn couldn't get up. His blankets were too warm, his bed too comfortable, and his feet much too cold. He was never an early riser. He wriggled and felt the cold spot in the blanket where his body was not resting, and shuddered.

Yes. He was definetely not getting up anytime soon.

He peeked from under the blankets at his surroundings. He noticed that he was back in his old room, but a simple wrinkle of his brow was all that moved. Otherwise, he just laid there motionless, under the blankets. He closed his eyes again and went back to sleep.

--

Miles away from Bradford, Niall woke up expecting a pounding hangover, but he found that he had been wrong. Which was strange, on account, that he had always woken up with a hangover after a good night of partying. He didn't really feel any different, he decided as he stretched on the bed, yawning.

There was a queer quality to the air, something odd and mysterious that he couldn't figure out. Despite it all, Niall felt light, carefree as a child. He bounced out of bed in his green boxers and tank top and pulled on a jacket, because it was cold.

As he headed down the stairs, he felt good. He felt like he was still sixteen; still young and fresh and untainted (even though he could still hear the sounds of girls screaming, "Harry, give me your gravy!") He felt like a new man, a feeling he was not at all accustommed to in a long time.

His brother and his father were sitting in the kitchen, tensely. They didn't talk often. Ever since his parents had gotten divorced, his brother, Greg, had become sullen and gloomy and only ever talked in the prescence of his friends, much to their father's dismay. It was actually the X-Factor that had brought them back as a family, Niall knew. But instead of their usual "welcome-home's," they sat there quietly eating their cereal.

He gave an awkward smile. "Hey, I'm home."

His dad didn't look up from his bowl. "You were gone? Did you sneak out last night, Niall?"

Niall shook his head in confusion. "I was gone for a couple of months on tour. You watched me board the plane."

Greg didn't look up either. "You're so full of it." He muttered.

Niall raised a brow. "Really. You don't remember? You don't remember me boarding the plane to Chicago a month and a half ago?" He paused as the recognition didn't enter either of the men's faces. "Why are you all being so quiet this morning?"

His dad sighed heavily. "We're always this quiet. Where have you been for the last couple years?"

"Mostly in America. Doing talk shows. You know, the usual stuff," Niall tried to say modestly as possible. "Mostly we've been on tour."

"You and what army?" This time, Greg managed to look at Niall for a couple seconds before dropping his gaze. "I thought you were going for the X-Factor as a solo contestant. Like Justin Bieber or whatever?"

Niall wrinkled his nose. "What are you talking about, Greg?"

"You're going for it, aren't you? Katy Perry's expected to be at the auditions." His dad poured some more cereal in his bowl, as he shrugged his broad shoulders casually.

"I tried out years ago." Niall rolled his eyes. "What's this really about? Did I come in drunk or something... is this some kind of "welcome-back" practical joke?"

There was a honking at the door and the nervous tittering of teenagers outside and Greg stood up. "I'm going to go out with Declan and the crew today, Dad." He stood up abruptly and pushed open the front door before exiting, leaving Niall sitting alone with their dad.