Contrary || l.p.

12. Peas in a Pod

Liam shut the door behind me and armed his car as we both walked towards the school. He passed me my binder that he held as he helped me out of the car, and I took it with a thankful smile.

"So," I began, "have you thought about working at Barnes & Noble?" I asked him, hoping that he would consider.

"Of course I have," he told me. "It's one of my options. It would be great, coz I'd get to spend more time with you and stuff." By the way he said it, he sounded a little embarrassed, but I found it adorable how someone who looks so bitter would say something so sweet.

A smile crept up to my lips as the words left his mouth.

"But, there are still quite a few jobs at the mall that could offer me higher pay, so that's better than anything," he mentioned with a smirk and I pouted.

He chuckled with a roll of the eyes. "I'm kidding," he said and nudged me. "But at the same time, I have to expand my choices in case I don't get the job, you know?"

I gasped. "I can talk to Vic! He's the manager, and we're really close," I offered with an excited grin.

He sighed. "I'd like to get my own job without any favors, Jess. Plus, it's too much I ask from you."

"But-"

"Shh," he zipped. "End of discussion."

"Liam-"

He stopped and placed a finger on my mouth, looking me dead in the eyes. "I said end of discussion," he whispered, then proceeded with walking.

I rolled my eyes and stepped through the gates of the school with him following close behind.

As soon as we did, Zayn, Niall, Louis, and Harry came walking towards us.

"Is that how it is, Jess?" Niall spoke up with his arms raised in the air. "You dance with Liam for two minutes, then steal him away from us?" he joked.

I laughed and rolled my eyes. "Hi, guys," I said and went to hug each of them individually.

"We're serious, though," Harry said after I gave him a hug. "When did you two get so close? From what I remember, you two hated each other when you first met."

I shrugged and smiled. "People change when you get to know them better."

"We're just two peas in a pod," Liam added as he smoothly tossed his arm around my shoulders.

Zayn chuckled. "Yeah, this is weird."

"Shut the fuck up," Liam and I joked together.

"Whoa. Now they're even acting the same," Louis threw his hands in the air. "What the hell is going on?"

"We sold our souls to the dark lord of the underworld and sacrificed a few cats in order to maintain our friendship," Liam shrugged. "No biggie."

I bit back a laugh as the guys' expressions shifted from confused to shocked.

"That's the scariest thing that has ever come out of your mouth..." Niall said, wide eyed. "And I've heard you cursing after you guys lost the football game."

I laughed and leaned closer to Liam as he began laughing as well.

Realizing what I did, I stood up straight, expecting him to drop his arm, but he kept it there, restructuring his grip to be slightly tighter.

I felt myself blush.

Zayn whispered something to Louis, who turned to me & Liam, and smiled. He then muttered something back to Zayn with a nod of his head.