Z.A.Y.N.

TRACK 8

Piping hot liquid threatens to burn Liam's tongue when he brings his mug up to his lips, the warm steam that hits his cheeks warning him to second guess taking a sip. The humid air should be convincing enough, but it's the smell of the chamomile coming from the cup that forces Liam to put it down on the side table next to him. When he'd picked out the tea bag in the shared kitchen located within the music studio, chamomile sounded like a good idea for easing his voice into singing at the late hour of half past eleven at night; he hadn't considered its sleeping properties that would render his voice unnecessary.

He's trying to decide which herbal blend to re-brew back in the kitchen when a thought strikes him.

If you haven't already left can u bring me green tea from the restaurant?

The Chinese green tea is exactly what would hit the spot. Now that he had the idea in his head, Liam really hopes that his text isn't too late, and Zain hasn't already started to make his way over from his day job.

Yeah sure. I'm headed out now. Should be there in 20 min

Perfect.

Louis wouldn't want to hear it, but Zain had actually been relatively punctual any time he met with Liam after work. For that reason, when he gets back into the studio he has booked for two hours, Liam picks up the guitar he left on the couch in the hopes of coming up with some sort of melody for them to work with before Zain gets there.

As much fun as he had dancing away his high two days prior, the impending due date for the album was fast approaching. Even though he's thrilled at being able to incorporate two more songs onto the track list, Liam knew that they were products of the two man team just warming up; the real hit was still waiting to be concocted.

Now more than ever, Liam felt like he needed to prove himself as an artist. Similar thoughts ran through him when it was time to introduce himself to the world as a real musician, let everyone see that he had matured and not given up after his bittersweet X-Factor days. Those were ultimately over ruled by a pent up hunger to release music to the public though. And while the success of that first album had allowed for him to make the second, Liam focused on making that music authentic to him, rather than worry about its success; he figured if the sophomore curse chose him as a victim, then at the very least he'd be able to proudly stand by what would be his last album. When that wasn't the case, and he'd been blessed, rather than damned, with another chart topper, he felt the pressure with the next album. The release of a four track EP in between the second album and now, was a product of those nerves.

Publishing those songs on an EP held the fans over until he figured out the third album, while also eliminating the worry that came with putting out songs that were from the reject pile.

Like an all acoustic track that sat at the bottom of the EP. It's not anything like the signature R&B/Pop associated with 'Liam Payne', yet Liam couldn't help it; the simple premise and string slapping was too good to keep stored in a vault, never to see the light of day. The lyrics might be overwhelmingly corny,

No one seems to understand the way I conversate

You have no idea how good it feels to be accepted

I can't help but to fall for you every day

I just can't believe someone like you exists

a stream of consciousness more than well crafted lines, but Liam loves it. It's him and he thanks being told no when he was younger so that he could take the time he needed to explore himself enough to know that; no doubt if he had stayed on the show - or god forbid won - he wouldn't have had the time or freedom to be able to figure out pure pop wasn't what he was destined to make.