Can I Help You, Mr. Styles? (Zarry AU)

Ch. 20 - Stay.

A/N: y'all some lucky motherfuckers, i felt like writing today out of nowhere. everyone was mad at me that i wanted to start this book over so I GUESS i won't.
____________________________________

Third Person P.O.V.

Zayn checked the remaining texts on his phone.

Harry:

I'm sorry.

Niall:

Don't keep me waiting forever baby

Hey, you never came, are you alright?

Zayn??

I'm an idiot I'm so sorry.

It was the first school day since everything happened. Since Zayn's kiss with Harry. Since Zayn flaked on Niall. Since that emotional call with Justin while Liam was over. Zayn's heart was practically beating out of his chest as he thought about how he was supposed to face all three of these guys since everything that happened.

He stood on the sidewalk outside the entrance of the school building and took a deep breath, opening and closing his hands into fists until he finally wiped his sweaty palms on his baggy, cuffed jeans.

He tugged the collar of his too-big sweatshirt away from his neck and let out one last shaky breath before he stepped his Vans-clad feet, one foot in front of the other, up the stairs and into the building.

He stood at the front of the hallway, scanning it for any of the boys. He ran a hand through his hair when one of his rings got caught causing him to let out an embarrassing yelp, the sound making the two girls walking past him smile at him and giggle. His face flushed and he kept a low profile as he walked quickly but unsuspectingly toward his locker.

He kept his head down until he got close and then swiftly turned the dial to the numbers in his combination. He opened his locker and started transferring materials at lightening speed. As he was putting the last book into his bag—

Someone slammed his locker shut in front of him. Hard.

Zayn visibly jumped and his heart began to race at a speed that should probably land someone in the hospital. However, he slowly zipped up his bag and mentally prepared himself for whoever it could've been.

He turned to his right, making his eyes appear even more doe like than usual, just in case it was Justin looking for revenge.

His body slumped with relief when he saw Liam with a jovial look on his face. He immediately began attacking the taller boy with slaps and punches, to which Liam chuckled and raised his forearm to block Zayn's weak attempt at hurting him.

"Liam! Why would you do that?!" Zayn whisper-shouted.

Liam laughed again, "It was a joke, relax. What's got you so riled up?" he asked innocently.

Zayn gave him a bored look and turned on his heel to walk swiftly to class.

Liam jogged to catch up with him, still laughing quietly. "Which interaction are you afraid of?" he whispered quietly.

"Uh, all of them?" Zayn said, dumbfounded. "This is my first school day since kissing my teacher, basically getting broken up with and ignoring all of Niall's texts-"

"Wait you've been ignoring Niall's texts?" Liam asked, picking up the pace to match Zayn's speed. He was a surprisingly fast walker.

"Yes! What am I supposed to say to that backstabber?! The first relationship I've been in, in years, and he fucks it up for me and doesn't even tell me about it-"