Customer of the Month

Epilogue

"I suppose all good things must come to an end."

Atop his perch on Zayn's armchair, Liam glances up from the man's sketchbook they were going through to see what he's referring to. It could be anything with such a perfectly situated vantage point, but one roarous laugh from behind the register and Liam's fairly certain he's found what he's meant to be looking for.

Niall's leaning with his hip against the register counter and his upper body tilted towards a brunette with fair skin now that she's the only person in line. She's also the only thing Niall's been able to talk about for the past two weeks, and the upcoming Customer of the Month.

Between Harry's nomination getting overridden for the second month in a row, Liam requesting the Friday before his birthday off, and the July florist bill coming out to be almost twice what it normally is thanks to an unauthorized order alteration during week two ("I assumed Liam ran it by you!" Harry had exclaimed in defense when Louis almost dropped to the floor as soon as he saw the bottom line), it had been quite the eventful staff meeting that morning. A real trainwreck that Josie had the pleasure of being an innocent spectator of.

"If this is about your free drinks, I think I might be able to talk to the manager," Liam replies slyly.

A coy smile grows on Zayn's lips as he shuts his sketchbook and crams it into the side cushion. "I'd appreciate that, but you owe me something else first." He gives Liam a moment to try and recall what that might be before coming out and saying it. "An interview. Well, not the full one, just the last question." When Liam's still lost, he points to the blackboard that Niall's now standing next to and going over for his prospective lover. "I told you that by the end of the month, you should be able to answer the last question with better responses than what you originally gave."

That's right, he did. Liam completely forgot about the wager they'd made. With the wild month he's had, how could he be blamed?

"So, Liam Payne, tell me. What three words can be used to describe you? Good words, that'll tell me who you are."

Who I am? Who I am. Who am I?

I'm not any different than I was when you asked a month ago. I've gone to work forty hours a week. I got a haircut like I always do on the tenth. I still haven't managed to set a new bench press PR. July didn't make me a different person, only gave me different experiences. I was able to explore fictional worlds. I started dating my longtime love interest. I dipped into my rainy day savings fund for the first time in a year.

I've learned how to be ok with the silence.

"Can I give you more than three?" He asks, proud of the surprise that strikes Zayn and continuing on once he gets a joyous nod of approval.

"Before this month, I forgot that I can be creative."

In his mind, a vile's drawn up to capture the fondness that's pouring out of the man before him.

"I'm dependable."

Without taking his eyes away from Liam's, Zayn brings his coffee up to his lips, its light colour similar to that of watered down whiskey.

"I've been told that I'm handsome. Which is a good thing," Liam adds quickly, eliminating any room for contest, "because it can overshadow the fact that I'm not booksmart. I'm people smart instead."

Above Zayn's short mustache, there's a small cut, left as a reminder not to shave pre-nap, always post.

"I'm brave," Liam says while staring at the line, too faint to turn into a scar, but fresh enough to stay for at least another several days.