Fake Tattoos • Ziall

Chapter 1

I can't do this. I can't go on like this. I need out. I need to die. I hate it here. I hate my life. I'm such a screw up. I wish I could just die already.

"Are you okay, Zayn?"

"Hmm, what?" I hummed, looking up at my art teacher. I blinked repeatedly, trying to get rid of the tears that had built up.

"Do you need to talk? You were rocking again." I blankly stared at her, trying to understand what she was saying.

"No thanks, Ms. H." I managed to utter after a few minutes. I was highly aware of the fact that I was in fact rocking again, my hands rubbing my thighs.

"Zayn," She sighed, giving me a look, "I don't want anything bad happening to you. Please talk to me if you need it. Don't close up, not again."

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to."

"I know. Do you want to stay here for the rest of the day? I can make a few calls if need be." She offered, picking some dried paint off the table I was sitting at.

"No, I think I'll try and go back to class." She nodded, turning away to set up supplies for her next class.

It was my lunch period and her prep so her room was empty. I always found myself in here every chance I could get. I was more relaxed in her room. She didn't judge me like everyone else in this school did.

"Thank you, Ms. H." I stood from my stool, picking up everything I had sat out to paint with but ended up zoning out and loosing myself to my mind.

"No need to thank me, just know I am always here for you. On a different note, have you met the new transfer? I have him in my photography class. He looked sorta lonely, maybe he could use a friend?" I shook my head, knowing what she was trying to get at.

"I don't need friends. Besides, I don't want to ruin the kids reputation already. If he is even seen in the same hallway with me, who knows what'll happen to him or I. We all know how menacing the people here are." I argued. Ms. H nodded, knowing I had proven a point.

"I just thought it would be nice for the two of you to have a friend. Sue me for trying. I'm just trying to look out for you, Zayn."

The bell rang so I said my good bye to her before darting out into the already busy hall, not risking being late to class again. The last time was humiliating enough.

I managed to stop at my locker to grab my text book, but was stopped by a hand on my shoulder. I tensed, not wanting to turn around but knowing I had to. I was panicking, the hand didn't seem familiar, and neither was the face I was met with.

"Hey, mate. Can you help me find- whoa, what happened to your face? Are you alright?" I could barely understand the boy in front of me, his accent not helping. I was so overwhelmed at the fact I had psyched myself up for a fist to connect with my face but it never came.

So overwhelmed, I ended up fainting.

~

Niall's POV.

I'm lost, great.

My eyes darted around the crowded hallway to see someone at their locker, not rushing somewhere. I maneuvered myself through the sea of students, placing a hand on the guys shoulder. I felt him tense, not really thinking about the fact I may have scared the living daylights out of him.

"Hey, mate. Can you help me find- whoa, what happened to your face? Are you alright?" I stared at the boys face, covered in black and blue bruises. His face remained stoic but his eyes panicked. I watched as they then rolled into the back of his head before he started to fall towards me.

I managed to catch the now unconscious boy, crushing my times tables that was in my hand. I struggled to keep him upright, not understanding what just happened. Did I really frighten him that much?

I looked around the hallway, my eyes catching sight of familiar hair.

"Harry!" I shouted towards him. I had to shout another time before I caught his attention. He gave me a funny look once he saw my predicament. He weaved his way over to me, stopping with his arms crossed over his chest.

"What the hell is this? Do you need me to kick this queers ass? Get off him, you piece of shit!" Harry ripped the boy from my hold, throwing him against the lockers. He raised his fist to punch the poor boy, only stopping when he realized he was already unconscious. Harry dropped the guy, allowing him to finally hit the floor, his skull making a nasty crack noise as it bounced.

"Why did you do that? I just was going to ask you for help to get him to the nurse, not put him in a coma!" I stared at Harry with wide eyes, not able to comprehend what just happened.

"Why would I help him? He's a fucking queer. He deserves to lay there." The bell rang again, signaling we were late. "Shit, I gotta go. Coach will be pissed." Just like that, he was running down the hallway.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? I can't leave the kid here, but I can't not just go to class. It's my first day for crying out loud!

"Hey, you! What are you doing out here?" Great. A hall monitor. I turned around to face a kid not much older than me.

"Sorry, I'm new. I don't know where I'm going and then he just-" I was waving my arms around frantically, gesturing to my crumpled times table and the unconscious boy.

"Mate, chill. I was only messing, I know you're new, that's why I did that. I normally don't give a shit." He waved off my ranting like it was no big deal. "First day and you've already knocked Malik out? Not bad, kid, not bad."

I stared at him, unsure as to who 'Malik' was, but I had a pretty good idea.

"I didn't do that! He freaked when I went to ask him for directions. I wouldn't hurt anyone." I explained, not quite understanding why everyone was treating this guy so badly. And was Harry a homophobe? It seems like it. Looks like he wasn't the greatest to befriend so far.

"Okay, calm down. It's fine. Where you headed?" The hall monitor completely dismissed the unconscious boy on the ground.

"Um, science?" I looked at the disheveled paper in my hand, nodding to confirm.

"Alright, I'll take ya there." He turned and started walking away, obviously expecting me to follow.

"Wait! What about him?" I called after him, not having moved a step. He stopped and looked at me.

"What about him? There's nothing we can do without ending up like that ourselves. Just leave him and hope for the best."

~

A/N: Chapters will be short for a while until summer when I have a chance to write long ones. Deal with it. Don't comment things like 'updATE!!!11!!' or 'make it longer' because that will make me update less and less. Constructive criticism is much appreciated though! Love you all, stay weird. Xxx