Not Happening

Chapter 5

The library, more than anything, is Zayn's favourite place on campus. It might just be his favourite place in the whole world, actually. Maybe it's the books, which he's always been drawn to. Aisle after aisle, shelf after shelf of books. Or maybe it's because no one bothers him in the library. Everyone's too busy doing their own thing to talk to anyone else. And it's also the only sure fire place that Liam never, ever goes.

Which is why he nearly has a heart attack when he reaches up to grab a book, tugs it off the shelf, and turns to find Liam behind him. He looks so out of place. He's wearing his jersey today, unsurprisingly (it's like the team lives in those things during weeks that they have an upcoming game), and it's like seeing a lion in the middle of the ocean. It's like seeing a shark in the desert. It doesn't make sense.

"What are you doing here?" Zayn demands.

Liam looks uncomfortable, too. He shifts on his feet, crosses his arms over his chest, looks around. Maybe he's afraid of someone seeing him here or something. "I just -" He cuts off, running a hand through his hair. "You need to tell Niall you don't want to go to the party."

Zayn lets his arm drop to his side, book held precariously in his fingertips. "I wasn't planning on going to the stupid party anyway," he says.

"Good," Liam snaps. "I don't know why he'd even invite you. You wouldn't belong there."

Zayn raises his eyebrows, and that comment stings, just a little. But it comes from Liam so he doesn't let it bother him. "Did you really come all the way in here just to tell me that? How long did it take you to find the library, anyway?"

Liam glares at him for that. "Just text Niall and tell him you don't want to go, but don't tell him I told you to."

Zayn leans against the shelf. "And what's in it for me?"

"What's- You don't even want to go!" Liam shouts. In the distance, someone shushes him. "You don't even want to go," he repeats, quieter. "So just tell Niall that."

This isn't surprising. Liam goes from asshole to major asshole the closer he gets to a game. The fact that he went out of his way to come tell Zayn not to go the party probably has more to do with the fact that he needs an outlet for his nerves, and Zayn always seems to be it. That doesn't mean that it pisses Zayn off any less.

"Maybe I want to go, actually," Zayn says. "You know, I think I will." He leans the book on the shelf and pulls out his phone, bringing up Niall's contact. "I'll ask Niall what time I need to be ready-"

His phone is tugged out of his fingers without warning. Zayn reaches for it, but Liam holds it behind his back, his stupid bushy eyebrows furrowed together. "Why do you always have to be difficult?" he hisses.

"Give me my phone back," Zayn says carefully, going from irritated but amused to pissed in seconds. "How many times do I have to tell you not to touch my stuff?"

Liam slowly backs away from him, a grin on his face. He quickly types things out on Zayn's phone, while Zayn gapes at him. "There," he says. "I told Niall for you. You're welcome."

He tosses the phone and Zayn scrambles to catch it, and he only just manages. The thing is, Liam's an idiot. If he hadn't said anything, if he hadn't gone out of his way to make sure that Zayn didn't go, then Zayn wouldn't have. He had no intentions of going to that fucking party. He hadn't even told Louis or Harry about it because he knew they'd try to persuade him. But there's something about Liam telling him not to that makes him want to.

Which is why he presses Niall's contact and hits 'talk'. "What are you doing?" Liam asks, as Zayn brings the phone to his ear.

"Hey, Niall," he says cheerfully. "I was just-"