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Ziall - Maybe It's A Hangover

“I'm Zayn, by the way, don't think we've met?” The boy (Zayn, his name is Zayn) offers Niall a fist, which Niall just kind of stares at blankly before bumping his own against it.

“Niall.” He bobs his head in response.

“Nice to meet you, Niall.” The smile that the boy – Zayn, Niall reminds himself – gives him is one of those smiles that looks like it doesn’t happen very often. It’s not unattractive, or anything, just looks like Zayn’s not used to doing it very often. “Mate of Harry’s, then? Or did you just turn up accidentally?”

“Nah, I’ve known Harry for ages.” Niall gives him a quick shrug. He feels twitchy, twitchier than he’s used to feeling when he’s been drinking. Usually by now he’s a bit more languid, relaxed. “You must know him too, then, I’m guessing?”

Zayn laughs a little, his arms folding across his chest as he gives Niall a look that seems both patronizing and commiserating. “Of course. Everyone knows Harry, don't they? He's kind of a big deal.”

Niall laughs at that, shaking his head, because it's true. Harry is kind of a big deal, and Niall's really still not sure why Harry's stayed friends with someone like him for so long. “Yeah... Yeah, I guess he is, huh?”

“I didn't think he was this much of a big deal, though,” Zayn says, looking out toward the chaos around them. There are people everywhere dancing, and shouting, and Harry's going to have a shitload to clean up tomorrow. Niall's not going to help him, but he'll at least watch Harry do it, or something. Zayn continues, “Maybe I underestimated how much people like free beer.”

“Can you turn down free beer?” Niall shoots an incredulous stare sideways. “It's one of the only reasons I'm even here right now,” he admits, shrugging.

Zayn laughs. “I'm pretty sure nothing else would've got me here. I hate shit like this.” He waves a hand toward the mob of people. “I like beer and I like Harry. Everyone else, not so much.”

“How d'you know Harry, anyway? You definitely aren't in school with us. No way I'd forget a face like yours,” Niall concludes, blinking over at Zayn. Really, he is ridiculously attractive. It's actually a bit disconcerting. How many beers has he had, again?

A small smile crosses Zayn's lips, and he adjusts the way he's leaning against the door. It stretches his body out long and lean with his elbow propped up against the wall so that he's touching the back of his neck. It's, well, it definitely shouldn't be legal if it is. Niall wants to lick him, a little bit. He gives his beer a betrayed look and then realizes, yes, he is more drunk than he thought he was.

“Nah,” says Zayn. “I go to St. Mathews, but Harry and I went to the same primary school. He's the only one I've kept in touch with.”

“Ah,” is all Niall manages at first, eyes trailing over the smooth column of Zayn's neck. He clears his throat, setting his beer bottle down on the table next to them. “S'pose that explains why've never met you before. Harry's been one of my best friends since year two.”

Niall watches Zayn nod and then he continues, “Erm, what year are you in, then? Same as Hazza?”

“Year above him, actually.” Zayn rolls his eyes. “It was mental when we were kids, trying to get around with this curly-haired menace dogging all my steps. Couldn't have been cool if I wanted to be.”

Niall lets out a loud vibrant laugh, biting his lip quickly to smother it. Zayn’s the same year as Niall, then. “So, you're off to uni next year too, then?”

Niall's not really sure why he asked, this is the exact subject he's been trying to avoid all night, but something makes him want to learn everything he can about his new party companion.