Chapter Text
“Nice shot, Horan!” Zayn peers his head up when he hears Louis shout down on the field. With a glance at the boy in question, he quirks a smile and looks back down at the paper. He adds some shading to the right arm of the figure forming on the page. This has sort of become a routine, coming to the bleachers every Wednesday and Friday after school and watching the footie team practise while drawing his favourite player. He looks up again and sees Niall running across the grass with a shit eating grin, the kind that makes you want to smile too.
That’s one thing Zayn has never been able to get right. The smile. It’s going better today but Zayn is just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
There it is. The shading goes a bit off on the right of Niall’s smirk and Zayn officially gives up on life. You’d think after months of practise he would be able to get it right. He huffs as Louis calls out that the boys can go get changed. Zayn rips the piece out of his book and places it on top of his bag.
“Zayn!” Louis shouts, “I’ll be out in ten, yeah?” Zayn just sticks up a thumb in response before shoving his book in his bag and hopping down the bleachers to wait for Louis.
“Alright?” A very distinctive Irish accent says as a figure passes him. Zayn can only let out a grunt in response when he looks at the boy and sees bright blue eyes, shocking blond hair and a cheeky smile. Niall just laughs and continues on his way towards where Zayn came from. He can’t help but glance over his shoulder to see Niall saunter away. True beauty.
It’s just under ten minutes before Louis skips out onto the field with a huge smile on his face and his bag on one shoulder.
“Good practise?” Zayn raises an eyebrow at Louis’ gleeful expression as they walk toward the car park.
“The best,” Louis breathes, “Harry’s hair looks so good in those headbands and his thighs,” He lets out a sigh, “I just wanna give them butterfly kisses and eat him out ‘til he cries.”
“Right,” Zayn chuckles, “That’s a little bit too much information but I’ll take it.”
“Do you know what he said to me?” Louis says, completely ignoring Zayn’s comment, “He said ‘I think I’m made for goal. I’m really good with my hands’ then had the audacity to wink at me!”
“Who does he think he is?” Zayn mocks.
“I know, right?” Louis runs his hand through his damp hair, “He fucks with my head, man. I mean, I want to fuck him into next week, but I also want to cuddle him and make him breakfast, you know?”
“I know.” Zayn nods, thinking about Niall’s laugh and smile and general aura of being literal sunshine.
“Of course you know, you’re completely head over heels for Niall.”
“What?” Zayn splutters.
“Oh, Zaynie,” Louis pats him on the shoulder, “Do you really think I’m that oblivious, dear? You’ve been pining after that boy for just under a year.”
“I wouldn’t call it pining.” Zayn mutters.
“No?” Louis laughs, “Well every other human being with eyes would, my boy. You’re not exactly subtle.”
“I don’t even talk to him! I don’t have a chance to be ‘not subtle.’”
“I think everyone knows you don’t really come to practise for me, babe.” Louis waggles his eyebrows.
“Shut up.”
“Also, I bet that little book of yours is filled with detailed sketches of his arse.” Louis shoves at his shoulder.
“You’re such a dick.” Zayn shoves him back but can’t help the small smile that graces his lips.
“There it is!” Louis pokes at his cheek, “There’s that smitten little smile! You could’ve just told me, you know. No judgement here.” They stop at Zayn’s car and he unlocks it with a roll of his eyes.
“I didn’t think you’d judge me,” He pauses while they both climb in the car, “I knew that you’d mock me.”
“I would never-” Louis protests but stops when Zayn stares at him blankly, “Okay, yeah I would. But only gentle mocking.”
“Right.” Zayn states sceptically, starting the car and pulling out of the school lot.
“Like a little poke to the side?”
“Mhm.”
“Maybe a caress to the cheek or something.”
“What are you even talking about anymore?”
“I’ve got it!” Louis clicks his fingers, “Like a wet willy, but mocking.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“You don’t make sense.”
Zayn loves him.
Being alone helps Zayn think. He likes to just sit and take in his surroundings rather than have to focus on socialisation. That’s why when, at lunch the next day, someone sits down opposite him he automatically lets out a sigh. It can’t be Louis because they have an agreement that Zayn gets lunch alone to just unwind and eat in peace. As much as he loves him, sometimes Zayn needs time to himself.
“So,” The person starts and Zayn’s eyes widen where they’re staring intently at his book, “You left something at the bleachers yesterday.”
“I did?” Zayn looks up and tries to prepare himself for eye contact. It still hurts. Are his eyes always this blue?
“Yeah,” Niall smiles and Zayn can’t help but smiles slightly back, “It’s really good.” He slides a peace of paper across the table and his smile widens.
It’s the picture he drew of Niall yesterday.
Shit.
“Oh!” Zayn says, probably louder than necessary, “Um, yeah- I- that’s, um. I draw the whole football team. Gotta do something while I wait for Louis, right?”
“Oh yeah,” Something flickers across Niall’s face before it’s gone again, “Of course. Can I see the rest?”
“Um,” Zayn has a project for tonight, “Sure?”
“Awesome!” Niall stands again with his grin back on full force, “Bring them in tomorrow and I’ll be like your own little critic.”
“Cool.” Is all Zayn can manage to get out, but it doesn’t seem like he needs to say much for Niall to continue.
“Well, not really a critic,” Niall runs a hand through his hair, “More of a friendly commentator because your art’s really good! I’ll just give you compliments and stuff. Boost your ego, you know?” Zayn feels himself smile wider as Niall rambles on, “My ma used to be good at art. She’d paint trees and stuff but they were never as detailed as yours. Not that I think that’s a tree! It’s obviously me. It is me, right?” He relaxes slightly at Zayn’s nod, “I mean, I’m impressed. You’re really talented.” He bumps into someone as he starts to back away and mutters a sorry before turning back to Zayn with a hesitant smile.
“Thanks. It means a lot.” Zayn looks up at him through his eyelashes and tries not to look too flustered.
“Mhm,” Niall nods, “No problem at all, mate. See you tomorrow!” Niall quickly walks away and back to his table where Louis is also seated.
Louis looks at Zayn with raised eyebrows and he just shrugs in response with a shake of his head. Louis narrows his eyes and Zayn smirks, going back to his book with a rapidly beating heart and butterflies in his stomach.
“It’s like there’s no one else in the room when he’s there, you know?”
“Mhm.” Zayn mutters in reply, only half listening to Louis’ rant about Harry. It’s not that he doesn’t care, it’s more that he’s heard it all before. Plus he’s concentrating on something else. As he told Niall he draws the whole football team, he needs to rush some sketches to show him tomorrow otherwise his lying arse will be revealed and Niall will know he’s a creepy stalker. So Zayn is currently trying to quickly sketch Louis where he’s sprawled on his bed with a dreamy look in his eyes. He has most of it done so maybe he will be able to get most of the team done by-
“Zayn?” Louis’ shout breaks into his inner monologue, “Are you even listening to me? This is important.”
“Yeah, sure.” Zayn doesn’t bother looking up from his notepad.
“What are you doing?” Zayn doesn’t have time to react before Louis is snatching the notebook out of his hand and jumping back onto the bed and out of Zayn’s reach from his chair.
“Louis!”
“Aw, Zaynie,” Louis coos, “You’re drawing your beloved,” He lies on his back with a contemplative expression, “It’s really good. Why do you have to be so talented? Absolutely unfair.”
“Louis.” Zayn doesn’t know why he bothers.
“Why are you drawing me?” Louis sits up again, brandishing the picture like it’s crucial evidence in the case going on in his head, “You never randomly draw me.”
“No reason.” Zayn finally gets up and grabs the book back with a frown, “Just felt like it.”
“You’re a shit liar.” Louis narrows his eyes.
“You’re just a shit.” Zayn tries to go back to his drawing, hoping Louis will drop the subject.
“Don’t think you’re getting away with that, my boy,” Louis spins Zayn’s chair so it’s facing him and puts his hands on the armrests, effectively stopping Zayn from being able to escape. Zayn quirks an eyebrow, the only act of defiance he can manage in the position, “What’s with the drawing?”
“I’ll never tell!” Zayn yells.
“Don’t make me go bad cop on you!” Louis starts to smile and Zayn can feel victory around the corner.
“You’ll never take me alive!” He shouts in an overly dramatic New Yorker accent. Louis laughs and spins the chair from side to side.
“You’re no good to me dead.” Louis contorts his face into what Zayn thinks is an attempt of a smoulder.
“I’ll take this secret to my grave.” Zayn says as menacingly as he can, even throwing in a snarl.
“Seriously though,” Louis lets go of the arms in favour of dropping into Zayn’s lap, “You’re hiding something.”
“You’re not going to quit are you?” Zayn sighs.
“Never.” Louis smirks, knowing he has won this time. The fucker.
“It’s Niall.”
“Yeah, and?” Louis’ eyes bore into his and Zayn has to break eye contact.
“He might have found one of my drawings of him on the bleachers yesterday and I had to say I drew the rest of the team so I didn’t sound like a stalker and now I have to draw the rest of the team to keep up with the lie.” Zayn says quickly in one breath.
“Wow.” Louis swings an arm over Zayn’s shoulder, “You’re fucked.”
“Tell me about it.” Zayn lets his head fall back.
“Hang on,” Louis jumps back to his feet and scurries over to the bed and belly flops on it before rolling onto his side and resting his head in one hand while putting the other on his hip, “Paint me like one of your French girls.” He smirks.
“You’ve been wanting to do that for ages, haven’t you?” Zayn laughs, picking his pencil back up.
“You have no idea.” Louis groans as he rolls onto his back.
“If I die, play something good at my funeral.” Zayn says as he and Louis walk through the front doors of school the next morning.
“No worries,” Louis pats his back, “I already have the playlist on my iPod.”
“Good,” Zayn nods then stops, “Wait, what?”
“Forget I said anything!” Louis shouts over his shoulder from a few feet ahead.
“Louis!” Zayn hurries to catch up with him, shaking his head.
“Have you got the drawings?” Louis raises his eyebrows and presses his lips together.
“In my bag, yeah.” Zayn runs a nervous hand through his hair, “This is gunna be awful. It’s so obvious they’re rushed.”
“Proposterous!” Louis yells, “You’re an artiste, Zayn,” He does a ridiculous French accent and puts two fingers to his thumb in a weird gesture, “Your talents are unopposed.”
“You’re such a fucking dork.” Zayn raises an eyebrow at the shorter boy who simply snorts and looks ahead of them again.
“You love it.”
“Debatable.” Zayn mumbles, mind elsewhere.
“What do you think Harry is wearing today?” Louis bites his lip, as if holding back a smile at just the thought of the older boy’s ability to wear clothes.
“Maybe his uniform?” Zayn raises an eyebrow, “We live in England, it’s kind of compulsory.”
“But Zayn, you don’t understand,” Louis puts a hand on his shoulder and gestures in front of them like showing him a glorious picture, “He does it differently. It’s like a new style every day. Is he wearing a headband? A necklace? Maybe he has a manbun? What about some cheeky black skinny jeans instead of those rubbish slacks? Who knows, Zayn? Who knows. That’s the magic,” He lets go of Zayn’s shoulder with a gentle tap, “That’s the Harry way.”
“You know what I think?” Zayn mimics Louis’ action, “I don’t give a motherfuck.”
“You’re an arse hole.” Louis bats Zayn’s hand off with a scowl, but Zayn can tell he doesn’t really care.
“You lamenting about Harry is getting old fast. When are you going to get your shit together so you can just talk to each other about how perfect he is?”
“I could say the same about you and Niall.” Louis tries to deflect but Zayn sees the blush forming on his cheeks. He sees it.
“We spoke for the first time yesterday.” Zayn replies calmly, smiling in satisfaction when Louis’ blush gets deeper.
“That’s not the point!” Louis squawks, his hand flying out and hitting some poor, innocent year seven that walks past.
“Then what is the point?” Zayn raises his eyebrows.
“Is that the bell I hear?” Louis starts backing away, cupping a hand over his ear.
“The bell doesn’t go for another 10 minutes.” Zayn smirks.
“Shut up!” Louis turns and speed walks away, leaving Zayn to remember who he’s going to have to talk to today.
“Well, shit.”
When Zayn walks into the lunch room at 12:35 he’s pretty sure he’s having some sort of mini heart attack. This was a mistake. He should turn around, pretend he projectile vomited and had to go home, maybe he could say he had a stroke. But then Louis is waving him over to the table where he, Niall, Liam and Harry are sat and it’s too late.
“Hello, stranger,” Louis smirks at him, “Take a seat, dear.” He gestures to the empty seat beside Niall and looks all too satisfied by how much Zayn shakes as he takes it.
“Hey, Zayn.” Niall smiles easily at him and Zayn relaxes and tenses at the same time. He shouldn’t be worried, Niall is a nice guy. Yet he still can’t help but feel like his heart is going to jump out of his throat when he replies.
“Hey.”
“So you’re the famous Zayn we keep hearing about it.” Harry smiles at him from his place next to Louis and wow his dimples really are as deep as craters on the moon.
“Been talking about me, babe?” Zayn smirks at Louis who narrows his eyes. This is comfortable territory, teasing Louis. He can deal with this.
“Only all the time,” Harry rolls his eyes, “You’d think you guys were together.”
“You’re not, are you?” Niall suddenly interrupts with a frown, which is an unfamiliar expression on the boy’s face. Zayn can’t help but think it’s a little cute.
“Nah, I’m way too good for him.” Zayn lifts his chin up as Louis squeaks in protest.
“No you are not!” Louis insists, “Just because you have incredible bone structure does not mean you are out of my league.”
“It kinda does,” Niall tilts his head in thought, “I’d rather do Zayn.”
“Would you now?” Louis doesn’t bother looking at the boy, instead giving Zayn a look that says ‘are you hearing what I’m hearing?’.
“Um,” Niall coughs, “I- uh- What’re the plans for tonight’s footie practise, Louis?” Niall changes the subject completely and Louis looks exceptionally smug.
The conversation flows lightly after that and Zayn mostly stays out of it. He tunes in whenever they’re talking about something other than sports, which isn’t often. It seems whenever the subject turns away from physical exercise, Niall quickly turns it back with an overly loud statement. Obviously it isn’t a normal thing as the rest of the boys look just as confused as Zayn whenever it happens but go along with it anyway. By the fifth time, Harry decides to take the plunge.
“Niall, are you alright, mate?” He asks with a concerned frown. If he and Louis think they don’t notice that they’re playing footsie under the table at this point, they are very wrong.
“Hm?” Niall sounds like he has been snapped out of a daydream, “Yeah, ‘course. Hey Zayn, can I see those drawings now?”
“Um, sure.” Zayn’s going to get whiplash soon from all the sudden subject changes, but moves to get his book out of his bag anyway.
“Wow,” Niall’s eyes widen as he flips through it, “These are amazing.”
“It’s really nothing.” Zayn tries to brush it off but Niall is having none of it.
“No, really,” He turns the book so the rest of the boys can see it, “He’s fucking amazing, isn’t he? Could be a professional or summet.”
“These are really good.” Liam agrees from Niall’s other side.
“A real artiste.” Harry does the same gesture Louis did earlier and the boy in question looks unbearably fond as he ruffles Harry’s curls.
“Honestly,” Zayn takes his book back and stuffs it in his bag before anyone can complement him anymore, his cheeks are too red already, “It’s not that impressive.”
“You shut your mouth,” Niall says with surprising conviction, “You’re incredibly talented, Zayn. You should be proud of that.”
“You’re so adorable when you’re cooing over people.” Liam smiles at the blond boy, only slightly teasingly.
“Shut the fuck up you little bastard.” Niall smacks him upside the head but he’s laughing. The conversation starts up again and Niall turns to Zayn with a light in his eyes.
“You’re really good,” He smiles slightly and leans closer, “Could I keep that one I found? I know I gave it back and stuff but it’d be really cool to have some art of myself,” He shrugs and rubs the back of his neck, “’S’not often you get people doing amazing drawings of you, you know?”
“Yeah,” Zayn tries not to blush or stutter, “Sure you can. I have lo-” loads of you at home, probably not the best thing to say when you don’t want to sound like a stalker, Zayn, “No problem with that at all.” He saves with a wince.
“Awesome,” Niall doesn’t seem to notice as he smiles brightly, “Thanks.” Zayn pulls out the book again and takes the folded picture out of the back of it and passes it to Niall. Their fingers brush and Zayn takes in a quick breath.
Niall is still smiling at him and Zayn is still smiling at Niall but the moment is broken when Harry lets out a bark of a laugh and slaps a hand over his mouth.
“What on earth was that?” Louis teases and eventually all of them burst into giggles at Harry’s ridiculous outburst. Zayn can’t help but feel slightly at home with these boys sat around him, especially with the warmth at his side, smiling like the God damn sun.
Niall catches up with him just as they’ve left the lunch room, sounding out of breath but still smiling.
“You’re coming to football practise today, right? It’s usually just us four that go for the extra practise.” Niall informs him like Zayn doesn’t already know.
“I’ll be in the bleachers like always.” Zayn tries to get away before he can embarrass himself but Niall places a gentle hand on his arm that immediately stops him.
“No,” He huffs a small laugh and looks to the ceiling, “I meant you could sit to the side of the field?” He looks back down at Zayn and shrugs, hand still on Zayn’s bicep, “You could join in a little?”
“Sport and I don’t mix,” Niall’s face falls so Zayn quickly continues, “But I’ll be there to be your guys’ cheerleader.”
“Now, you in a skirt,” Niall laughs, “That is a sight I’d like to see.” He looks almost surprised at the fact that that just came out of his mouth, and Zayn is too. They both just sort of shuffle their feet and look anywhere but at each other for a moment before Niall clears his throat, “Well, I’ll be off to politics. See ya later.” With that he practically runs away and Zayn is left the wonder what the fuck just happened.