They Don't Know About Us

You make me strong

Liam's POV

"I FUCKING LOVE YOU!" Zayn's voice kept echoing in my mind. His tear-stained face which looked like the definition of failure and sadness was branded into my memory.

'What have I done? The man was genuinely in it this time and was going to define the whole thing with the people around him. But, I had gone and ruined it. It was my fault, partly - well actually more than just partly. I should not have snuck up on him like that. I knew his thoughts on PDA when it came to us because of his presence inside the closet until now.'

Louis was in my room, curled up on the makeshift bed on the couch. I couldn't sleep. Trying to not think about the issue at hand, I scrolled through Twitter and had to instinctively draw my breath. There, on the social platform which was spread across the world, was a picture of me cuddling into Zayn with a smile on my face. Zayn was looking down at me with a soft smile. This was one second before he had shrugged off and walked away from me. It was one of the most beautiful pictures ever. Quickly I took a screenshot and saved the picture to my phone while also setting it as my background on my phone. Internally though, I was worried. There were multiple conversations about me and Zayn.

'Is #ziam true?'

'#ziammayne all the way!'

'They look like a middle-aged couple still in love with each other!'

'Watching Zayn and Liam carry Khai back to the side stage, made me realise that it was how a family should look. I ship Ziam!'

As usual, there were negative comments in there as well - as usual, I ignored them and ploughed my way through to get to the nice comments. By the time, my eyes started drooping with sleep, I was smiling with a certain warmth inside me. I just hope I will be able to make everything right with Zayn tomorrow morning.

When we all woke up the next day, I went straight to Harry's room to see and talk to Zayn. As I walked in, I saw Zayn still hanging on to Harry's arms and sleeping but shivering at the same time. Frowning, I made my way to them slowly, careful not to wake them. As soon as I was near enough, Harry squinted one eye open to look at me.

"He is sick," he whispered to me, trying not to wake up Zee. My frown etched itself further into my face. I leaned over the lanky green-eyed boy to place my hand on Zayn's forehead lightly - hissing at the way he was burning up. At my cool touch, he opened his eyes tiredly. They were burning red. I immediately ran to the closet in the hallway just outside the room. Pulling out an extra comforter, I went back and placed it over Zayn. Pulling Harry away, I let him lie down in a more comfortable position.

"Zee? Can you talk?" I quietly inquired and he nodded. "Can you tell me how you feel, love?" I asked him. He opened his mouth to speak but his voice was too feeble.

"Throat sore!" he whispered in a rough voice "Aches!" he went on a coughing fit after this and then looked back at me gesturing for water.

"I'll get it!" Harry called out and walked to the kitchen.

Just then Louis walked in with Bear and Freddie. Khai must still be asleep. With one look at Zayn, he shepherded the boys out of the room promptly telling them to play among themselves. Harry came back with a glass of warm water which Zayn tried to reach out for. However, since he was weak, the glass shook in his arms. I took it and sat down next to him, slightly tilting it to his mouth as he drank from it gratefully.

"Hurts so much Li!" his voice sounded a tad bit better. "Body, throat, everyt..." his last word was drowned in coughs again.

"Don't talk!" I said sharply and turned toward the door to see who was there - all three of them were waiting on the next plan of action. Looking at me, Niall picked up his phone and called Paul. Louis called Brianna to come and take care of Zayn for some time. Harry picked up Zayn's phone and went through the contacts until he got to Zayn's physician - who he proceeded to call to ask for advice on what had to be done. I felt rather useless for a moment, after which, I chose to sit down next to Zayn - after grabbing a fresh face mask from the draw nearby and wearing it- and stroked his hair softly. Zayn attempted to push me away but his hands were so tired that it was hard to imagine any strength was even going into his actions.