my step-brother's best friend // ziam

Chapter Seventeen

“Well, what’s your plan?” I asked.

“If I could sleep at your house for a couple of days and make it seem like I did move to Bradford and you can go along with it, yes, no, maybe, not really, probably, please?” Zayn said with a little kid voice.

I sighed, “Of course, you’re invited here,”

Zayn squealed like a little girl, “Yes! Thanks Niall!”

I heard a knock in the door and there it was, Zayn with a tired face, but still maintaining a small smile in his lips. The taxi that had brought him here was driving away into the horizon and Zayn had his luggage in hand, but dropped it at the sight of me.

“Niall!” He came in for a hug and I accepted it without a second thought.

“Zayn, mate, come on in,” I pulled back and opened the door wide as a welcoming gesture.

Zayn dropped his bags next to the entrance and kicked off his shoes, “So, who won the game?”

“Ireland, suck ittttttt,” I smiled widely and chuckled.

Zayn smirked, “I would trust me,” Zayn winked at me.

I smirked and winked at him cheekily, “I’m flattered you would,”

“So, what are the sleeping arrangements?” Zayn asked.

“Depends how long you’re staying for because I was going to be a lovely friend and let you sleep in my bed, but if you think you’re gonna stay here for more than a week you can have the sofa,”

Zayn shook his head at me, “You’re evil,”

“Have the bed, I’ll sleep in the couch today,” I said.

Zayn shrugged, “You sure though?”

“Yeah,” I replied.

“Well, I’m going to bed, today was an awfully long day,” Zayn said while stretching to try and touch the roof.

“Night,” I said and laid in the sofa and let my thoughts consume me…

I felt bad for Zayn, Harry was a nice friend. Full of fun memories and jokes and laughs, but there was truly a fine line between fun Harry and asshole Harry. Fun Harry was the Harry we all thought we became friends with. The one that wouldsay random shit and say blunt jokes and just the one you can have a fun time with. Asshole Harry was the worst Harry. Asshole Harry is the one that bosses you around and tells you what to do.

But, I don’t think Zayn is friends with Asshole Harry. I think Zayn is friends with another side of Harry a side of Harry that he created. I thought it might be Jealous Harry because maybe Harry feels threatened by Zayn. That’s my theory, maybe he feels like Zayn’s shadow since they are pretty similar. Maybe Harry thinks Zayn has the entire spotlight and Harry doesn’t like that. They do have the same likings after all… That’s just my theory as to why Harry is such an ass to Zayn and not only Zayn, but Zayn’s and Liam’s relationship…

Niall’s POV – PRESENT

It had been over three weeks and a half since Zayn came to my house. We still had the same sleeping arrangements because I will not allow him to sleep in the sofa no matter what argument or protest or how many times he stomps his foot on the floor. This is because he just looks so weak, so heart broken and awful.

He had a mix of purple and red bags under his eyes, he looks pale and gaunt. He looks so haggard that it’s disturbing. No matter how many times I offer him food he rejects it and says he’ll cook some for himself later. But, I know that he can’t cook and I’ve also been observing him and he hasn’t been feeding himself. It’s not only disturbing, but his good looks have vanished. His hair has gotten thinner and his arms and legs look bony… He looks so… so haunting.