When Worlds Combine - A WWC Sequel

15; Ditching class, pasta, and PDA

"There was a song, do you remember?" Niall asks. "Something about the throat."

"'If you have a sore throat, that's surely a no. Benjamin's syrup is the way to go,'" Avery sings.

"Yeah, that's the one!" Niall shakes his head in disbelief. "Classic."

Our food is served and we all dig in. My first mouthful melts in my mouth completely and I widen my eyes at Avery. "This is fantastic," I cry.

"I know!" She grins.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Niall says, mouthful of pasta. "Louis called."

"Louis?" Zayn cries. "No way!"

"Was he at the reunion?" I ask. I don't remember seeing him, or Harry for that matter.

"Nah, he couldn't make it. Also Harry didn't show up either."

"So how's he doing? Where's he based now?"

"Well," Niall shoves in another mouthful, "he's in Manchester," another mouthful, "and he's in a football team."

"What, like, Manchester United?" Zayn asks.

"Yeah! That's the one!"

"What?! That's crazy!"

"Well, that's what I said," another mouthful, "but no, it's true. And he's playing his first real game this Saturday. He wants us all to go watch."

"In Manchester?" I ask.

"Yuh-huh. He's invited us all with fancy VIP tickets and everything," Avery chirps.

"Is Liam invited?" Zayn asks sourly.

"Louis sent him a ticket and called him multiple times, but he never responded," Niall says. "But, I guess he won't be coming seeing as he's in New York."

"Liam's in New York?" I cry.

"Didn't you know?" Niall looks at me as if he knows all there is to know in the world. "He lives there."

"What the hell does Liam do in New York?" Zayn asks.

Niall blinks, looking at us like we're complete idiots. "He's a famous model," he says bluntly.

I drop my fork just as Zayn spits out his food.

"I had the same reaction," Avery says.

"Liam's a model?!" I can't believe it, I never, ever guessed he would even consider doing anything like that. He's far too intelligent, far too headstrong and focused. A model? A MODEL?!

"Well, fuck," is all Zayn says.

"He's quite well known," Niall carries on. "He's been in quite a lot of them big magazines. Like Vogue and-"

"GQ," Avery adds.

"Yeah, they did an article on him." Niall looks at us both. "I seriously thought you both knew?"

Zayn and I just shake our heads. I'm still in absolute shock. I mean, there's no doubt Liam's attractive and of course a perfect model. But this is just so strange. So ... unexpected.

"Well yeah, that's Liam."

"He's crazy rich," Avery pipes in.

"Wasn't he always?" Zayn mumbles.

"So what about Harry?" I ask. "What's he doing now?" It's obvious Niall and Avery are the glue in our group of friends. They're the only ones who make an effort to keep us all together and know what each other is doing.

"Last time I heard he was living in a small beachside city. I think he takes some night classes there. He wants to become a teacher," Niall says.

"The beach?" Zayn repeats. "That's interesting."

"I think he wanted to go somewhere quiet," Niall says. "After the hype of high school died down he kind of realised that he was rather small in the big world."

"Is it crazy that these people are so .... onto it with their lives?" I ask aloud.

"I think it's good," Avery says. "We've all chosen different paths."

"Different paths is right," Zayn agrees.

We all finish our meals and continue chatting about the past. I'm reminded by how nice Avery and Niall's company is. It's like this everlasting presence that graces you and makes you feel whole, makes you nostalgic and happy and blissful. They're the greatest friends I've ever had. I think a lot of people think that way about Niall and Avery. I think they think that about each other.

"So we'll pick you up Saturday morning?" Niall asks as we all get to our feet after finishing eating. "We'll drive to Manchester. Louis' booked us into a hotel."

"Sounds good." Zayn nods. "How long will we be staying for?"

"Just the night. We'll aim to be back by Sunday afternoon. I know how important your classes are."

Zayn and I exchange a look and I blush madly and look away.

"Well, thanks for lunch," I say, reaching up to hug Avery then Niall. "I had a really nice time."

"Anytime!" Niall cries. "We have to do it more often. I miss you guys so much."

Zayn goes in for a handshake but Niall pulls him in for a hug.

"We'll see you on Saturday!" Avery cries as they leave the restaurant. "Byeeeee!"

Zayn and I give small waves as the couple potter off down the street, hand in hand, swinging their arms and whistling the same tune. I laugh.

"Why can't we be like that?" I ask Zayn as he walk in the opposite direction.

"What? Annoying?" He replies.

"I mean, why don't you ever hold my hand in public?"

"Because it's tacky."

"You think I'm tacky?"

"I think PDA is tacky."

I stop and plant a huge kiss on his lips. "You think that's tacky?"

He laughs, kissing my forehead. We start walking again and I feel his arm drape over my shoulders, pulling me in close.

"I can't believe Liam's a model," Zayn says.

"I know right!"

"I mean, I'm way prettier. Right?"

"Oh, Sargent Malik, you're the prettiest."

He stops walking and looks at me with wide eyes. "Did you just..."

I grin and move away from him. "That's right. I brought it back."

He moves towards me and I start running off,  laughing as we run down the street. He chases me around the corner before he finally catches me, wrapping his arms around me and lifting me up off the ground.

I squeal as he holds me up high and spins me around before bringing me down to kiss me softly. I smile against his lips, leaning against his chest and feeling the rapid rise and fall of his heartbeat.

"I thought you thought PDA was tacky," I whisper.

He looks me in the eyes and I'm thankful for his arms around me, because I feel as though I might faint. "Never with you, sweetheart."