Chapter 91
{Liam}
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Zayn looked up at him with a frown. Dressed in a plaid red shirt and jeans, he looked incredibly good, his messy hair combed to the side. Liam smiled encouragingly, but Zayn still frowned back, clearly not pleased with today's plans.
"Jayn hate kindewgawden," he stated loudly. Liam knelt down to pick up the zip up sweater Zayn had thrown to the floor in anger. He really was against the whole idea of leaving for kindergarten, despite the fact that he would only be leaving the house for a couple of hours.
"You'll love it," Liam promised, Zayn letting him pull on the black sweater. A small penguin was imprinted on the front like a logo and Liam poked it, making a goofy face at Zayn. The child broke into a grin and giggled, and the mission was accomplished.
"I'm sure you'll make friends there too," Liam told him, standing up and offering his hand. Zayn grabbed it as they left the room, a thoughtful look crossing his features. "But Jayn have fwiendsh. Loueh, you, Hawwy and Nawiall! And Mawia. And Gemma and Anne. And maah."
Liam laughed as they walked down the stairs. He'd picked maah from Niall who called Maura that a lot. Maura didn't seem to have minded that Zayn started calling her that too, and the two of them had become so close after their little art collaboration. Their art of Niall still hung on the fridge though since Zayn stated that good things should be on the fridge. And so the old set list and schedule days had been taken down.
"Someone looks dashing," Louis commented, lifting an eyebrow at Zayn who grinned.
"This will be interesting," Liam said, nodding towards Harry. He'd decided to come along since Harry knew the principal and Niall was offering his place. Louis had to go be their representing man at the little gathering Simon had ordered to mark up the Azoff takeover over the managing of the new album (which would be marking its release in November).
"Loueh look deshiing too," Zayn said happily, cheeks turning a slight pink. Louis laughed, holding out his fist for Zayn to bump. "Come on, mate."
As Louis led Zayn to the foyer to put on a jacket and shoes, Liam turned to Niall who was covered in blankets, scrolling through his phone. "Still don't want to come?"
Niall shook his head. "I'm fine staying at home this time. It's just a meet-up after all." He looked up and showed the screen of his phone. "Haven't caught up with all these new epsidoes of Game of Thrones."
Liam rolled his eyes playfully. "Don't watch the Office before we get back."
"No promises."
They arrived after most of the parents had picked their children up, and only a few kids were present. Zayn looked at the three to four kids warily, walking closer to Liam. "Ish thish adoption chentwre?"
"No, this is kindergarten," Harry chirped and he skipped forward. "Come on!"
Zayn tilted his head as he watched Harry's excitement curiously. Liam suppressed a laugh when Harry skipped forward and ran into the main door. He groaned and held his nose tightly, shooting a look at the door. Zayn giggled though and Harry made a face at him. "Don't laugh!"
This only made Zayn laugh harder and he hid himself behind Liam, thinking Harry was going to attack him. But then the door opened and a woman with blond hair pulled up in a ponytail walked out. She smiled politely at them, her gaze drifting down to Zayn. "Hello."
Zayn didn't answer, his eyes widening. Liam squeezed his hand gently. "Uhm uh hello," Zayn said shyly, digging his sneakers into the ground, hand holding Liam's hand tightly.
"Well aren't you shy," the woman commented with a gentle smile. "I'm Amy. Come on in."
Harry and Liam introduced themselves and they followed her inside. Since it was Liam's first time here, he looked around curiously. They passed the kitchen where colorful cups and plates were placed on the table. Another room held mattresses that had been moved to build forts, and the whole sight brought a smile to his face. Zayn would enjoy it here.
They were shown into an office where a brunette was talking on the phone. She looked up and greeted them with a smile and nod. "Yes, Ms. Matthews. No, it's fine as long as he doesn't forget to take his clothes home. Yes. Goodbye."
The woman sat up straighter and greeted them cheerily. She motioned for them to sit and Liam pulled Zayn onto his lap.
"Mr. Horan?" The woman asked, looking at Harry unsurely as she pulled out a form. Harry laughed slightly. "No, I'm Harry. Styles."
"Oh yeah, right. I'm Glenn," she introduced herself to Liam. "I don't think we've met before."
"No, our other friend was here, Niall. I'm Liam," Liam explained with a smile. Glenn nodded. "Nice to meet you." She then turned her attention to Zayn who shrank back. "And you must be Zayn, is that right?"
Liam rubbed his hand comfortingly when he didn't answer back.
"Yeah," Zayn mumbled quietly, holding Liam's hand tightly. He looked at Harry, shaking his head, an upset look on his face. Liam frowned slightly, understanding that Zayn was trying to tell them he didn't want to join. But now that they had decided to keep him, they would have to raise him properly. And that wasn't going to happen if he was going to cling to them in every meeting, studio session and interview. They were already starting album promo next week.
"So what do you like to do, Zayn?" Glenn asked friendly. Zayn shrugged, glancing down at his lap. "Play, dwaw."
"Have you ever been to kindergarten before?" Zayn shook his head. Glenn smiled. "Then sadly you won't be here long since you'll be turning four soon, and then starting preschool."
Not understand what she was saying, Zayn glanced up at Liam. Glenn asked a few more questions about what his interests were and what TV shows he watched. She then passed them a page of the schedule he would be following.
"Thursday is trip day," Glenn explained, pointing to marked day on the schedule, the word TRIP written in bold letters. "We went to the park yesterday. Just different places every week. Zayn will be given a schedule every Monday, and it'll be written in advance where we're going so that you can prepare him accordingly. Other than that, we have nap sessions for the younger kids." She smiled at Zayn again. "But I'm sure he's too old for that."
They talked about when he would be joining and she suggested he could join on Monday, which would be too early for him to go. But then again, his mind was already set so it didn't matter much, he would protest anyways.
After a bit more information, she followed them out. The sun was setting by now and Liam motioned for Paddy to start the car. The kids had been picked up he assumed, since the ground was empty. The air was cold and sharp, making him freeze in his single sweater. He glanced down at Zayn who's teeth were chattering as he fumbled with the zip of his sweater. Harry noticed too and leaned down to zip it up.
"I'm excited for you to start here. I'm sure you will make many friends," Glenn told Zayn, crouching to shake his hand. He shook her hand timidly, not saying anything back. They bid her goodbye and left the kindergarten, being careful to close the gate after themselves.
"C-cold," Zayn mumbled. Liam lifted him up and rubbed his arms. "The car will be warm. Did you like the kindergarten?"
"No," Zayn replied, burying his face in his shoulder. "It like adoption chentwe."
"It's a lot better than that," Harry promised him, a smile on his lips. "We'll follow you the first day and you'll say yourself that it's fun here."
Zayn shook his head. "Jayn won't."
"And what if you do?" Harry teased as he opened the car door and climbed inside.
"Then Jayn give evewybody candy," Zayn said with a proud grin.
"You don't have candy," Liam told him, shutting the car door. The heater had been turned on and the warmth was soothing. Zayn relaxed against him. He then looked at the two with a mischievous smile. "Jayn have candy."
"What? Where?" Harry asked with a gasp. Liam tried to hold back his smile and he pretended to be shocked. The kid didn't have any candy, that's for sure. Unless he had rifled through the left kitchen cabinet, or Louis' drawer, or the stash under Liam's bed. Oh and then there was Niall's cupboard. Okay so he could have maybe gotten some.
Zayn laughed, enjoying their shock. He placed a finger to his lips. "Shhh, shecwet."
"Come on, tell us," Harry said, puckering his lower lip.
"Nope."
"Please," Liam begged. "We're dying to know."
Zayn seemed thoughtful and he shrugged. "Okay, but don't tell Nawiall and Loueh."
"We promise," Harry said, looking genuinely curious.
Zayn motioned for them to lean forward and they did. Glancing at Paddy cautiously, he leaned in too. But then his eyes lit up and he pulled back. "Jayn only tell if no kindewgawden."
"Zayn," Harry whined, and Liam laughed at the child's antics.
Zayn shrugged, face lit up. He really thought he was outsmarting them and that he had a leverage. Liam leaned forward to kiss his forehead. "Okay we'll think about it."
The three year old smiled widely. "And then Jayn tell you candy."
Though Liam was sixty percent sure Zayn had no candy, he smiled and nodded, the forty percent curious to know if he was wrong.
<><><><>A/N<><><>>>
Kind of a filler chapter, but sometimes they're needed. Also, IMPORTANT MESSAGE: I'm doing another Q&A. You send in a question for any of the characters in this story (or me), and they'll be answering it in the next update. If a lot of questions come, I'll be updating the next chapter along with the Q&A. Feel free to ask anything you want!
Also, 200k READS WOHOO. THANK YOU FOR SO MANY READS, VOTES AND COMMENTS 😘
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