ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ 133
[Zayn]
Zayn sat on the couch, staring at Ziam, an upset look on his face. He'd stopped crying when they had gotten inside, Harry rubbing his back. But Louis had locked the door when he'd tried to run out again. Now Zayn sat on the couch, upset with them all. He wiped his eyes with a huff, his backpack now clutched in his hand. Liam had taken the little tree cookie that was his, but Zayn wanted to be there when he opened them. He sniffled and pulled out the other things he'd made. A bracelet for each boy, a cookie for each boy, and a card for Harry and Maria.
Niall sat down beside him, staring at the things that were spread on the couch with a smile. "Did you make all this?"
Zayn nodded and lifted the bracelet that he'd wrapped in yellow paper. "Thish ish youw."
Niall looked at him fondly and accepted the little paper present. "Thank you. Can we open it now or is it a Christmas present?"
Zayn shrugged, fist coming up to wipe his moistened eyes. His wet eyelashes fluttered upsettingly as he thought about Liam not being here to open his presents with them.
Niall leaned forward and hugged him. "Liam's not going forever, kiddo. You'll see him again and we can Skype or FaceTime him."
Zayn had no idea what Skype or FaceTime was. He leaned into Niall's chest and pouted. "But Jayn don't want Liam to go. I want Liam to be hewe, with you, Louis, me and Hawwy," he said before his eyes widened suddenly. Did Liam leave because he was angry at him? Zayn hadn't meant to upset him with the cigarette thing.
"Niall," Zayn said quietly, pulling away. He looked up at the blonde boy with wide teary eyes. "Liam not leave because he angwy, wight?"
Niall chuckled softly and shook his head. "Of course not. Liam's not angry at all. You can talk to him tonight, yeah? If not, then surely tomorrow morning."
Harry walked out of the kitchen with a tray of man-shaped biscuits and Louis followed behind with four glasses and apple juice. Zayn's eyes lit up and Niall ruffled his hair. "Maria's going to be gone on her holiday as well, y'know, so she thought to bake us all something special."
"I'm going to call her, do you want to say thank you?" Harry said softly, leaning forward to fix his hair that Niall had ruffled into a mess. Zayn wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and nodded. "Can we save shome fow Liam?" he asked as he slid off the couch. Louis smiled. "If you want to, then yeah."
"I hope they don't disappear in the middle of the night," Harry mused, sending Louis a look.
Louis poured himself a glass of apple juice and took a sip. "Maybe Liam will come in the night and eat them."
"Liam will have to share with me too as well," Niall piped up, sending Louis a look as well. Harry rolled his eyes playfully and pulled his phone out. While he called Maria, Louis placed two biscuits on Zayn's plate. "Have you ever had gingerbread men before?" the older boy questioned, bumping his shoulder with Zayn's. Zayn shook his head and looked at the biscuit curiously. It was shaped like a man alright. A funny looking man.
"Well, here's your first try," Niall said and motioned for him to take a bite. Zayn took a bite and the biscuit tasted different; a little spicy, but tasty. He took another bite and Louis smiled, pouring him a glass of apple juice.
He thanked Maria for the gingerbread men, who wished him a Merry Christmas in return and then he ate gingerbreads with the boys, saving two for Liam, before he turned back to his own presents. "I make cookies today too," he said proudly, placing the remaining three paper bags on the coffee table, which was strewn with crumbs. Zayn placed the cookies on the right side and then frowned as he pulled out the card he'd made for Maria and Harry.
"Can I take?" Louis asked and reached for the paper wrapped bracelet, eager to see what it was. Zayn sent him a stern look. "Peyshence."
The boys laughed and Niall sent Zayn an amused look. "You've learnt a new word."
Zayn smiled and pointed to the red one. "Hawwy." He pointed to the green one. "Louis." And the yellow one was of course, Niall's. He pushed the packs to the boys who curiously opened them. Harry gasped in surprise as he looked at the bracelet. "This is amazing! Wow!"
Zayn grinned proudly, blushing slightly. Louis lifted the bracelet up and slid it onto his dainty wrist. "It's even the right size. Zayn, you're amazing!" He sent Harry a mocking look, who grinned and nudged him. Niall pulled Zayn in a hug, peppering him with kisses. Zayn let out a laugh and pushed him away, and Niall ruffled his hair. "And I even get a cookie, now you're talking." He took a bite out of the cookie that had been wrapped in serviettes. Zayn smiled shyly. "I make them. With my fwiends."
"They're so good," Niall praised and Zayn smiled widely. He turned to Harry and Louis who nodded in agreement. Harry picked up the card Zayn had made for him, the colorful bracelet a stark contrast to his black tattoos. He smiled and turned the card around to them. "That's a very sweet heart, thank you very much, Zayn."
Zayn smiled happily. "You'we welcome! I put blue glittew in it."
Louis leaned over Harry's shoulder to peek. "Yup, there's a lot of glitter alright. Why don't I have a card?" He asked as he looked at Zayn, pouting. Zayn smiled sheepishly. "I don't had much time. And Hawwy said to make him a cawd."
"Since you don't have kindergarten tomorrow, why don't we all watch a movie?" Niall suggested and Harry sprang up. "I'm making popcorn."
Louis jumped on the end of the couch, the one that was pushed against the wall. Basically, the best spot. Zayn huffed and climbed up beside him. Louis scrolled through the different movies on the telly, Zayn's cookie in his other hand. "Which one should we watch? I want something wintery, christmasy."
"Let's watch Beauty and the Beast!" Harry called from the kitchen. Niall rolled his eyes and shuffled closer to Zayn, pulling out a blanket.
"Nah Haz, I'm putting on Home Alone," Louis called back. Harry hummed in approval and walked out the door with popcorn in bowls. Zayn grabbed one and smiled widely, settling back onto the couch. He felt much better, cheered up even.
Harry dimmed the lights and pouted when he noticed there was no space beside Louis or Zayn, and the spot beside Niall was too far away. He grabbed another blanket and threw some pillows on the ground, pushing the coffee table away. Home Alone started playing on the screen as Harry got comfy below them, back rested against the sofa. Zayn poked his head, twirling a long strand of hair with a giggle. "Hello."
Harry looked up at him, his bright green eyes shining in the light. He leaned up and pecked Zayn on the nose. "Hello."
Louis smiled fondly and Niall poured them all apple juice. And that's how they spent the rest of the evening.
Already fifteen minutes in, Zayn bursted into laughter. Kevin's mother just realized Kevin was gone and she was screaming. The rest of the movie was definitely spent with laughs and giggles.
↠↠↠↠↠↠↠↠↠↠
That night, Zayn was kissed by three boys instead of four. He was tucked in bed and wished good night by three instead of four. And he stared at the ceiling through the dim light of the hallway, frowning. He tried to reassure himself that Liam would come back. The boys had said so, Liam had said so. But he couldn't get the thought of what if he didn't out of his head. He couldn't sleep.
So he grabbed Ziam and slipped out of bed. His feet padded softly against the floorboards as he walked towards the closest room, Niall's room. The blonde boy was sleeping soundlessly on his stomach, cheek pressed against his pillow. Moonlight peeked between the curtains that were draped over the window, and Zayn wadded over to the bed, climbing up. Niall had the duvet spread over his legs and Zayn climbed up on the boy. Niall merely grunted and Zayn lay down on Niall's back, arms hugging the boy from behind. He lifted his head with a frown and leaned down to pull the duvet up, covering the both of them.
And that's how Zayn fell asleep, on top of Niall, with Ziam by his side. Niall's even breathing calmed him down, and the rise and fall of his chest resulting in the rise and fall of Zayn's small body as well.
It seemed pretty comforting last night, but next morning, Zayn had flipped over on Niall's back and was lying on his own back. Ziam had tumbled to the other side of the bed and Zayn had been sleeping peacefully...until his whole ground rumbled. Niall turned around and Zayn was shoved to the side. The boy let out a cry as he fell over the bed and landed on the floor with a thud.
His cry made Niall, who was now lying on his stomach, lift his head up. The blonde boy blinked groggily. "Zayn?"
Zayn sat up and rubbed his arm that he'd landed on pretty hard. He shot Niall an upset look, though Niall seemed completely oblivious. Sunlight spilled between the curtains and Zayn squinted as a beam shone on his face.
Niall sat up with a frown. "When did you come here?"
Zayn stood up and climbed back on the bed, scooting over to Ziam. "Jayn sleep hewe all night."
"Oh, really?" Niall asked, scratching the back of his neck in confusion. He glanced at the time and groaned. "Let's go back to sleep."
Surprisingly, Zayn was able to fall back asleep, this time curled beside Niall, Ziam's snout soft against his neck.
↠↠↠A/N↠↠↠
QOTC: any Christmas wishes?
xx