His phone rang as he climbed into his car and Connor answered it without looking. “Yeah?”

“You’re done studying right?” Oliver asked.

“Define done.” Connor pulled out and drove down the road to where Oliver lived. “I’m coming over.”

“Are you ready for your exam?”

“Let’s not talk about that right now.” Connor turned the corner and he was so close to being at Oliver’s he could feel his heart race with excitement. “I’m almost there.”

Oliver sighed playfully into the phone. “Bring dinner.” Oliver hung up and Connor rolled his eyes a bit as he turned into the parking lot outside of Oliver’s apartment. He wasn’t sure if he loved Oliver yet or not, but whatever his feelings for Oliver were they were strong.

He dialed a number to the pizza place down the street and put an order in before he went upstairs.

When Oliver opened the door he looked disappointed. “I thought you were bringing dinner?”

“We have thirty minutes before the pizza gets here, can I come in or what?”

Oliver grinned as he stepped aside so Connor could come in and the moment the door was shut, Connor pushed Oliver up against the wall and kissed him fiercely.

“Thirty minutes you said?” Oliver asked breathlessly as Connor smirked down at him. “Come on.”

Connor followed him to the bedroom and closed the door on his way inside. The radio was playing softly in the background and as he watched Oliver move his laptop and books.

“You couldn’t handle even two hours of-” Connor shushed him. “What?”

“This uh… this is my new favorite song.” He looked away from Oliver as he said it and let the music fill their silence.

“It’s catchy.” Oliver said as the chorus started again.

“It reminds me of you.” He kept his eyes on the ceiling until Oliver climbed into the bed with him and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I know, it’s a stupid song.”

Oliver shook his head. “No, it’s perfect. I love it. I promise.”

Connor smiled at him and sat up. “So what movie do you have for us tonight?”

“What, you don’t want to fool around for a bit?” Oliver smirked at him.

“I never said that.” Connor sat up so their faces were just almost touching. “I just don’t want to watch the Terminator again.”

“What if we put the Terminator on and didn’t watch it?” He leaned in to kiss Connor again when a knock came from the door. “Go pay for the food and I’ll put on the movie.”

Oliver moved off of the bed and Connor followed him out to the living room so he could pay for their dinner. He handed over enough money to pay for the pizza and the tip and turned back to where Oliver was sitting on the couch, remote in hand.

“Oliver, something tells me this is going to be a great night.” Connor said as he sat down on the couch next to Oliver.

Oliver scooted close and took a piece of pizza. “Yeah, me too.” He smiled at him as he bit into his slice.

Connor leaned back against the sofa cushions as the movie started and for a moment nothing else existed besides Oliver and him.

“I see you got my number out of that book.” The voice sounded familiar…

“Uh, yeah I did.” Niall looked around. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Zayn, turn around.” Niall turned around and at the desk stood the owner to the mysterious number smirking at him. “I’ve been wanting to get your attention for weeks, I just didn’t know how else to do it.”

“How’d you know I was going to choose that book?” Niall looked back at the cover of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. “Did you put your number in all of the books?”

“You were talking about it when you came in last week.”

Oh.

Niall rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh, yeah. I forgot about that.”

“Are you nervous? You look nervous.”

“No, just surprised is all.” He said as he was trying to process what was actually happening.

“I’m going to hang up now.”

“No! Don’t go yet, is it my accent?” The line went dead and Niall frowned.

Zayn slid into the chair next to Niall’s. “I love your accent.” Niall blushed as Zayn pushed his long hair back. “Let’s go get a drink, yeah?”

“That sounds great.” Niall looked at Harry. “Are you going to be mad if I go right now?”

Harry shook his head. “I might actually get to read my book.”

“Thanks mate.” Niall programmed Zayn’s number into his phone before they stood up and left together.

“Can I help you?”

Zayn looked away hastily. “I-uh nope, nothing.” He buried his nose in his book again and tried to focus on the story but he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about those red stains. 

He had gotten through a few pages before the bang of the top of a washing machine made him jump, and the blood stained lad sat down across from him.

“Why are you reading that shit?”

Zayn put his book down again. “It’s not shit. Why were you covered in blood?”

He smirked. “Got into a bar fight downtown, I won.”

“I see, why didn’t you just go home?”

“My other half doesn’t like it when I get into fights, but this fucker deserved it.” His face took on a serious tone and Zayn laid his book down on it’s face. “Anyways, I’m Louis.” He extended a hand and Zayn shook it.

“Zayn.” He pulled his hand back.

“So Zayn, why are you stuck in your underwear at the laundromat?”

“Tagging walls, my machines at home can’t get all the paint off the same way the machines here do. So here I am.”

Louis laughed. “Okay, but why didn’t you just go change and come back later?”

“Why’d you get blood all over your clothes if you won the fight?”

Louis shrugged. “Because he was a bleeder I guess.”

Zayn took that chance to look his new friend over. He didn’t look too worse for wear, but his nose was swollen and the shadows underneath his eyes were turning purple. “That looks like it hurts.”

“Nah, I’m okay. What kind of tags are you putting up?”

Now it was Zayn’s turn to shrug. “Just whatever I want really. I mostly live on my own, but my fiance comes by every so often and doesn’t want a lot of paint all over the place. I ran out of room and now I’m tagging buildings. It’s fun.”

“Let me come along with you next time, that sounds like a blast.” When Louis smiled at him Zayn knew he wasn’t as big of an asshole as he’d first thought.

He nodded and picked his book up again, folded the front cover over it to save his space before he put it in his bag. The dryer dinged with his clothes inside and he pulled the door open and started getting dressed.

“Done already? I wish I’d gotten here an hour or so ago.” Zayn turned around to Louis as he slipped his shirt over his head and tugged it down. “Unless you wouldn’t mind keeping me company until mine are finished.

“I’ve got nothing else to do.” He zipped up his jeans and sat back down. “Tell me more about the fight.”