Chapter 1-
Zayn Malik walked from the English classroom to the lunch room slowly, without a bother in the world. He could hear the dull roar of his fellow students, and at that moment, he wanted to turn and run out. His friends were expecting him though… He sighed as he walked and then sat down next to Harry at their regular lunch table. “Hey, mates,” he said, addressing[打招呼] the table, plastering on a smirk[挤出笑脸]. Next to Harry was Louis, and across from them were Liam and Danielle, who were laughing about something only they found funny. Zayn felt like the awkward fifth wheel[第五者；局外人], sometimes, but he’d never admit it aloud.
“What did Mr. Jackson want?” asked Liam, turning away from Danielle to face Zayn, eyebrows knit together[皱着眉头].
“The usual shite. I’m not applying myself enough[不够努力], I have potential,you know how it is,” he shrugged. “Oh,and he assigned me a tutor,” frowned Zayn, opening his lunch, and pulling out his water bottle. He opened it and took a sip. The table all stared in disbelief, before laughing. What great friends Zayn had…
“Who?” asked Harry, still chuckling, dimples on full display.Apparently Zayn wasn’t the only one who noticed, because Louis started poking Harry’s cheek.
“Stop dimple-raping Haz, Tommo,” said Zayn before he rolled his eyes.
“It’s not rape if he likes it,” replied Louis cheekily, winking at Harry, who grinned even wider.
“Is it me, or has the temperature gotten way more awkward here?”asked Danielle, an amused look on her face.
“No, it definitely did,” replied Liam, leaning across the table to lightly smack[用手掌打] Louis to stop him from leering at[送秋波] Harry, but then he realized that was his normal facial expression when he looked at Harry, so he stopped.“So, Zayn, who’s your tutor?”
“Oh, yeah. That blonde kid, Niall,” said Zayn. “He seems kind of quiet, though.”
“Quiet? That kid only talks in English class. And when I say only in English class, I mean only in English class,” said Louis. “He’s in my global history and chemistry classes, and he seriously says nothing. I thought he was actually mute[哑巴], but Liam says he’s real clever in English.”
“Well he’s always reading,” volunteered Danielle as she opened a bag of biscuits, “so it makes sense. I tried talking to him about a book he was reading, and he blushed and stuttered[结结巴巴地说] something really intelligent about the book and continued reading. Oh, and then I think he ate something. He likes food a lot.”
“Well, who doesn’t? But seriously, good luck, mate,” offered Liam, ashe snatched[抢过来] a biscuit from Danielle’s hand and popped it into his mouth[塞到他自己嘴里]. She pouted[撅嘴], and he kissed her cheek, as if to say ‘sorry babe’. She grinned, pecked[轻吻；轻啄] him, and then ate another. They were a cute couple, almost sickeningly so, and he was used to it.But today, Zayn had that feeling under his skin, the one that just made him want to leave, just get out and run and run.
“Thanks, Liam. I should probably go find him and ask when he’s available to tutor me,” said Zayn, standing. A chorus of “byes” sounded from the table,and he walked away, smirking and winking[眨眼] at some girls as he left. One waved,and his smirk widened, but as soon as he got out of the cafeteria, it dropped off his face. Everyone was so predictable, so similar. Zayn was counting down[倒数] the days until graduation. Only one more semester, he reminded himself. He bit his lip, and willed[下决心做] himself to not freak out and just leave. He had to find the blonde boy, after all. Okay, if I were a bookworm, where would I run off to? He asked himself. He passed a window, and noticed how nice it was out. He continued walking, and then thought, oh. He turned around and began to walk to the courtyard where students could eat when the weather permitted it. He couldn’t believe he was actively seeking out his tutor, but he figured if he didn’t, the boy wouldn’t approach him. He reached the door, opened it, and began scanning the courtyard, brown eyes flitting[扫视] from table to table, looking for the blonde lad with whom he knew he’d have to spend a lot of time with over the next few weeks. And, okay, he didn’t particularly want a tutor, but he supposed he could use the help. Maybe. He wasn’t dumb, he just couldn’t be arsed to[=be bothered to] care, alright? He was almost free. He guessed he’d have to maintain decent marks, but decided to push the thoughts to the back of his mind and decided to focus on the present. He stopped, turned, and looked back where he’d just walked, and noticed a figure curled up under a large tree, book in one hand and apple in the other, and a pen tucked behind his ear. Zayn shook his head, because it seemed that all he’d heard was true. He was kind of disappointed, even though he had no reason to be. if he was honest with himself(but then, who is?) he’d admit he wanted Niall to be different, prove everyone wrong. But then, what did he expect? This was Xavier[此处疑似缺少否定词], after all…
He made his way to the tree, and tapped the other lad on the shoulder lightly.
Niall jumped slightly, clearly startled.“W-what’re you doing here?” asked Niall quietly, voice very different from the self-assured[自信的] tone that Zayn was so used to hearing. He could see the Niall that those who weren’t in Mr. M’s class saw. This one was quiet, unsure, not very confident.
“If you’re going to tutor me, shouldn’t we work out a time to meet?”asked Zayn, raising a dark eyebrow.
He registered[留下印象] Niall’s cheeks as they lightly pinked. That was interesting…
“O-oh, yeah, I guess. When is good for you?” he asked, eyes on his shoes.
Zayn was intrigued by how easy it was to make Niall blush, and how nervous and awkward seemed to be. He decided to have a little fun with Niall. He shrugged, and said, “Whenever. I mean, after school tomorrow in the library sound good?”
“S-sure,” agreed Niall.
Zayn grinned and said, “Cool, it’s a date.”
Niall blushed further, and said, “Um…”
“Eloquent[口才好的],” offered Zayn. “So we should probably exchange numbers, in case something comes up. Got a pen?” Niall grabbed the one that was tucked behind his ear and handed it to Zayn, who uncapped it, and scribbled his number on Niall’s forearm. “Text me, yeah? Can’t wait for tomorrow, wear something pretty for me, okay?” he stood up, brushed off his trousers, and left Niall under the tree, confused and blushing prettily.
And okay, he had no idea why he was acting like this, except that he thought it was really fun to make Niall blush. He wondered if he could get the other boy to turn as red as the polo shirt he was wearing.
…
Later that night, when Zayn was scribbling in his black moleskin notebook[一种高端笔记本], his phone buzzed. He set down his pen and picked up the iPhone, and opened the message.
Hey it’s Niall, this is just so you’ll have my number. Also you said to text you. So, I am. Texting you, I mean. Uh… yeah.–N
Zayn laughed quietly as he read the message. Niall was still awkward when texting, of course he was. Zayn quickly typed out a reply. My life is complete now, thanks. Also, ever heard of the three day rule[A rule used by douchebag guys who think that waiting three days after a date to call means that the girl will want them more, when really it just pisses them off]? –Z
He set down his phone on his desk and continued to write, penning out his thoughts. He’d been struck by inspiration,and just had to translate it to paper. The words tumbled[摔倒；翻腾] out, standing dark in contrast to[和……形成对比] the white of the pages. Zayn heard his phone vibrate again, and finished the sentence while reaching with his free hand to pick up his phone.He spared it a glance to unlock it and open the message.
Personally, I always found the three day rule annoying and cliché[陈词滥调的]. –N
Cause you’ve got loads of experience in that area, yeah? –Z
Perhaps. –N
Zayn looked at his phone in disbelief. He honestly hadn’t been expecting Niall to be so cheeky[厚脸皮的；调皮的] and seemingly carefree,but that was how he was coming across[看上去似乎是，给人…印象]. Mr. Horan, I am impressed. –Z
Your condescension[屈尊] is much appreciated,Zayn. –N
Zayn laughed at that outright, before typing, And here I thought you were quiet. –Z
Just because I am perceived[被理解为] to be a certain way doesn’t mean I am that way. –N
Zayn bit the inside of his cheek before typing, Yeah, I know what you mean. –Z
This conversation has just gotten kind of depressing. On that note, pigs have no sweat glands[汗腺], and I have to go. See you tomorrow after school. –N
Zayn felt confused by the last text[==我也没看懂], but was even more confused by the entire conversation. This Niall was different than the one in the courtyard, and even from the one in English class. The one in the courtyard was shy, reserved, and awkward. The one on Mr. Jackson’s class was intellectual, well-read, and never afraid to venture his opinion or insight. This one was carefree, cheeky, but still wise. Zayn’s tutor seemed to have many different sides, depending on where he was. Niall was intriguing[吸引人的], to say the least. It seemed Zayn had found something interesting to focus on, after all.
