5:30am is when Zayn's alarm went off.

The best part was he'd fallen asleep just four hours before that.

With a groan, he rolled over and turned it off.

He really wished he didn't have to get up so early, but it was the only way he could see his mother before she went off to work.

She worked long hours, not coming home until almost eight some nights, yet they still lived paycheck to paycheck.

Zayn begged her to let him get a job and help, but she was determined for him to stay focused on school.

She wanted him to do his best and get into a good college so he could have a good job and support himself comfortably.

Zayn had heard the speech a million times.

Sometimes he felt like just going out and getting a job anyway, and keeping it secret, only to surprise her by paying a bill, or having dinner ready when she got home.

Usually the parent wanted best for their child, and Zayn's mother certainly did want the best for him, but Zayn wanted the best for her too.

He got out of bed, stepping over all of the dirty clothes, empty bottles, and shoes sprawled out around his floor.

After he left his room, he shuffled down the short hallway to the kitchen.

One of the few perks of living in a small house, less distance between his bed and the fridge.

"Good morning sunshine." His mother smiled at him as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"The sun isn't even up yet." Zayn complained, sitting at the table.

"My son is." Trisha said with a little laugh, thinking that was clever.

Zayn gave her a look before he couldn't help but chuckle.

"What'll it be for breakfast?" She asked, kissing his head with her coffee breath.

This must've been her second cup.

"Can you make me cinnamon toast and a side of eggs?" Zayn asked, looking up at her.

No matter how old he got Trisha could never say no to those eyes.

"We might as well start calling that the usual. That's what you always ask for." She smiled.

Zayn smiled a little, feeling kind of guilty.

Yes, he woke himself up this early to talk to his mother and see her, but also it was so she'd make him breakfast.

He couldn't help it, his mom's cooking was what kept him alive.

Literally, because most of the time he'd rather starve than cook something himself.

"You make the best cinnamon toast in the world, how could I not ask for it all the time?"

Trisha smiled. "It's nothing too complex, you know. Just bread butter and cinnamon."

"Sounds complex." Zayn yawned.

It didn't take her long to make his breakfast, sitting down with him a few minutes afterwards to finish her coffee and chat.

But the time flew.

"I should get going." She realized, looking at the clock.

It was almost six.

"Zayn Malik you be ready for that bus at six-thirty. You understand? If I find out you've skipped again-"

"I won't." Zayn droned, although he was making no promises.

He hated high school so much.

"You better not." Trisha warned.

"Have a good day, okay? Be good and do good. Understand?" She asked, kissing his cheek.

"Yes." Zayn muttered.

"Bye, I love you." She said before she left.

"Love you too." Zayn sighed, probably too quiet for her to hear.

He finished his breakfast, cleaning up after himself before he went to go get dressed.

×

×

×

"I don't know what to wear." Harry pouted as he walked through his closet.

The walls were lined with all of his shirts, sweaters, and coats.

"Go naked. I think you look great that way." Louis smirked, leaning against the door frame.

Harry smiled to himself, looking through his shirts.

"You're going to be late, you know." Louis said, checking his watch.

"Not with the way you drive." Harry said, picking a shirt.

Sheer white, because he was feeling quite open today.

Plus he liked to show off his nipples and tattoos.

"I'm only going to be around for two days before I'm flown off to Italy for a shoot, Harry. Why don't you skip and spend the day with me?" Louis asked.

"The auditions for the school play start today after school. I'm pretty sure I can't just show up for that." Harry said.

"School play? You seriously want to do shit like that?" Louis frowned.

"Um, yeah." Harry said in a duh tone.

"Won't you be there to support me?" He asked.

"If I can I will be, you know that." Louis said quietly.

"Good." Harry said, looking over his shoes now.

Sparkly boots or leather? Decisions decisions....

"What's the play about?" Louis asked.

"Well, the school is promoting LGBTQ this month, even though they should every month, and so the play is about two guys who are in love and struggling to keep it from everyone else. One has an overbearing father who wants him to be a professional football player and the other is really smart and has a really religious family." Harry explained.

"That's it? It's just about them being in love?" Louis asked.

"No, it's about their struggles. They eventually come out, but they aren't accepted. Both of them get bullied and disowned, and basically their lives fall apart. The play ends with the main character committing suicide. His name is Matthew, that's who I'm going for. The other guy is named Isaac or Isaiah or something." Harry said.

"That's a little dark for a high school play, isn't it?" Louis frowned.

"Have you not read Romeo and Juliet?" Harry asked.

"The play is supposed to show people what disowning and bullying LGBTQ family members or friends can do. It's supposed to show that...love is love. We shouldn't have to fight for it. It's discrimination." Harry said.

"Well, I agree there. So Matthew. Will you be wearing a backwards snapback and a varsity jacket?" Louis teased.

"I'll be wearing whatever they tell me." Harry said, getting dressed.

Louis watched him. "Well, I hope you get the part, babe."

"Thank you, I'm sure I will. I practically own that school." Harry smiled, walking over and loosely wrapping his arms around Louis' neck.

Louis smiled, holding his sides and gently kissing him. "Ready?"

"Absolutely."

×

×

×

"Thank God." Niall said when the bus finally got to school.

"Why are you thanking God for bringing us somewhere like this?" Zayn asked darkly, glaring out the window.

Niall looked at his friend. "It's hot in here. The bus is too crowded, I'm glad we finally get to get off."

"True." Zayn said, looking around at the people crammed three to a seat.

Zayn always gave someone a threatening glare if they looked like they were thinking of sitting with him and Niall.

"Hey, um, I-I'll see you at lunch right?" Niall asked as they got up and began to get off the bus.

"You ask me that every day, Niall." Zayn said.

"Sorry." Niall said quietly.

"You don't have to be sorry." Zayn said, chuckling a little.

"I sit with you every day. You're one of the few people here I can tolerate. Actually, you're probably the only person I like. Of course I'll see you at lunch." Zayn said, looking at him after they were off the bus and had room to stand side by side.

"Okay, good." Niall smiled.

Zayn patted his shoulder, smiling some.

He was very thankful for Niall, though he'd never show it.

The general feeling of being trapped in something that made hell looking like paradise didn't set in until Zayn was in his first class of the day.

English.

Zayn loved English class.

The only problem was Harry Styles.

"Sorry I'm late." He smiled as he came in, as if everyone cared.

He was dressed in his usual button up shirt and black skinny jeans, his fingers covered in expensive rings.

"Just take your seat." The teacher smiled.

If anyone else had been late, they would've gotten detention.

If anyone else had worn a sheer shirt, they would've gotten in trouble.

Zayn looked down at the pen in his hand, wondering if he had enough strength to push it far enough into his neck to hit an artery and kill himself.

"Today we're starting our Shakespeare unit." The teacher announced.

"Oh I love Shakespeare." Harry smiled.

"Nobody cares." Zayn muttered, wanting to yell it at him.

But his social anxiety wouldn't let him do that.

He couldn't even get up to throw a piece of paper away without feeling close to death.

"Why? None of his stuff even makes sense." A girl near Zayn said.

"There's a certain depth required to understand it." Harry said, looking at her.

Zayn scoffed, folding his arms.

As if Harry had any depth.

"What do you mean?" She frowned at him.

He smiled. "Don't think too hard about it, sweetheart." He said before he turned back around.

"Okay." The girl chirped, going back to texting.

Zayn sighed, putting his head down and deciding to take a nap.