To avoid or not to avoid

Zayn sat in his early morning history class playing with his pen but some creep was staring holes into the back of his head. He was annoyed, extremely annoyed. He was thinking the person creeping on him was a known weirdo by the name of Aubrey but when his head snapped to the source it turned out to be Aaron. He mouthed "What the fuck?"

"What? What is happening?" Daniela whispered to him after reading his face.

"Let's talk about it later." She nodded her head and turned back to the lesson going on in front her. Why the hell was this dude staring so hard?

"Tiffany and Harry are fake, as fuck." Daniela cocked her head to the side. "I got this from Aaron but… they apparently talk about us behind our backs and only stick around for favors." Daniela picked up on this way earlier on. They always seemed off.

"You got this from Aaron right?"

"Yes." Daniela picked up this could be all part of Friday night since they are all associated with Ebany.

"Oh, I'm sorry if you felt embarrassed by me Friday. Lorel brought up my actions and I'm sorry if they affected you in any way." She did nothing wrong at all. It felt nice to have someone on his side and asking all the right questions. "I'm sorry that I even went there without you, I should have stayed home with you and watch k-dramas." Zayn smiled, this was nice. "I need to go talk to someone so I'll catch you later."

Zayn walked past Daniela on the way to the bathroom talking to Chantelle. Weird, Odd but okay. Zayn stood in the bathroom mirror watching his tired eyes stare back at him. Zayn was ignoring Aaron for the sake of his own feelings. He needs to take a step back from both Aaron and Christian. Christian didn't care and wouldn't notice anyway. He wasn't around these days and was too busy sucking face with Elenore at any given moment which was something that irked Zayn but that wasn't gonna come up now.

"Zayn?" He snapped around to Aaron side stepping into the bathroom. Fuck, can't he avoid him? "Are you avoiding me?" Why does he have to face this head on like this? Zayn didn't say anything and turned back to his reflection. He didn't want to freak out but he kinda was. "Don't ignore me."

"I'm not. It's in your head." Zayn said dismissively.

"No, it really feels like you don't want to talk to me." Aaron placed a hand on his shoulder and it was shaken off. "See!"

"I just don't like physical contact unless it's some girl."

"You're actively avoiding me because you think I'm just like them." What the fuck? Zayn's face showed his loss at what he was applying.

"No, I never said that. Things are fine I'm just….." Zayn passed his hands through his locks. "Idk just distant with everyone these days." Aaron's face didn't seem to buy it and was still bothered but he dropped it because he was getting nowhere.

"Just please don't avoid me." Something about that sentence seemed to pull at Zayn. He didn't want to be avoiding him but it was the only way for him to get anywhere.

Zayn took a deep breath as Aaron disappeared behind the door he came in from. He had to prepare himself for track practice after this because he didn't know how he would make it through with Aaron. He took a deep breath and left for the locker room.

He cursed himself as he walked out to the field. The coach was gonna be on his ass about not taking note of the new members not like he cared about them but he was team captain of course.

"Hello my friend." Zayn rolled his eyes before turning to the source of the voice. He raised a half smile at the person in question. The number one on his most annoying list, Aubrey Daniels. Aubrey was known for sticking his nose in other people's business for a long time. Everyone was weary of him. He sticks to you like a leech and drains your energy. Anytime you're stuck with him he engages you with his toxic insider behavior which annoyed Zayn to the max but he could tolerate him. (in small doses).

Zayn winced when he realized if Aubrey was over here talking to him that means Aaron was on his way and so was Aaron's shadow. Saintclair and Aaron did everything together and they seemed like the bestest of friends. Where he went, Saintclair followed. One of the worst things about Saintclair was his temper. He was like a ticking time bomb that just went off for the littlest things. Being on the other end of them was Zayn's worst nightmare and the only one who seemed to face it was Aaron. They could be the friendliest and then be biting off each other's heads. They both waved at the other two talking about something Aubrey brought up.

Zayn assumed Saintclair was kinda off because of the environment he grew up in but that may be just part of the reason. Saintclair's dad was a cult leader despite denying it over and over. His dad was charismatic and anyone he spoke to would buy into his notions. Both women and men would listen to the things he preached on a daily basis. He tried his best to distance himself from his family but unfortunately it follows him.

Maybe he was a lot like his father than he knew.

"Hey, team captain." Saintclair said plopping himself down on the field to start some stretches. Saintclair seemed kinda ticked today. Like he might just slap someone. Was Zayn the only one who noticed this because the other two seemed to not see what he was seeing.

"I talked with Harry and Tiffany today."

"And…" Zayn asked disinterestedly.

"She said she really missed what you two had." Zayn chuckled. She missed just being around as a side piece.

"Huh?" Zayn watched as an interesting scene played out in front of him. Something seemed so odd about those two interactions but he couldn't seem to put a finger on it. What was up with them? They were really close like too close.

"It's nothing." Aubrey excused as the two pulled away from the group and onto the other end in what seemed like an argument. His view of the scene was obstucted by Aubrey who stood in front of him.

"If you knew what they were fighting about you would find it funny." Aubrey commented as he sat in front of him blocking off the view.

"I never laughed or smiled." He comments confused.

"You seem to find it funny."

"Wher-" Coaches whistle pulled them to attention.

"Snipes as captain it's your duty to get everyone together and BEHAVE! What the hell is this?" She said pointing to everyone doing nothing and the two arguing across the field.

"Sorr-"

"10 Laps, everyone. Snipes, 20." Zayn sighed but agreed with Coach. Zayn shouldn't be nosy but his mind was getting the better of him. Aubrey was the best source for a straightforward answer. "I have a question." They were all in the locker rooms freshen up. Aubrey shot him a curious look.

"Ask away my friend."

"Um, What were they fighting about?" Zayn asks, pulling off his sweaty shirt.

"None of your business. I can't tell you that. Cuz, I am 'the gossip' doesn't mean I will air out my friends dirty laundry." Aubrey stepped into the showers tuning him out. He nodded. "But… I kinda trust you and I'm pretty sure you can help me."

"Help you with what?" Zayn stepped into the showers next to Aubrey who turned to smile at him.

"If I tell you this. Keep it to yourself don't even allude to knowing to Aaron or Saintclair. I don't want to be snapped in half for spilling to you but I think you knowing, might clear things up." Aubrey was making this sound like they were running illegal operations in school or something. "They're a couple." Zayn started choking on his saliva. What the fuck was he hearing? Did he hear what Aubrey just said correctly? "Mhm, surprised huh? Aaron pansexual or something like that, Saintclair is bi but i think he's indefinitely gay and Of course everyone knows I'm gay." Zayn was just standing there mouth agape in the school showers with Aubrey next to him utterly surprised.

"They are a couple?" Zayn said, repeating the boy's words. Aubrey was amused by Zayn's reaction.

"Yeah and the reason Saint was so bothered today and a few days now was because of you." Zayn was still recovering from that sudden shock so it didn't sink in yet. "You Zayn Snipes are breaking up my friends because Aaron has a little crush on you and Saint is insecure about his relationship." Zayn didn't like that exactly. He silently in his mind rejoiced at the fact his crush was mutual but lamented the result of the crush. It wasn't what he wanted. "You need to stay away from Aaron before you get a broken nose and there are broken hearts."

"But I am not gay or into guys in anyway."

"Yes but he is crushing on you, a friend has a crush on you and his boyfriend hates it so cooperate and make some distance." He understood and it was exactly what he was doing but Aaron picked it up and was hurt by it. Is there no win to this situation? "Since I'm a great friend and I wanna be yours I'll help. I'll make sure Saintclair doesn't have anything to get angry about." Zayn didn't want to make his crush on Aaron any bigger so he had no other choice than to take Aubrey's offer.