Chapter 3: Friendly Feedback

LTomlinson has logged on (10:51)

LTomlinson. Sam, are you there?
Sam Sheffield?
Where are you Sam?
Helloooo…
Sam, will you please answer me?

BatmanPancakes has joined the conversation (10:58)

BatmanPancakes. What do you want? I was sleeping.

LTomlinson. I really need your advice.

BatmanPancakes. Don't you always?

LTomlinson. It's really important this time.

BatmanPancakes. Oh really? :D
*sarcasm :(

LTomlinson. -_-

BatmanPancakes. Here's some advice. Look down at your foot…

LTomlinson. Um… okay.

BatmanPancakes. I want you to take it, shove it down your throat, and leave me alone.

BatmanPancakes has left the conversation (11:01)

LTomlinson. SAM, GET BACK HERE.

BatmanPancakes has joined the conversation (11:01)

BatmanPancakes. Did you take my advice?

LTomlinson. No, I did not.

BatmanPancakes. Darn.

BatmanPancakes has left the conversation (11:02)

LTomlinson. SAM, I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE YOUR ADVICE.

BatmanPancakes has joined the conversation (11:02)

BatmanPancakes. How about now?

LTomlinson. Seriously?

BatmanPancakes. Fine. I'm listening.

LTomlinson. Mr. McDonald is making me audition for the school play, and I want to know how to flub it.

BatmanPancakes. Why do you want to flub it?

LTomlinson. I don't want to be in a dumb play!

BatmanPancakes. It's not like you have anything better to do.

LTomlinson. I have plenty of things to do, thank you very much.

BatmanPancakes. Yeah, like styling your hair.
And throwing parties whenever your dad goes on travel.
And slacking off on your homework.
And I couldn't forget styling your hair.

LTomlinson. That's enough, Sam.

BatmanPancakes. In all seriousness, you haven't done anything with your life.

LTomlinson. That's exactly what Carlos said.

BatmanPancakes. Carlos? Doesn't he play for the orchestra?
I play football…
Heck even James takes photos for the school newspaper.

LTomlinson. I don't want to be in the stupid show. I came to you for advice because you've auditioned for these things before. Not so you could chastise me.

BatmanPancakes. You got me. Okay, here are the best ways to screw up an audition.
1. Show up on time.
2. Be quiet when the director says so.
3. Get into character.
4. Project when it's your turn.
5. Don't be obnoxious while other people are auditioning.
6. Do your best. :D

LTomlinson. Seriously? That works?

BatmanPancakes. Absolutely, he won't want you in the cast at all. ;)

LTomlinson. Thanks, Sam! I'll do all those things! You're the best.

BatmanPancakes. I know.

LTomlinson. So, how are things with Niall going?

BatmanPancakes. Ni-yall is so amazing, and I still like him a lot.

LTomlinson. …his name is Niall.

BatmanPancakes. I don't know what I'd do without my friendship with Ni-yall.

LTomlinson. You're screwing with me, aren't you?

BatmanPancakes. What are you talking about, Lois?

LTomlinson. My name is Louis.

BatmanPancakes. Did you say something, Lois? I was too busy thinking about Ni-yall. His eyes are like the moon…

LTomlinson. Do you know my friend Carlos? He's a nice guy. His eyes are like the moon too.

BatmanPancakes. His hair shines like the sun…

LTomlinson. Carlos' hair shines like… dirt?
Oh, crap, that's not what I meant.
It's like, pretty dirt, you know?
Attractive dirt that makes flowers grow.

BatmanPancakes. Ni-yall's smile is the light of my life…

LTomlinson. Carlos is a really, really nice person, and you'd like him a lot!

BatmanPancakes. Ah, but enough talking about Ni-yall.

LTomlinson. Did you even read a word of my messages?

BatmanPancakes. Did you say something, Lois?

LTomlinson. Yes, I said a lot of things actually.

BatmanPancakes. Well, I don't want to hear them. Good night, Lois. Break a leg at your audition tomorrow. Wheeeee!

BatmanPancakes has left the conversation (11:23)

Maya couldn't help but go to the bookstore again.

There was just something about her new tutee that greatly intrigued her. He seemed kind yet mysterious, and there seemed to be more to him than met the eye. Not to mention he was incredibly handsome. Ivory hair that was just dying for someone to run their fingers through it, a chiseled face (but not too chiseled), and a sweet smile… It was almost too much to take in at once. How could she focus on tutoring a guy when he looked like Zayn Malik?

To be perfectly honest, at first glance, Maya Payne thought that Zayn would be one of those good-looking bad boys who didn't care about school. This, surprisingly, wasn't the case. Even though she'd only known him for two days (technically), she could tell that he was really just on Mr. Styles' list. Her math teacher had his favorites, and if you weren't one, watch out. That man could get nasty, much like his son. Her twin brother Liam always came home with plenty of unflattering stories about Harry Styles whenever it was basketball season.

That Saturday afternoon, Maya had dragged Liam to the bookstore with her, claiming that they had some new material that she wanted to check out. She conveniently left out that the only new novels she'd seen Friday were the vampire ones, but Liam didn't need to know that.

"I don't understand why you like this store so much," Liam said as he followed her through the aisles. "It's kind of stuffy in here."

Maya frowned at her brother and took one of the mystery books off the shelf. "You just don't like to read," she said dismissively. "That's not my fault."

She watched Liam groan dramatically and lean against the edge of a bookcase. He stuffed his hands into his basketball sports jacket and looked around.

"I'm going to go check out the CDs," he told her at last. "Text me when you're ready to go. Actually, I take it back. I'll come find you when I'm too sick of this place to stay here any longer."

Maya rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Liam."

He smirked and left her with the books for company. Maya frowned as she placed the novel back on the shelf. She walked up and down a few more aisles, unconsciously looking for Zayn. After a few minutes, she hesitantly wondered if he didn't work on Saturdays.

No sooner had the thought entered her mind than he all but appeared in front of her, another box of books in his arms. He wore the store uniform of a green polo and khaki pants again, which was a change to his usual black garb. Maya smiled when she saw him. His presence was calming to her and cheered her up. When Zayn caught Maya looking at him, he stumbled but managed to catch himself.

She laughed and headed over to him. "Do you need some help?" she asked nicely.

"I got it," he replied, maintaining his grip on the box. "So what are you doing back here, Braniac? Did you miss me that much?" he asked playfully. Maya raised her eyebrows in amusement, but she felt herself blushing.

"I told you that I'm here all the time looking for new things to read."

"Of course," said Zayn. He placed the box on a nearby table and began to stock up the bookcases. "Is there anything I can help you find?" he asked.

"Not really," Maya told him, watching him work. "What do you like to read?"

Zayn stopped working for a minute to think. "I haven't done a lot of reading lately," he admitted.

"Then what do you do?" she asked inquisitively. He sat on the table and crossed his arms.

"Well, if you can keep a secret, I find it more fun to watch other people and imagine what kind of book they'd star in."

"So I'm not the only person who does that," she chuckled, sitting next to him. "I still haven't found a good fit for Mr. Styles yet," she joked, bringing up the only person Maya knew they both knew. Zayn choked back a bitter laugh.

"If that man was ever on the cover of a book, it'd be a pretty boring story," he said resentfully, and Maya hoped that her math teacher wasn't around to hear their conversation. She wanted to laugh, but Mr. Styles had always been good to her. Not to mention his son Harry was dating one of her best friends.

"I'm done being reminded of school right now," she told Zayn lightly. "It's Saturday."

"I thought that you always thought about school."

"Then you obviously don't know much about me."

"Then I should probably start working on that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're the Braniac. I think you know."

Maya blinked and looked away. This boy was something else.

Maya's last boyfriend's personality had been very similar to her own. He thought rationally about almost everything, even relationships. She felt a stab in her stomach, remembering everything they had. He had transferred to a fancy boarding school at the beginning of the year, and she missed him terribly. They had mutually decided that it would be too hard to keep the relationship going.

Maya's feelings for Zayn were surprising. She never thought she'd see herself going for a guy like him, who didn't seem to think rationally about anything. She just had this good feeling whenever he was around her, and she was pretty sure he felt it too.

Her thoughts were interrupted when her brother traipsed into the conversation. Liam stopped when he saw her with Zayn. There was a long, awkward pause before he finally broke the silence.

"Maya, it's time to go," he said sternly. She was about to protest until she saw the look in his eyes.

Maya slid off the table and onto her feet toward her brother. She turned and awkwardly waved good-bye to Zayn to which he simply nodded slightly. With a heavy heart, she let Liam lead her back toward the entrance of the store and into the cold.

"Why couldn't you leave me for like, a minute longer?" she demanded. Liam just looked at her.

"Maya, do you know anything about Zayn Malik?" he demanded. "I don't want you hanging around him." This made her roll her eyes.

"You're being ridiculous, and you're not the boss of me," she said defiantly. Her brother's judgment could be a little hazy anyway. "I'm just tutoring him in Calculus. That's all, Liam."

He zipped up his jacket and looked at her, not seeming so sure.

"Please, just watch yourself," he said, placing a hand on her back as they walked to their car. "I can't stand to see you get hurt again."

I wish Liam was my older brother! I also wish that I had friends like Louis and Sam. What do you think will happen at Louis's audition? Will Maya listen to her brother and stay away from Zayn?

Sneak Peak: Next week, it's time for Grace Pearson and Harry Styles! But Harry may not be everything you expect him to be… Be sure to subscribe!