zesty grapefruit [zarry] ✔️

22

"And how are things in general?" Harry asks after Gemma's finished telling him about her exams.

"Things?" Gemma snorts. "I think he'd object to being called that."

Harry kicks at the water of his pool, biting his lip. "Don't be smug." He hates that she knows him so well. But it's also useful, because he doesn't want to ask: and how is Zain? Does he still have his perfect girlfriend?

"Zain's fine," Gemma says. "Busy like I am. Hannah's writing her exams as well, so he's over at hers a lot."

"Oh," Harry makes, his stomach dropping with disappointment. He'll get over it, he will, but he had hoped that they'd have broken up by now. He hasn't asked since they came to visit him at his show months ago. Zain hasn't mentioned her in the texts they'd shared. There hasn't really been a reason for him to, though, Harry has to admit. Their texts weren't really all that deep; Harry texting Zain pictures of the LA sky and Zain responding with one of overcast British sky. Zain texting him a picture of samosas and Harry returning with a green smoothie.

He's not even sure if Zain was in on the joke; that to all of Zain's horribly British pictures, of everything that made Harry miss home and his mum and Gemma and Zain, Harry responded with the most LA-ish cliche equivalent he could find. Maybe Zain just thought Harry was actually a bit of a dick.

"He thinks your pictures are hilarious," Gemma says, like she's reading his mind. "He dragged us through half the city last weekend for the, and I quote, "most normal-looking chippy"," she sighs. "Two hours I will never get back."

"It was the most normal-looking chippy I've ever seen, though," Harry smiles. He had responded with a selfie of him by the pool, sipping an outlandishly elaborate cocktail that he had spent ages making, following YouTube instructions while eating his weight in badly cut fruit he felt like he couldn't use. It's good to know he's not the only one investing some time into it. Still, he's never telling anyone how much time he invests in looking as ridiculously popstar as possible in the private of his house.

"You're weird is what I want to say," Gemma continues. "But at least it's not a complete disaster. You coming home anytime soon?"

"As tempting as Zain's pictures of rain and discarded cigarettes are," Harry says drily. "Not anytime soon. We want to go to get away for a bit. Really focus on the next album."

"Again?" Gemma asks, then abruptly gets distracted. "Jo just got here, I promised we'd cook together. We'll talk soon, yea?"

"Yea," Harry nods. "Say hi to Jo. And Zain when you see him."

"I will," Gemma sighs. "And try and get over him, please?"

"I will," Harry promises and lets her hang up. It's not like he isn't trying, but Zain was both the comfort of home but also someone completely new. No one, not even Gemma, had that weird mixture of teasing and caring with Harry, like Harry was a comfortable part of his life already. It felt inevitable sometimes, except that was ridiculous when Zain hadn't done more than be nice to him. Even if the sex had been pretty spectacular. 

He kicks his legs in the water, like the splash of it would startle him out of his own thoughts, and shakes his head. 

Zain and his girlfriend apparently still were going strong. It was more than time to give up hope if there ever had been any. 

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Look at me updating  a second story in one day lol. Sorry that it's short. We're working out way back towards zarry, don't worry.