Sweet Pea •Zarry•

8.

Please let me know if you find any mistakes so I can fix them   :)

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The redness in Harry's cheeks hadn't gone away for hours.

Zayn didn't say a single word after kissing him, just stroked a hand through Harry's hair and smiled slightly. Then he got in the car and drove Harry home, muttering a quick "goodnight" before he sped away.

The kiss was truly mind-blowing, though. Especially for Harry, since it was his first one ever. He was certain that Zayn didn't like him back, because why would someone so cool ever go for someone like him? But he kissed him

He kissed me.

And the way Zayn held him was etched into Harry's mind already. He was absolutely sure he would never forget this moment in a million years. In Harry's eyes, Zayn was just perfect.

Aside from his nasty smoking habit.

That night when he got home, walking into the kitchen like he usually did, Harry saw his mother cooking.

Cooking.

Harry's mom usually worked long hours at the hospital, not arriving home until Harry was finished eating dinner or later. He hadn't seen her in the kitchen in years, not since her ex-boyfriend, Tom, lived with them and she was able to work less. Harry had fond memories of standing on his tip-toes to help his mom cook dinner when he was young, and the heart-felt smiles that would grace her face when everyone was at the table eating together and laughing.

She used to be happy.

When Harry walked in, she turned, spatula in hand.

"Hi, sweetie."

She smiled, but the darkness under her eyes and and the lilt of her eyebrows was telling.

"Hello," Harry said timidly. He wasn't sure what her intentions were, and he wasn't exactly ready to forgive her for being so cold to him lately.

"I'm making alfredo noodles, I know you like those." Harry nodded his head and forced a smile even though he hadn't eaten alfredo noodles since sixth grade.

He stood awkwardly in the doorway, not sure if he should sit down at the table or go upstairs until dinner was ready. Zayn kept floating into his head and he desperately needed time alone to think (correction: obsess) about everything that happened that night. Not to mention he already ate dinner at the banquet.

He wondered why, if his mother was home, she didn't go to the banquet. She had probably already forgotten all about it. She was acting a little bit wishy-washy and Harry could tell she was exhausted. He couldn't blame her for that, she worked a lot and he was thankful for it, but he  wished she would spend just a little bit of her freetime with him instead of alone in her dark bedroom.

As the two of them sat down at the table, steaming bowls of pasta in front of them, Harry's mother attempted small talk. It was extremely uncomfortable for both of them, and it was glaringly obvious that she didn't have a clue about anything going on in Harry's world. 

"So, Harry... I really just wanted to apologize for how absent I've been lately. I know it's difficult for you. I have to work long hours to support the two of us, you know? It's a struggle without Tom around."

Harry was silent for a moment, processing everything she said. 

"You didn't have to be mean to me, though." He mumbled out.