Oh, Won't You Let Me Burn (Won't You Let Us Conquer) [Zarry] [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter Fifteen | His Bright Apollo

[Part 1 of 2]

It's a few days later when the phone in his office rings sometime around eleven with the receptionist calling to inform him that his lunch date is here.

Harry didn't tell him that he was coming by today, but Zayn is in no way complaining, and it's not like it's remotely uncommon that he is.

He really should have guessed that he was anyway when his boyfriend called before work earlier and asked if he had a busy day ahead of him. (Zayn had almost said 'I love you' again when they were hanging up, but as always, he's choosing to worry about that later.)

"Thanks, I'll be right there."

He powers down his computer and briskly heads out and towards the lobby, but when he gets there, his Apollo is nowhere in sight, much to his dismay.

"Hey, big shot," a voice that he hasn't heard in ages greets him from off to the side instead. His eyes slide over as they follow it, only to widen once he's shot a wicked smirk. "You got down here awfully quickly."

He doesn't know what else to say but her name. "Talia?"

She grins back at him, pearly whites easily making a dazzling appearance. "Ah, so he does remember me."

Her tone is teasing and familiar, and in a second, a slew of feelings cascades through him at the sound of it, the most prominent ones being nostalgia and delight.

He doesn't hesitate to rush over to entrap her in a huge hug. "What are you doing here?"

His old friend slightly pulls away from him, only to glance up and give him a look, her arms still snaked around his waist. "Isn't it obvious? I'm taking you out to lunch."

-

They end up on a bench at the park around the corner from Zayn's building, tacos, courtesy of a food truck, in their holds as they catch up with giggles and the occasional jabs at each other as they eat.

Talia's breathless after his story about his concluding nightmare outing with the last girl that she was aware that he was dating, which ended with said date's toxic ex dumping pasta on his head before dragging her out, leaving Zayn all alone to stew in his mess and mortification. That was a great night.

"And I thought I had the worst luck in the love department." She snorts, leaning her head on his shoulder like she always used to. At her words, his mind instantly flashes to Harry– Not that that's unusual these days, it's just that this time, it's for an entirely different reason. "But you look like you're doing so good now, Z. It's so nice to see you like this."

"It's nice to see you too, Tal." He carefully rests his head on hers. "I've really missed you."

"Well, of course you have, and I've missed you more, but I didn't mean–" She juts her lips out in thought. "There's something different about you, Zayn. You seem..."

"Happy?" He takes a wild (not really) guess.

"I was going to say content," Talia admits reflectively, "but yes. You seem very happy."

"I get that a lot these days."

"Yeah?" She muses, lifting her head to fully face him. "So what is it?"

"What?" He knows that he shouldn't act clueless, but he doesn't know what else to say.

"What's making you so happy?" She clarifies, though he's sure that she knew that she really didn't have to. "I know that you're dying to tell me about it, but you don't know how. You have that look on your face."