Calamity [Zarry Stylik AU]©️

Chapter 34: SHE KNEW ME

H,

I woke up with the sun shining on my face. I had left the blinds up, welcoming my first sun rays. I blinked the sleepiness away, yawning in the process and stretching my body as much as I could, feeling my bones crack.

The watch on my nightstand pointed at 08 am – I was getting lazy, sleeping in and missing my natural alarm clock. I needed to get back to that soon because my leave was nearly ending and I would get back to waking up before sunrise to feed the early birds.

I rolled over myself catching Zayn’s body next to mine. My unsung and unlikely hero. After he had found Louis, one would think that we’d be dismissed. No.

While Louis was rushed to the hospital, Zayn was set aside for interrogation and retracing of all steps. I didn’t leave his side – this earned me and March a solid argument, where he understood that he couldn't fight me.

We sat in one of those tents while March asked time and time again Zayn to repeat his steps. It was gruelling and unnecessary, but I knew it was a way for a March to clear him completely.

Of course, as soon as the word came out that Zayn had been the one to find Louis, the media vultures descended on us like curses. Leaving the tent, proved to be stressful. It was a mountain of cameras, flashes and questions being hurled at him from all sides.

Still, I was at his side, my hand firm on his arm so he knew I was with him. Niall and Liam were with us too, in fact, they helped clear the mob, alongside the police. Before we knew it, we had been placed in a black car with no plates driven by two officers and led home – It was around 02 am. With not much to say, we brushed our teeth, said goodnight, and climbed onto the bed sleeping side by side.

He was tired, my lover. Deep breaths, a light snore coming from him and no movement. I sat to look at him properly: no shirt, just boxers which were covered by my sheets. Arms around his head, with hands tucked under the pillow, his face half-hidden by his shoulder and mouth parted.

His skin looked beautiful in the sunlight as I gently touched the tattoos on the back of my neck, showing a bird flying in a branch, with the tip of my finger. I noticed the end of the stem of a rose tattooed just above the bird; I couldn’t see the rose at first, then I realised it was hidden under his growing hair – if I squinted, I could see the outline of it.

I leaned on Zayn, feeling my body against his, smelling the nape of his neck – he smelled like my bed and I loved it. Zayn moaned, but it wasn’t of pleasure, it was a sleepy moan. I kissed the back of his head, then his neck, his shoulder and he moaned again, half asleep.

“Harry…” He grumbled away.

My hand went down his back, on his cheeks and into his boxers, feeling his skin. I touched where I wanted to touch catching his reaction.

However, he was so deeply asleep that all I got was another half-mumble. He wanted to sleep, so I would let my lover sleep.

With a smile on my lips, I kissed his temple and whispered sweet things into his ear, which earned me Zayn moving his head and hiding it under the pillow, like a little boy who didn’t want to wake up.

My heart grew warm with this little demonstration of home life. He had been through so much, I wanted to let him sleep and rest, so then I could tire him later.

I pushed my covers off me, went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. After I showered and brushed my teeth, I went back into the bedroom to pick some clothes: dark ripped jeans, a striped shirt and a bonus accessory, a brown hat. The sun was out, it seemed like a good day for a hat.

I assessed myself in the mirror, approving my clothes and smiling to myself. I had to admit, it was the first time I was feeling as I used to: confident, secure, and happy with my choices. For the longest time, after Louis and I had broken up, I had given up on making choices that were bold regarding my appearance – sure, I work at a bakery, but I don’t have to be a vagabond!