Once in a lifetime

Chapter 2 Someone

As they were getting out of the store, Harry couldn't avoid peeking at Zayn through the corner of his eye. He was such handsome man. He looked at the rest of him, his heavenly tattooed left hand, which had this complex yet beautiful design of what seemed to be a monochromatic mandala and some symbols on his fingers that resembled runes, but Harry was not sure. Zayn was wearing a long sleeve shirt, so he had just a partial view. Ripped jeans at the knees and cool Converse tennis shoes completed the outfit. It was very casual, and Harry wished he hadn't been wearing long sleeves, he wanted to see more, more golden skin, more tattoos if there were any.

Zayn was utterly aware of the look he was receiving from Harry. It took all of him not to try to go on full hitting on mode on him, but that was because he wasn't sure yet if Harry would be interested. If the stares where something to tell by, he might as well be. However, Zayn didn't want to start too hard on this, he was rather fond of letting destiny decide kind of thing.

"This was a rather nice way to make a new acquaintance, Zayn Malik" Harry said, unable and unwilling to stay quiet any longer. They had stopped both at the entrance of the shop and as a passing by thought it occurred to Harry, they may be asked to move a little bit from there. He had to stretch those last minutes as much as possible. Maybe get a number?

"Was indeed, Harry Styles. Thank you again for the detail of letting me get the sunflowers even if that cost you not gettin'em for your mum, yeah?"

"Yeah, don't sweat it. We were both able to get them at the end and that's all that matters."

"Yeah, yeah. I gotta get going, mum's waiting at home. Have a nice one, Harry."

"Yeah, you too Zayn" Harry replied and smiled intentionally of his response. It had unconsciously mirrored Zayn's earlier one. Zayn smiled too, noticing. This was it. They were going their separate ways and Harry couldn't get himself to ask for a number. How many Zayn Maliks could there be in the city of New York anyway? He still had a shot.

He was just considering letting his book editor imagination run wild and start for the first time in his tweenty eight years stalking someone. He noticed Zayn kept walking, not approaching any car. Would it be possible that he lived nearby like him? How come he had never seen him before? He wouldn't do it, though and he remembered his mother would be home soon and he had absolutely nothing ready for her. He did order from the Italian everything but the main dish. He wasn't even sorry about it.

As he headed home, he remained thinking of Zayn. His eyes, his lips, his hair, his hands, his smile...Shit...It was bad.

He had never felt such a thing for anyone before. He of course knew he was into both women and men since he was around sixteen almost seventeen years old and he fooled around a bit with the two years older neighbour. He was a gorgeous black skinned boy who was about to leave for college and Harry always felt that innocent curiosity for him. He didn't go as far as his first time with him but close. He had it when he was twenty. It was one of those peculiar moments when you think you have found your one, eventhough you met five minutes ago. Harry felt like they hada deep soul connection, something profound and not only lust. They saw each other for a month before Harry decided he was ready to give it to him, to take the leap of faith. After they had sex, where Harry bottomed, it felt like the deep thread holding them together had ripped. They decided to go their separate ways two months after and since then he was one of occasional one night stand sort of thing, which he tried to keep going mostly with women.

That being the reason why he couldn't understand what was going on with Zayn, the way he didn't even try to seduce Harry and still he was all wired already. He would've loved for Zayn to try to seduce him. He did give him the impression he was enjoying Harry's attention. He wanted to reach out to him so bad, but it would be creepy as hell if he did it and then Zayn would get to the most normal question, the one he would die out of embarrassment if it ever happened to be voiced to him, how the fuck did you find me?

Before he could realise, he was back home just in time to start cooking the main dish for his mom. He put the sunflower arrangement on his nightstand so it would be a surprise for her. He could tell something was up inside is mind when he felt the need to start listening to his old Fleetwood Mac vinyl. That vinyl was never good news. Anyway, he cooked dinner, set the table, and got some wine while waiting for her. She had called him few minutes ago saying she was already halfway home. It had been couple of years since they last saw each other, Harry staying busy building his company from the ground up and he was very proud of what he managed to accomplish. He had a decent sized editorial which had signed at the time being fifteen authors located not only in New York but also in the whole west coast. He had a soft spot for writers who had been rejected multiple times, those were the ones who caught his attention. He was very fond of the type of person who would never give up, don't matter the circumstances or how hard and dark the future might look like. Those were the ones worth keeping close.

He almost pissed himself when the heard the bell ring, being so immersed in his mind. His mother hadn't changed a bit and that was sort of recomforting. She always preferred doing that, ringing the bell, rather than calling him to open the door beforehand.

"Mum, you are finally here" he greeted.

"Hi, luv. Oh baby, I missed you so much" she said while hugging the life out of him. He returned the sentiment and the hug, just as tight as possible without hurting her.

"M' so glad you could make it, even if Rob couldn't. Having one of you here is better than none."

"You know if he could, he would have been here in a heartbeat. He just had so much going on..."

"S' alright mum, don't worry about it. I know he is as busy as myself so next time I will make the trip, deal? I really want to spend some time back home with you guys"

"That'd be lovely, sweetheart. Gemma has been wanting to come too, but with all she has going on now hasn't been able to make the time."

"I get it too, mum. Tell'em not to worry, I will make time soon to visit. I promise."

He took the luggage from her hands to leave it on the guestroom and motioned to the coach for her to sit while he did so. She shook her head no, as she had been sitting long enough already and instead started wandering on the apartment. Harry moved there not so long ago, so most of the walls and deco were a work in progress. He did have a massive bookshelf full of any book type one could think of, politics, religion, business, romance, horror, he even had a few on his stash about conspiracy theories and paranormal stuff. He was a book editor after all, books were his life.

They finally sat and ate while catching up. He zoned out for a few seconds a couple of times and of course Anne noticed. Mothers notice everything, even the slightly change on your demeanour. It was the one superpower all mothers shared.

"What is going on, Harry? Is all good?"

"Yeah, mum, all good. Why'd you ask?"

"I know you, luv. I know there's something on your mind. You seem very distracted."

"You can tell? I met someone... Well, that's not... accurate...No, yeah, I met someone, but..."

"Harry, luv..."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I met someone today."

"Okay... What's with this someone?"

"His name's Zayn. I met him when I was getting you flowers, which I haven't given..."

"Later, keep going baby."

"Okay, yeah. It was such strange moment for me, mum. I don't know if he's into guys, it seemed like he is, but I could be wrong, y'know? But there is this something about him, I can't get him off my mind."

"That sounds fantastic, luv. You came to a nice age to settle down. Did you get his number, email, address, anything? When are you meeting him again so you can get to know each other?"

"That's the thing, I didn't get anything to reach him."

"Harry Edward! How do you mean? Why did you hold back, luv?"

"I dunno, mum. I was just, uh, so damn scared he would be weirded out or something, y'know?"

"Oh no, baby. Now what? How are you going to find him on this bloody city?"

"Well, if it is meant to be, our paths will cross again, isn't that what they say? If it's meant to be, it will be anyhow?"

"Yes, luv, but sometimes we need to help fate a little bit..."