Intersection [ZARRY]

13

Harry had been quiet the rest of the day. He’d speak when spoken to and tease his brothers when they teased him, but Zayn could tell something was on his mind. Something was different, but he didn’t know what.

They had cake and Mitch opened gifts, but Harry’s sullen attitude stayed the same.

Afterward, they said goodbye to his family. Zayn watched as Harry’s mom hugged Taylor, whispering something in her ear, and then the three of them left.

“You’re being quiet back there, what gives?” Taylor asked as they drove away.

“Nothing. Just tired.” Harry told her. She sighed but didn’t bring it up again.

When they got to Taylor’s house, Harry got out of the car to tell her goodbye. Zayn watched as Taylor pushed up onto her toes, kissed his cheek and told him to call her later.

Then, it was just the two of them. The tension in the car got thicker with each mile they drove, with Harry just staring out the window. Zayn felt it in his chest, and all around him. He hadn’t spoken a word to Zayn the whole time, and he knew that somehow the tension was related to him.

“Are you sure everything is okay?” he asked when they were almost home.

“Yep. Just thinking,” was the only reply he got. He wasn’t sure why he thought Harry would tell him if he hadn’t been willing to tell Taylor, but it didn’t feel right not to ask.

Plus, Harry was his friend. They’d talked about a lot over the weeks they’d gotten to know each other. If he’d done something wrong, he wanted to know.

“Did I screw up somehow?”

“What?” Harry turned to him for the first time.
“No, not at all. I’m fine. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Just a strange day, I guess.”

“Okay.” It felt like more than that, and it bothered Zayn more than it should.

They continued the rest of their car ride in silence. When they got home, Harry tried to help him carry the dishes inside, but Zayn refused. He needed to bring them back to the restaurant anyway.

They were at their own doors, about to go inside when Harry’s voice stopped him.

“Hey.” Zayn turned to him, could see stress or confusion in every one of Harry’s features—his green eyes, the muscles in his body, the way he stood, everything.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for coming today. I’m glad you were there.”

Zayn let out a relieved breath. “Thanks for having me. I was glad to be there.”

When Harry turned around and walked into his house, Zayn had no choice but to do the same.

***

Harry sat alone in his house, unable to sleep. Glancing at the clock he saw it
was after midnight—not too late, but considering he’d been lying in bed since nine on a Saturday night, it was late enough.

His brother thought he was into Zayn...into another man. What a fucking idiot.

Yeah, he felt close to Zayn, felt like he’d known him a whole lot longer than six or so weeks. There was a bond there, a connection he didn’t really understand, but Jamie thinking Zayn was his boyfriend? There was no possible way Harry would even want that—a boyfriend.

Rolling over, Harry grabbed his cell phone off the bedside table. He dialed without second thought, and a few rings later, Taylor picked up.

“Can’t sleep?” she asked.