Should We Just Keep Driving? [Zarry Stylik AU]©️

Chapter 9

 Earlier that morning....

After dropping Mrs Malik at the board meeting, Harry had the morning to himself. He thought about Zayn, hoping the meeting would go his way and he had a good result. He wanted things to work out for him; to have all the success in the world. He wished that Zayn could finally sleep well, smile more and rest up. Possibly, by his side, breathing into him and with his name coming out of those beautiful lips.

He found it curious that all these... desires were coming up now. As if those emotions had been numb all those years in jail and, now that he was free, his body could react and act as it should. Wouldn't Zayn be a great way to start?

He thought about the secret tattoos, which according to his boss, covered all of his body. He wondered where...possibly his chest, his stomach, thighs. He had loved the one on the back of his hand. Hidden under all that cheap makeup. What else would Zayn hide? And how could Harry push it out of his system?

As he sat behind the steering wheel of the car, he wondered what he'd do with his free time. Mrs Malik gave him enough room for him to do whatever he wanted to do when he wasn't working, so he wasn't concerned with stepping over some kind of line.

He had been in the real world for six weeks now. He wondered if it was the right time to reach out to his family. Begin working that relationship to a better place. Since his body was already hungry for someone, perhaps it was time to fix those bridges too.

After all, the family was important.

He had been arrested immediately and put in jail. There he waited for the trial and stayed for the duration of it. His mother would often visit and she would keep the faith that he would get out soon. Anne would hold his hand tight, sending her all the good energy and positivity only a mother could have.

"You're going to get out, love. I know it." She would repeat over and over.

But Harry knew the truth. He knew that he wasn't going to get out. Not anytime soon. He was a sacrifice for the greater good. However, the young Styles would take it, agree and pretend to believe.

When the judge read the sentence, Harry heard Anne sob, while he kept his head down. Keeping composed, hands in front of him, but the verdict hit him like a ton of bricks. As the police took him away, Harry didn't even look back despite his mother calling his name. Inside the police car, he cried quietly and, to his surprise, the police gave him his space. He wondered how many prisoners had they seen crying in the back of the car.

During his stay in the big house, Harry refused to receive visits from his sister and his mother. He was too ashamed. He had caused too much hurt and he had seen it in his mother's eyes in the courtroom, while she wiped her tears. Thinking he had been the cause of her tears, made his heart shrink. Harry didn't reply to letters or accepted phone calls. He wasn't punishing them. He was punishing himself for hurting them in such a way. He didn't deserve to be around such loving women - he deserved to be alone.

Growing up, his mother had told him time and time again that Louis was not good company.

"Sometimes, I believe you listen to me but choose to ignore me," Anne commented, one day from the kitchen. "I've told you, since you were little, that Tomlison boy is no good."

"He's my friend, mum." Harry would argue. "We all hang out together. Me, him and Payno."

"I don't like it," Anne responded. "I'm uneasy. I heard he steals cars and sells drugs. I don't want you near him."

"He doesn't." Harry lied, as he held his mother. "All we do is just...do shitty stuff like the teenagers we are."

"Promise you'll behave."