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

Chapter 26

Harry stopped the car near the beach. The long sidewalk followed the avenue that ran parallel to the beach. In the morning, it would be full of activity, now it was a desert. It was just their car and nothing else around. The ocean was just ahead, with the waves crashing against the sand in the darkness. A sea of nothing ahead of them, with nothing but sound to guide them.

The driver turned off the car, landing them in silence and darkness. Zayn sat next to him, completely still. Both looked ahead into the night. Both had a lot to say, but no words.

It had been three months of complete silence between the two. Neither of them dared to look to the side for fear of what the other might do or say.

Harry kept a steady hand on the wheel, scratching the leather with his nail. Zayn kept his hands to himself but involuntarily squeezed his fingers together.

The minutes kept dragging. A car rolled behind them. Then another.

Until Zayn took the first step with action. He went into the pocket of his coat, took out an envelope and placed it on the dashboard in front of Harry's eyes. The envelope lay there as the last piece that connected them.

"Your paychecks kept bouncing back." He announced softly. "You weren't home."

Harry looked at the envelope but didn't move to touch it.

"I don't want your money."

"You did a job, and you never provided a bank account. You need to get paid." Zayn added. "I know it's not the same amount that Louis gave you-"

"I don't want your money because then you'd think that what...I had for you was nothing but a job." Harry explained looking ahead. Zayn closed his eyes momentarily. "I don't care about the money. Keep your money. You can keep Louis's money too. I don't want it."

"I've had enough of Louis's money."

They sat in silence again, the two festering in their emotions. The street was quiet. A light mist began to fall around them, making them feel as if the world had ended and there was no one else.

Harry's heart drummed against his chest, making breathing difficult. He dared to look over at Zayn, seeing his head lowered, looking at his tattooed hands. He was still beautiful. Perfect hair, perfect face and overall presence made the driver tremble.

"Had."

"What?"

"You said what you had for me," Zayn commented looking out the window, away from Harry. The driver regretted his words. "Couldn't help noticing."

Harry scratched his growing beard, moving his eyes ahead. At a distance, a line of glowing dots moved on the horizon slowly, showing a heavy boat making its way into the night.

"You hurt me,"

"Well, you hurt me first."

"How...How did I hurt you? I was honest about it. The moment I found out, I told you and... Shit, I can't believe I'm saying this again."

"I was heartbroken, Harry."

"And I wasn't?" He closed his eyes momentarily, rehashing an old argument. "Zayn, I told you I had no idea who you were when I got the job. I had no idea. But you refused to listen to me. You just.... labelled me as a liar and a fake. You didn't listen to me and..."

When Harry opened his eyes again, he found Zayn staring back. His face was half hidden in the shadows. Harry scoffed, shaking his head with sadness, unable to contain his emotions.

"I'm not going through this again. It was...enough the one time."

"I didn't know what to think."

"I promise you..." He repeated. "I had nothing to do with any of this. Nothing. I told Evans everything I knew and how you were innocent and a victim. I never worked with Louis it's all just.... a fucking horrible coincidence, which left us in the shit. And I tried to explain that to you..." Harry continued. "But you just...ran all over me...It was a lot, but it was me. Me. And that should be enough, but it wasn't."