I Don't Want To Live Forever

3.

"Should you be drinking this much?, we got a big show tomorrow" Zayn asks as he approaches Harry, seated on the living suite sofa, watching TV.

"I will be fine", Harry responds, sipping from the beer bottle he is clutching in one hand. 

Zayn knows he probably won't though, he has been getting sick on stage lately.

He sits next to him, and Harry sighs slightly, rolling his eyes. 

"I do not know what you are imagining, H, but nothing happened, nothing shady is going on".

"Then why is she ghosting me?", Zayn shrugs, and for a moment he feels actually bad for him. But he must know he has gotten in this mess with her all by himself.

"You know her better than me, Haz", and Harry nods, a sad shadow in his eyes, "I thought I did". He goes quiet in thought before asking, "going out, wanna join?".

Zayn raises his eyebrows, taken aback, "Not sure we should".

Harry smirks then, "c'mon, I need a wingman".

It is nearly 1am, when they make their way back to the hotel.

"Shhhh", Harry is gesturing with a finger on his lips, trying to get the blonde girl leaning into his arms to stop giggling as they ride the lift to their hotel floor.

Zayn eyes them sideways. Another mistake he thinks, and he glares at Harry, hoping he gets the message. But he is wasted again, and he probably wouldn't notice an elephant if it landed on his feet.

They arrive at Harry's room door, and Zayn finally speaks up, in a disapproving tone. "You shouldn't be doing this, mate".

Harry dismisses him with a wave and a smile. "Relax, Zayn. It's just a bit of fun. No one cares."

"She does", Zayn hits back. And Harry's face straightens immediately.

The girl makes a weird sound then, and they both look at her, she is drunk and is about to be sick. 

"Shit", Harry mutters, fumbling for the key in his jacket's inside pocket. He opens the door, and the girl runs in, searching for the bathroom.

Harry pauses to look back at Zayn still in the corridor, "mind your business, friend", he tells him, a subtle call to his loyalty in the way he pronounces the word "friend", and he closes the door on him.

***

Taylor Swift: So it is my turn to tell you to take care of yourself.

Zayn: It's the schedule, it's not humanly possible for me to do it. Sometimes, I feel like I am going mad. Wish I could get out of it.

Taylor Swift: I am a fan. 💕 but if it's turning into something harmful for you. You should not do it. You would not be the first boy to leave a boyband.

Zayn: yeah, but what if I screw things up.

Taylor Swift: What if you don't. OMG, you are so talented, record companies will fight for you. I can introduce you to some people.

Zayn: Thank you. Right now I feel like I have wasted all my good years.

Taylor Swift: Don't be silly. I listened to the audio you sent me. It is fire Zayn 🔥Change can be scary, but if you are doing what you truly believe in, it will always be worth it.

Zayn: You cannot see me, but I am blushing. Means a lot coming from you. That is the music I want to do. And you are right.

Taylor: Just be yourself, there is no one better you can be. And you have at least your number one fan guaranteed 😉

Zayn: I'll keep that in mind. I truly appreciate your support, number one fan 😜

Zayn: Now, how have you been?

Taylor: I am definitely feeling saner. Hoping this is nothing music and time can't heal.

Taylor: I miss him. It's tough not to pick up the phone when he calls. To think I used to wait by it for his calls that never came. I just wish things had turned out differently.

Zayn: Music is a great healer, best way to process this.

Zayn: You know now that waiting by the phone for someone who couldn't appreciate you is a thing of the past. There is someone for you who won't make you wait, Taylor.

He looks at the screen, expecting a quick reply, but she takes nearly twenty minutes to type back.

Taylor Swift: Is it crazy of me to wonder what would have happened if I had met you first?

He stares at the screen in thought, rereading the text.

He doesn't want to go there. He can't.

Zayn: But you didn't. And he cares for you.

Taylor Swift: *sigh* I am so sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. Me and my big mouth.

Zayn: Hey, don't be. I am happy our silent conversations are what the universe had planned for us. 😉

Taylor Swift: I treasure them too 😊 Thank you, for everything.

Zayn: It goes both ways.