Lost - zarry

Miami

Knocking, Zain waited for the wooden door to open. It took 4 or 5 minutes until it finally creaked open, revealing the unexpected face of the homeowner.

"Ugh. You again?" Louis said, annoyed. He hadn't paid much attention to how many times Zain had come, acting foolish and awkward, asking to see his beloved, albeit ugly, brother. But from his guess, Zain had come here more often than Louis did his own laundry.

"Well, good morning Louis." Zain eyed him from the frizziest strand of hair pointing directly to the sky to his unattractive toes. He assumed that Louis had just woken up because of his knocking.

"Harry's just gone to Miami. You should've come here yesterday so you could meet your lovey dovey pookie dookie crush." Louis leaned his right shoulder against the door frame, making faces to tease him.

"For how long? Lord, it's like he's tryna escape from my love or something." Zain scratched the back of his head. He had just gotten a new haircut, washed with the most expensive shampoo he could afford, and shaved his beard freshly, looking all handsome and clean. Yet, he couldn't help but feel disappointed for not meeting Harry.

"Don't know bro. But don't bother me by knocking at 8 in the morning till he's back, please." Louis yawned, pulling his old, musty, holey tee to cover his mouth. Zain almost forgot how wealthy this family was by the state of Louis's clothes, which looked like something pillaged from a homeless person.

"But you can come in if you want. Go smell Harry's bed, maybe that'll help you feel better. I won't tell." Louis motioned his hand to invite Zain inside his house, stepping to the right so Zain could enter on the left.

"What kind of brother are you?" Zain stepped into the house, walking past Louis to sit on a comfortable, sophisticated-looking couch, which thanks to Harry's taste. Otherwise, he imagined it might resemble living in a dumpster if Louis had been the one to decide on the house's décor.

"When did I tell you to make yourself at home?" Louis mumbled, closed the door behind him and walked to the kitchen to grab something. "Wanna beer, man?" He shouted from the kitchen.

"You've just woken up and drink beer right away?" Zain shrugged disbelievingly, but it's no wonder why Louis wasn't the better Tomlinson. Louis returned with cans in his hand, which, from what Zain could see, were just juice cans.

"Just kidding bro. Want some?" Louis handed Zain the strawberry one, which was Harry's favorite, as Zain had always seen Harry drink it every day back in college.

"Thanks" Zain accepted the drink, opened it, and brought it to his lips, taking a sip. Sourness hit his tongue, causing him to squint from the taste and the fizziness of the soda. This is so Harry.

"So?" Louis suddenly looked up from his can and gazed at Zain, as if expecting an answer to a question he hadn't even asked.

"So?" Zayn mimicked, not fully grasping what Louis meant by just uttering a single word. Nevertheless, he could somewhat anticipate the topic that would be discussed from now on.

"Tell me more, about my BROTHER and you." Louis emphasized the word 'Brother'. After a lifetime of being a terrible brother, was he now suddenly determined to become a good, caring, protective one?

"Nothing much. He's not even my boyfriend yet." Zain casually brought his legs up, transitioning from a seated position to half-lying on the couch. He couldn't resist its softness and warmth, as it cradled his body, tempting him to drift off to sleep even in the middle of conversation. He almost came on it but that wouldn't be the best way of impressing his crush's brother.