Almost [Zarry&Lilo]

Chapter Ten

Scene 1: A week later there's a funny situation, Zayn's outside of a shop that Harry happens to be in. Zayn's on the phone with the people that Liam talks his anger problems out with and Harry is eavesdropping.

ZAYN: (staring blankly into the sky, waiting for the line to be picked up ) "It he talking to you now? Because if not I'm coming up there, and forcing it out of him."

???: "It's fine Mr. Malik, he's just getting use to us, we did have a little talk toward the end of the session, so that's something." (dry laugh)

ZAYN: (rolls his eyes) "Tell me if he ever misses any sessions because I'm not paying you to sit around and do nothing."

As the lady on the line agrees, Harry decides he's heard enough and opens the door to the cafe and exits. Zayn catches a glimpse of those familiar curls as they walk away from him and he decides to say his goodbyes.

ZAYN: (hurries past people, loud) "Harry!" (catches up easily)

HARRY: (side eyes him) "What? Why'd you stop the secret phone call?"

ZAYN: (sighs) "Harry, stop acting like this, I'm tired of it, you've got to be tired of it too."

The walk in silence, until Harry gets to his destination. Home. Zayn grabs his shoulder, stopping him from entering the house.

ZAYN: (upset) "You're the one who wanted to spend more time together, yet here you are pushing me away!" (slightly playful) "what the hell Harry, I'm not up for a game of hard to get."

HARRY: (whiny) "I'm not playing hard to get, I don't need to, I already have you, but lately it hasn't felt that way."

ZAYN: "Harry, I know you want to figure out what's up with me and Louis always talking but it's not my place to discuss it with you. You have to understand that."

HARRY: (hurt) "I don't. Okay. I don't get it. I don't understand. You're my boyfriend, and I just want to know what you're always talking about with Louis. It hurts me to know that you're purposefully keeping it from me."

ZAYN: (reaches to intertwine his fingers with Harry, Harry allows him, Zayn is grateful) "Love, I'm sorry. That's all I can say. If Louis doesn't want to tell you about it, I can't." (kisses Harry's knuckles)

HARRY: (quiet) "Who were you talking about to that lady?"

ZAYN: (exhales) "My cousin."

Scene 2: Harry gives Zayn a small kiss on the cheek before he heads inside. He wonders into the living room where Louis is cuddled in the couch under a blanket, reading Hamlet. Harry shakes his head and moves Louis' feet, sits where they were and puts them in his lap.

LOUIS: (telepathically asks, still enveloped in his book) "What do you need?"

HARRY: (cringes at the idea of Louis hearing all his thoughts) "I need to apologize."

LOUIS: (puts down the book) "It's fine, I heard you and Zayn talking. I'm sorry that I'm causing problems in your relationship."

HARRY: (sad) "I know you told Afton, which is not fair, because she's my friend and you're my cousin."

Harry rolls his eyes and turns on the TV. It's on low volume, because he intents to guilt trip Louis into telling him what's up. Louis already knows this of course and grabs the remote to turn off the TV.

LOUIS: (small) "Harry, I'm sorry, but she just seemed more approachable, felt like I could trust her without even knowing her."

HARRY: "Please just tell me?"

LOUIS: (sits up, curling in on himself) "Long story short." (rubs his face) "I came here because my boyfriend, Liam, he wasn't treating me good anymore, so I asked your mom if I could stay here for a little while, until he could fix his shit."

HARRY: (realizies) "By not treating you good, you mean he was hitting you?"

LOUIS: (squeezes his eyes shut, nods)

HARRY: "What the fuck, Louis? How long?"

LOUIS: (shrugs) "On and off for 3 years."

HARRY: "Why didn't you come here sooner?"

LOUIS: "I wasted so much time trying to contact my mother, so before I knew it 2 years flew by and nothing. Then one day I just called up your mom, crying my eyes out because Liam had left me in so much pain that one time.. and-and I just begged her to help me and-" (silent tears stream down his face)

HARRY: (cuddles Louis in) "Louis, it's okay, it's over."

LOUIS: (sobs) "No it isn't, he's always calling and leaving messages. Zayn got him into like angry management classes, but I know he's going to come down here. I can feel it."

Gears turn in Harry's head, and he gasps.

HARRY: "Zayn got him into anger management classes?"

LOUIS: "Yeah." (wipes his face on Harry's dark shirt)

HARRY: (eyes flashing a light brown) "I'm going to kill him."

Meanwhile at Zayn's house.

ZAYN: (surprised) "What the hell are you doing in my house?"

???: (laughing) "Good to see you too cousin."

***

Edited.??