We will meet again

Chapter 20

March '12...

Aly was having a heated conversation with Harry over the phone. She just got the news of an amazing job offer in London and had to tell him...

Since the drama-filled weekend back in July she hasn't seen the boys but talked to Harry, Liam, Louis and Niall on the phone every other day. She never asked how Zayn was, or if he ever asked about her, so she assumed he didn't care. Or maybe the boys haven't told him they're staying in touch with her. She wanted to ask one of them so she would be sure but was too scared to.

"Harry! For the millionth time, it's a business trip! I'm not coming to London for vacation. I probably won't have much time anyway."

"Maybe. But you know you can't avoid the confrontation. Sooner of later you will bump into Zayn. What if we all go for a night out? Do you expect us to leave him behind? Cause we won't!" Harry said in a slow, calm voice.

"No, I'm just saying you don't need to tell him I'll be in London. He doesn't need to know and he probably wouldn't care either way."

Aly thought about what she read in a gossip mag the other day. Supposedly Zayn was seeing someone but American press didn't know the girl. And there was no photo of her either. Aly thought for a minute to check the British sites but she dismissed that thought quickly. She didn't want to know. What if they really bumped into one another while he was out and about with his girl? It would break Aly's heart. That's why she didn't want him to know she was around. She wanted it to be a quick trip without any complications.

"Aly! It's been more than six months since that day! You both moved on. Why do you think you'd feel uncomfortable around him? It was you who told me that you were over him. You told me you were fine!" Harry was referring to our last conversation, where I may have told him I didn't care about the past anymore, that I was concentrating on the future.

I didn't think he would believe it, as it was clearly a lie. I still thought about Zayn. Every day and every night. But I couldn't let it show so I said I was over him.

"Aly! Did you lie to me when you said you were over Zayn?" All Harry heard was my heavy breathing.

"Aly, answer me!"

"Fine, ok. Yes! I lied to you. I'm not over him. How could I possibly get over him? I'm not ready to face him. I don't think I'll ever be. But you guys you're my best friends, I don't want to stay away from you because of what happened or didn't happen with me and Zayn. And if it wasn't for that job offer, believe me, I wouldn't be coming to London anytime soon." I blurted out and felt instant regret.

"Nice. Really nice. Thanks a lot. So you're avoiding us because Zayn moved on and you can't stand the thought of it?" Harry was pissed. I guess now wasn't the right time to ask about Zayn's relationship status. But being me, I did it anyway!

"So it's true he's got a girlfriend now?" Mental face palm. Well done Aly.

"Where did you get that?" Harry asked as his voice trailed off. Aly imagined him biting his bottom lip.

"OK magazine. The US version. They mentioned it very briefly. I wanted to check the UK version too, but luckily I stopped myself just in time." Snarky was the new me.

"It's ok. You can tell me. Not because I'm keen on hearing it but because I need confirmation. You know me Harry, I always need to know when I'm right." I tried to sound indifferent.

"Well, he's kind of seeing someone right know...but it's nothing serious." Harry quickly added.

"Might get serious soon. We both know how Zayn is. He's falling in love fast and hard."