Animals, Leather Jackets And A Mysterious Mystery (Zarry)

Chapter 16

*Harry*

The day after Liam's encounter with Lotte, he was standing in front of the mirror, trying different ways to get the perfect haircut. It's funny how many ways he actually found, knowing that he has really short hair. He was also trying to make the best out of his zoo-outfit, but because today was not a desk day but an animal- filled day for Liam, he had to wear our green shirts and green was so not his colour. He was very stressed about it all and was sure about Lotte running away the moment she saw him in his green shirt.

"Li, she is not that shallow you know. I'm pretty sure she will be stopping by today just to see you. After what you told us yesterday it is quite obvious that she likes you. Now it's up to you to sweep her off her feet. Do you think you can do that?"

I put my both hands on his shoulders and shook him a bit. He really did look nervous and I just hugged him. Honestly, he would be fine, all of us knew it, now we just had to convince Li. 

"I don't know Haz, I'm clumsy and daddy like and not as funny as Lou, or mysterious as Z, relaxed as Ni or cheeky as you."
"Liam, I don't think she is the kind of girl to fall for that. My guess is that she needs someone to give her confidence and just loves her for who she is. That she is looking for someone to have fun with and have decent conversations with, but someone who could also understand her nerdy side and just acts as nerdy as her. And you are the biggest nerd out of all of us! Be proud of your nerdiness Liam! Embrace it!"

He started laughing and hugged himself!

"Nerdiness embraced! Thanks Haz!"

He had a little hop into his walk when he left and  whistled 'Feeling good' by Michael Bublé.

"So what has gotten him in such a good mood?" Zayn asks.
"Well Babe, seems like Liam is finally going to ask out Lotte."
"Wait, dressed like that? He didn't even freak out?"
"Oh no, he freaked out, but you guys missed it."
"Damn, Why do I always miss out on the good things... Well, let's hope Liam has the guts to ask her out because Lotam needs to happen."
"Lotam?"
"Lotte and Liam, I invented that ship name together with Niall and Louis.", he chuckled, obviously amused and finding himself very funny.
"Knowing you guys you made a ship name for us too right?"
"Yep and also for Louis and Niall. They are Nouis, we are Zarry."

I facepalmed myself and left for work. I promised Nolan to keep him up to date with the Lotam-situation. Might as well use that name, pretty sure the rest will.

I arrived at Nolan's and we started planning out my entire date with Zayn. I still need to ask him if he wants to go out with me, but that is a minor detail. Nolan had the best idea by telling me how much Zayn loved books and all of a sudden inspiration hit the both of us. We kept planning, talking and finally booking the things that needed to be booked. Now all I had to do was ask Zayn out and get him to where I need him.

After fixing everything I went back to work, because I had been neglecting it to be honest. The penguins all started telling me how much they were hungry and that they not felt loved anymore. Of course they were joking, but they were right, I had lost track of time organizing everything so I made it up by giving them extra fish. I was instantly forgiven.

A knock on the window distracted me and I saw Liam's girl standing there and waving at me. I made my way towards her and smiled.

"Hi, I'm lotte, I'm trying to find Liam, but he is either hiding from me or I'm just passing him without noticing." She blushed.
"Don't worry, Liam is here somewhere, let's go find him together. I'm Harry by the way."
"Right! Hi!"
"How did you know that I knew Liam?"
"I didn't but you were the first person of the staff that I came across, so yeah..."
"Smart move, I'm actually one of his best friends, so I know where he might be hiding."

We were walking and we talked about the weather and the news. She was obviously quite nervous, either of me or of meeting Liam again, so I decided not to push her.

We arrived at Ozzy's cage and saw Liam sitting with him behind the glass. Ozzy was taking a nap on Liam's lap and I saw Lotte looking at Liam with the most adorable googly eyes I had ever seen. If she hasn't have a crush on Li then I'm the pope. I knocked on the window, Liam's head snapped up and I pointed towards Lotte. Li put Ozzy on a haystack and came to us. I said my goodbyes and left them.

*Liam's POV*

"Hi, you made it."
"Yeah, I hope I'm not too late, I just didn't know where to find you."
"No that's okay. Ozzy was a bit sad and he needed some comforting."
"Poor little cutie, it's good he has you."
"So euhm, you want to walk around, help me out?"
"Sure, tell me where to go first."

Lotte took of her sweater, showing the zooshirt I had given her the day before. I looked down and smiled at her.

"Interesting choice of clothes."
"Yeah, I just..." She stopped talking and scratched her neck, hiding her face with her hair, "if it's too much I can go home."
"No please don't, I like it. We're matching now."

The entire day she helped me out, no matter what job we were doing, she put her all in it.

"Lotte?"
"Yeah Liam?"
"Would you like, go on a date with me?"
"Sure! I'd love too." I loved her enthusiastic answer and we just smiled at each other. The world slowing down around us.

We snapped out of it after a while and continued our job, when the zoo was about to close she went back home, but we would be seeing each other again in two hours. I was not going to let her go and forget about the date. Strike the iron while it's hot right?

*Two hours later*

I drove to the adress she gave me and picked her up. She was dressed in a bright summer dress and she looked absolutely lovely.

"Hello again."
"Hi, you look absolutely amazing."
"You're not so bad yourself mister.", she giggled and I melted.

We talked about everything and nothing and I learned that she lived in Hilversum, in the Netherlands, before but moved to London to study here. She went on regular holidays to the Netherlands to go visit her family that still lives there.
Of course we talked about how I had never been there and she invited me to come along with her next time. She would show me around and she would also show me Amsterdam.

We finally arrived at the lake where I had planned my surprise. A picnic basket was the first thing we saw. It was filled with cupcakes, brownies and other sugary things. The sun was setting while we were still talking, singing along to songs on my ipod. The flowers around me were so pretty that I decided, on the spur of the moment, to make a flower crown for her. It would fit her dress, just as much as it would fit the scenario I had planned out. Once it was ready I placed it on her hair. She looked perfect and I felt myself falling even more. Lotte was looking at the sundown and I couldn't hold myself back in taking a sneeky picture. I held my hand out to her and she took hold of it. We walked to the water, where a tiny boat was waiting for us.

"You told me yesterday that you loved the water and you love sailing, well this is not sailing obviously, but it is the second best I could think of."

I stepped into the boat and helped her to get in it as well. We pushed away from the side and I started rowing. Thankfully I was smart enough to bring my ipod with me, so it wasn't all too quiet when we enjoyed the view around us. The sun setting down, the trees dancing with the wind, the water hitting our boat gently. Suddenly Lotte gasped and pointed in the air. We saw the first lantern flying, soon more were floating in the air and after a few minutes we were surrounded by them. The one's that were coming back down were lifted into the air again by her. Lotte was amazed by the sight around her, giggles, oooohh's and gasps left her mouth and her eyes grew bigger.

Now I only needed to do the last thing to make this experience completely movie-like. When Lotte was still distracted by it all, I put on the song that was needed for this moment.

All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I've been
Now I'm here blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here suddenly I see
Standing here it's all so clear
I'm where I'm meant to be

She looked up at me through her eyelashes, a blush forming on her cheeks and smiling hard. The lanterns were reflecting in her eyes and the glow that came from them made her look more angelic. She really looked like Rapunzel in tangled now. Flowers in her hair, a dress, big beautiful eyes, I couldn't keep my eyes off of her.

And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you

I opened my arms and she moved closer to me, her back against my stomach, her head against my shoulder.

"This really is the best date I have ever been on Liam, it is really magical. Thank you."
I kissed her cheek and draped my arms around her, holding her close to me. Not willing to let her go just yet.

All those days chasing down a daydream
All those years living in a blur
All that time never truly seeing
Things the way they were
Now she's here shining in the starlight
Now she's here suddenly I know
If she's here it's crystal clear
I'm where I'm meant to go

She turned her head a bit and looked up, my eyes meeting hers.
"I know I'm shy and I worry a lot and...", she looked down, trying to figure out the best way of expressing herself. I let go of her and sat myself in front of her holding her hands in mine.
"I'm not the best with words but I know a few people who were, so let me steal their words because I mean them just as much as they meant them. Let's first start off with Mark Darcy who swept Bridget Jones of her feet:  I like you very much. Just as you are. Or as Nicholas Sparks wrote in The Notebook: You are, and always have been, my dream. And as Shakespeare once wrote: Hear my soul speak, The very instant that I saw you, Did my heart fly to your service."

And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog is lifted
And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new

And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once, everything is different
Now that I see you
Now that I see you.

I cupped her face, looking at her lips and back into her eyes, silently asking permission. She nodded her head and smiled nervously. My thumbs traced her rosy cheeks, while I brought myself closer to her, to press my lips on her soft one's. I smiled in the kiss and felt her do the same. The last thing I noticed before I completely lost myself in the moment were distant wolf whistles and cheers.