Uptown Boy (Narry Storan)

13. East End & Birthdays

HS

"Please, Harry. I can't tell you what's happening. I wasn't even supposed to tell you that it was Niall." Zayn breathes out.

"Listen, Harry. I know you and Niall are.. you know. But I just can't say. I'm sorry. I promise to make it up to you." He says. And before I could even refute, he's abruptly spinning on his heel and taking off.

"Zayn!" I call out after him, but he's already out the door, leaving me alone in my big office with my raging, confused thoughts.

-

I ran after Zayn, and yet, I still couldn't catch up to him. I lost him the second I reached the main street.

That is why, what I'm doing now is completely stupid. I'm driving over to the car shop. It's stupid because I literally just dropped all my work just for– for Niall or for Zayn, I don't even know, but I did it anyway. It's stupid because I know that this is a problem between them and for some reason can't have me knowing, but I'm still trying to find out either way. I'll probably get shit from them, but whatever. What could be so important that made Zayn just drop everything to go after?

I don't know why, but for some reason as I drive down to the shop, there's this nagging, apprehensive feeling at the bottom of my gut. My stomach is turning in an unfriendly way, and it's driving me nuts.

I take in deep breaths, to try to release the tension. I ignore that feeing for now, before pulling up to the car shop, to see no one but Ed and Bradan Horan, Niall's uncle. They're huddled around the counter, whispering about something amongst themselves. Paranoia starts to fill me as I think about all the possible topics that they can be talking about. Mostly about what they know about Niall.

Then, Ed catches my eye before he grins widely, and waves me over, which very barely lifts that paranoia in me.

"Hey lover boy. Niall's not in today. Thought you'd know that." He says with a knowing smirk as I make my way over to them.

"I thought I'd know too." I mumble to myself. Bradan gives me a small smile and a pat on my back before he stalks off to the other side of the shop.

"Is it his off day today?" I ask Ed once Bradan was out of hearing range.

"No, he called in sick." I raise my brows in surprise. Huh, so he deliberately left my place early.

"Why'd you ask?" Ed asks. I purse my lips together before releasing a soft puff of air. So they have no idea what happened with Niall either.

"By any chance can you tell me where he lives?" I ask instead and he raises his brows in suspicion.

"You're not going down there to rob his house or anything right?" He eyes me slightly. I chuckle softly, shaking my head.

"Now, why would I want to do that?" He shrugs lightly.

"True. You're a multi-millionaire." He hums out before his lips break out into a smirk. "Oh, I know why you're asking." He eyes me knowingly.

"And why's that?" I raise a brow challengingly with a small smirk.

"You want to go down there for some surprise get well soon sex?" He teases and I roll my eyes chuckling.

"Ha ha. You caught me." I say sarcastically. "But maybe." I shoot him a playful wink.

"Right. I see you, Harold. East End of London. Borough of Newham, Forest Gate. The building right opposite Boots." I grin in triumph.