The Happiest Days of Our Lives ↠ zarry AU

II: Two Hearts

"Zayn."

"Is that Safaa's brother?"

"Uh, I don't know who Safaa is." Harry laughs. He's currently kneeling down, talking to a little girl, trying to find out where Zayn stays. "He's got black hair and he's always pouting like this," Harry mimics Zayn's face that he saw yesterday. "A little shorter than me too, light brown skin."

"I think that's Safaa's brother." The girl giggles.

"Great! Can you show me where they stay?"

"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers really – or go with them to places."

"Wait, wait," Harry quickly stands and stops the girl from walking away. "How about some money?" He asks and pulls out a five pound note.

"... I don't knooow," Harry pulls out more money and she smiles before taking the money. "Richard Cross Street. It's the third house with the red roof. Number seven."

"Thanks!" Harry waves as he goes on his way again. He hopes that he wasn't led to wrong house because that information was way too easy to get.

Number... seven. He spots the house and opens the gate to walk towards the white door which he knocks on three times.

"Yes?" A girl who could pass as Zayn's twin opens the door.

"Safaa?"

She frowns at Harry and gives him a once over. She really could pass as Zayn's twin. They even have the same intimidating scowl. "No, Waliyha. Who're you?"

"Oh, sorry! 'M Harry. I was looking for Zayn." He says and adjusts his black beanie. He gives her a sweet grin, baring all of his teeth as he's given another sketchy look. Finally, Waliyha looks away to call for Zayn before she focuses on Harry again. "How do you know my brother –"

"The hell?" Zayn pushes his sister aside. "What are you doing here?" He really should stop frowning so much or else he's going to have wrinkles well before he's fifty. Zayn grabs a denim jacket off of the coat-rack and puts it over his plain white shirt. "I'm going out." He informs his sister before he's closing the door and pushing past Harry.

Harry jogs to catch up to Zayn, which he doesn't have to do for long because of his long legs. "There was a little girl at the market near here – "

Zayn stops and turns around, almost having Harry slam into him. "The fruit and veg shop?"

"Yea, that's the one!" Harry smiles again and Zayn rolls his eyes.

"My sister's best friend."

"Safaa?" Zayn gives him the side eye before mumbling a 'yes'. He makes a point to sigh heavily and show Harry just how exasperated he is by his presence, but none of it affects Harry – or at least, he doesn't let it show that it does. "Your sister's really pretty."

Zayn's nostrils flare slightly at Harry's confession. "Well why don't you go back and hang out with her? Don't know why you've tagged along anyway. Told you that I was fine."

"I just wanted to make sure, is all." Harry shrugs easily with a small pout.

"You don't even know me." Zayn laughs in disbelief. He's never known someone so stubborn – and that was putting himself aside.

"Well, we're changing that now, don't ya think?"

"So what, you're tagging along the whole day?"

"Yea. I don't have any plans." Harry smiles at Zayn when he looks at him. "So where are we going?"

"I don't know." Zayn looks around to see that they're walking towards the library. "I just wanted to kind of get away from you."

If it was anyone else, Zayn's sour and rude attitude would have surely sent them back where they came from, with a middle finger shoved right in his face. Zayn can't understand why Harry – who is ridiculously happy-go-lucky, decides to take all of his brashness and stick around. Maybe he's a pushover? I mean, he's seen that Zayn is indeed okay and not done anything – so what's his deal?

"Okay, honestly, I do have some errands to run at this part of town."

"Ah, there it is." He didn't really care that much then.

"My sister is getting married in a few months and I need to get a dapper suit." He smooths his hands over his chest.

How is it so easy for him to act that he and Zayn have been the best of friends for years? It's then that Zayn realises that Harry had skilfully taken over leading them onto a different path. They're now heading towards Suit Yourself, one of the best stores to hire the best suits and tuxedos. Zayn's got to give him props for being so stealthy.

When Harry walks into the store and makes his presence known, it's like everyone lights up because of his infectious aura.

"Harry!" A short man with jet black hair, tainted with silver streaks gives him a big, hearty greeting. "Here for your suits?"

Honestly, why else would we be here? Zayn thinks surly and fights the urge to roll his eyes while the man and Harry barter and joke with each other.

Finally they're walking to the back of the store to fetch Harry's suit. "Go on and try it on so we can see how good of a job's been done."

Oh, God. This time Zayn does turn away and subtly roll his eyes.

"It's perfect!" Harry calls from inside the changing room.

"Let's have a look then!"

When Harry, very dramatically, opened the curtains to reveal himself, Zayn wondered if he was still looking at Harry for he was donned in a lilac – almost white looking suit – decorated in pale pink and yellow flowers.

Zayn fought hard to not make a face at the quirky and eccentric suit that was before him.

"It fits like a glove!" The owner of the store cheered and went over to fix the collar and dust off Harry's shoulders.

"What do you think?" Harry asked Zayn and looked at both their reflections in the mirror as he straightened the suit.

"Very 80s." Zayn said. He was about to continue and say that it was nice when Harry's laugh cut him off.

"Makes sense since it belonged to my mum."

"... It's nice and all, but a bit much for a wedding –" That wasn't even his. "Don't you think?"

"Of course it is. But it's not for the wedding. I just wanted this for me." It was then that Zayn realised that Harry and him had be left alone, for Victor, the short, black haired man, had gone to fetch your very classic looking navy blue suit. "That's for the wedding."

"All stitched up and ready to go, Harry!"

"Thank you. Don't worry; this one just needed a little stitching up so we'll be off after I change out of this." Harry explained to Zayn as he went back behind the curtain into the makeshift change room.