The Summertime & Butterflies » Zarry ✔

☀️ 13: Fall : Love

"Yaser."

"Yes?"

"Have you seen Zayn? His orange soda is getting hot on the kitchen counter."

Yaser raised his brow at his former sister-in-law. "You mean he hasn't come back in yet?"

"I checked his room and he isn't there. So I don't think so."

Yaser hummed. "Hmm. I guess he really did take that advice and got some fresh air. I'll go check on him."

He stood up and quickly went outside to call him in. But when he went outside, he didn't see him anywhere.

"Zayn!"

No one answered. So he called again. "Zayn!"

For a second time, there was only silence. He could see that Zayn's car was still there, so he peeked around the side of the house. "Zayn, are you out here?!"

"Your son is missing too, huh?"

Yaser faced the house next to him and saw Anne coming outside her house with her keys in her hand and purse on her arm. He hesitated at first, finding it awkward to talk to her, knowing the history between their sons.

"Yes. It appears so. I sent him to check the mail a half hour ago and he hasn't come back in."

But she didn't seem to think the atmosphere was awkward at all. In fact, she even laughed. "I know how you feel. Thirty minutes ago, I sent Harry out to the post office to pick up a package I'm expecting. The post office is literally four minutes up the road and you would think if he volunteered to drive there and pick it up for me, that he would be right back. Apparently not."

Yaser turned his head sideways. "That's interesting."

She opened her car door. "It is?"

"Sure. I mean, think about it. Your son is missing. My son is missing. They both apparently came outside just a half hour ago where they likely met and now Harry's car is gone."

She put her hand on her chest. "And what are you suggesting? That something bad has happened to both of them?"

"No, no. Of course not. Not like that. I think they're safe."

She chuckled softly. "So you think they're somewhere together then."

He folded his arms. "Would I be wrong to assume?"

She looked at him and then shook her head. "Actually, no, Mr. Malik. You wouldn't. But if what you're hinting at is what I think you're hinting at, that is a thought I would like to avoid."

"So would I. My son knows how important marriage is. That's why he spent the past year crying over one and I know that he would never willingly be the cause of infidelity unless he was talked or tricked into it. I just hope that Harry understands what his actions could do to my son."

She seemed offended and walked over in the grass to meet him. "Excuse me? If you're trying to say they went and eloped, then you are so very wrong. My son also understands the importance of commitment and marriage. No matter how much we loved to see them together, what Zayn and Harry had is long over. I assume the only reason he has for wanting to see Zayn is that he understands the tragedy he just went through and wants to comfort him."

"Hmm. That would be great. But isn't eloping an odd thing to bring up for someone who is already married?"

"Who's already married?"

"Harry is."

She found that comical. "Harry? Married? That's funny. Harry isn't married." Then she saddened. "He hasn't even dated anyone to consider getting married. To be honest, he has not been the same since the day he and Zayn broke up. He graduated this summer and went looking for a new job so he could quit that awful liquor store. A week ago, he did get an offer for two different locations which he's been asked to choose from by the end of next week. I don't know which locations they are specifically because he never told me. I just know one of them made him cry. I think it has something to do with Zayn but I'm not sure in which way. I only know he still loves him."