for your eyes only

T W E N T Y - O N E

[ A/N : Check out my new story, 'The Matchmakers'. It's a Zarry/Nouis story.

P. S. This chapter is really close to my heart. So, please comment your thoughts and let me know what you think of it! ]

The meeting takes longer than usual. Or, maybe not. Maybe it's all Zayn, worrying about Harry and his anxiety and him standing out in the dark, all alone. So, he excuses himself; tells Ms Grace everything and when she agrees he leaves, because there was really no need of him in the meeting.

And now, he and Harry are walking side-by-side under the starry night, arms brushing. But none of them make any move to do anything further than that.

"I don't live too far away." Harry informs "It's just a ten minutes walk.... I would have been okay." his voice forms a whisper at the last part, but Zayn catches on.

"I know," Zayn says "but I wouldn't have been able to sleep if I left you alone."

Silence falls on them. No one speaks a word. Not many people are around. But there are a fair number of people, walking, talking, or minding their own business.

"I skipped school a week." Harry says, then flushes red and adds "I don't know why I told you this... But... I really didn't want to face anyone after Ryan... Maybe I should just man up."

"No, you don't." Zayn says, firmly but gently "It's okay to feel sad or depressed. It's okay to cry. It's okay to be hurt. Because that... that doesn't make you a wimp. It makes you human. And I get it. You needed time, there's nothing wrong with that. Don't be so hard on yourself, Harry. You are perfect just the way you are."

Harry bites his lip, "It was like living in a nightmare... But, there was no escape, you know? Like, I couldn't wake up or anything. I just had to live in it."

"I get it." Zayn says, voice in a soft whisper "I live in one everyday."

Zayn feels Harry's fingers thread in his, and he smiles at the small gesture of comfort. It's like, Harry gets what he needs and when. Either he wants soothing words to calm him down, or just a silent gesture that he is there for him.

"You know," Zayn says "I was never really depressed about life for me. Does that make sense? I was unhappy because I...I hold myself as the cause of Claire's misery, and my mother's death. Even if it's completely irrational. Of course, there was a time when I was really depressed, you know, skipping meals and sometimes even hurting myself..."

Zayn takes in a deep breath "I am really ashamed of it. But... I don't know, I started focusing on the way I could make things better, because even if I did kill myself, things won't be better. Davis would still abuse Claire, and then my soul would never rest in peace... And I didn't really believe in luck or God, but then..."

Zayn's words drown into silence. His heart and mind, both are racing. Harry stays quiet too for sometime, but then he prompts gently, "And then?"

"And then I met you." Zayn stays. No hesitation. Only truth.