🎄 Underneath the Tree 🎄 Zarry

Twelve ❄️

"Hazza, which shirt do you like best?"

Harry looks up from his book, flicking his eyes between the two short-sleeved shirts Niall is holding up in the air. One is a plain, denim-looking one while the other one has a vaguely plant-like pattern on it.

"I guess the patterned one," Harry says. "You're not going to the fashion week, it's just a party."

Niall scoffs, but takes Harry's advice nonetheless and puts the shirt on over his plain white tee. "It's Zayn's birthday party and there are gonna be fancy people and I need to charm the ladies. Can't go in there looking like a bum."

Harry hums noncommittally as he gets back to his book. He's been reading the same page over and over and over again because Niall's chatter keeps distracting him. Eventually, he hopes he's gonna at least finish the chapter by the time he goes back to his dorm.
"Harold," Niall snaps his fingers like a middle-aged rich woman. "Look at me."

Harry lifts his head wearily. "What? You look fine. Just don't get drunk off your ass and you'll get laid no problem. I'm trying to read here."

"You should come with me," Niall says, now turned to the mirror on his door as he fusses with his hair. "You're acting like a proper cunt. Zayn told you he likes you, you clearly like him and he's a good lad. I'm sure he would be happy to see you at his party."

"How can you know that, Ni?" Harry sighs. "Besides, I don't wanna go. If we ever see each other again, it has to be faith."

Niall scoffs and smacks the back of Harry's head as he walks past him where he's splayed on Niall's bed. "I'm the best bloody wingman and matchmaker that has ever lived. I had Zayn go instead of me for a reason, a very good reason. I won't sit back and watch as you chuck this opportunity in the trash. No, sir. If you don't wanna come, alright, I won't force you. But you should make an effort. You fucked it all up."

"Niall," Harry whines. "I know, okay? I fucked up. I had a hangover, I was fucked over Logan texting me again and just about everything else. But I still think it's not the best idea. It won't end well either way."

Niall raises his eyebrows at Harry before he pops a piece of gum into his mouth. "You're insane. Relationships don't always work out. When you start dating someone, you're either gonna break up somewhere down the line or get married. Or be together until one of you die. That's some fucked up shite, yeah, but you can't be scared of it because you dated one cunt."

"Okay, but what if Zayn turns out to be a cunt?" Harry asks. "What am I gonna do then?"

Niall laughs loudly as he meddles around with his desk. "Zayn's not a cunt. I know him better than you do. He's a lovely lad. He's gonna treat you like a bloody prince. Plus he's the most fucking beautiful man I've ever seen and I'm saying that as a fully straight man."

Harry groans and covers his face with his book. "What if I don't wanna be treated like a prince?"

"You dumb cunt," Niall hits the top of the book on Harry's face. "Just because you're used to being treated like trash by the men you sleep with doesn't mean all of them are like that. Those Grindr lads of yours, terrible. Logan, an utter cunt. You're throwing away a diamond for a rotten Big Mac."

"That was a nice metaphor," Harry's voice comes out muffled from underneath the book before he snatches it off and groans again. "I'll think about everything, okay? I can have some worries. Especially since my last relationship ended with my ex cheating on me a bunch and saying that he only did it because I wasn't fulfilling his needs."

Niall gives him a look. "That's on him, not on you. You're a bloody catch, Haz. You're gorgeous and when you're not being a cunt, you're really great. So talk to Zayn, yeah? And apologize to him. It's the least you can do for kicking him out like that."

"I didn't technically kick him out, okay?" Harry rolls his eyes. "Besides, I spent the rest of my holiday being teased about how I could let a man like him go."

"Well, how could you let a man like him go?" Niall asks as he puts his shoes on.

"I'm scared," Harry answers and takes a deep breath. "And tonight, I can guarantee you that he's gonna be with someone else already. A man like him wouldn't wait around for a sorry son of a bitch like me."

"Hey, don't say that," Niall points a finger at him. "Anne is a lovely lady."

Harry lets out a laugh and shakes his head. "Anyway, I know I'm being stupid about this. But that doesn't help my situation. I like him, I do. And I don't even care about the fact that he forgot that I sucked him off once. God knows I don't remember everyone I've ever hooked up with. But it hurt because I remember really liking him and I wanted it to be more and I was cursing myself out for putting it all out right away. If I hadn't, this could've looked much different. Also, I doubt he's gonna want me after what happened at the cabin."

"Why are you telling me all this?" Niall gives Harry a look. "You know who should hear this? Zayn. So come with me and as a birthday present, put yourself to good use and tell him you love him. Give him a kiss on the cheek."

Harry smiles a little. "I'm not going, Ni. Just... tell him I said hi. And I don't love him. I like him, yes, but I don't love him. I know it sounds like one but this isn't actually a rom-com, you know."

"Petty details," Niall waves a hand and reaches for his jacket. "I'll tell him that you've been crying over him non-stop and that he should come immediately and heal your broken heart with his magic cock. Lock up when you leave. Love ya."

"Byee?" Harry calls after Niall after he disappears out of his room with a shiny gift bag in his hand. He sighs and tries to find the page in his book where he stopped reading. He's honestly not leaving until he reads that chapter.

------------------------------------------
Niall being the voice of reason as usual 🥺 Love his Irish ass sm!
Next chapter is the LAST one before an epilogue so watch out for that 😉😉😉