The Beautiful Escape [ZARRY]

18

Another five minutes and the hospital came into view. Even as he broke the silence, Harry couldn't understand what made him do so.

"I'm being a great deal of trouble."

As much as Harry liked to give the impression he didn't have one, it looked to Zayn as if the cranky Mr Styles' conscience was giving him trouble- Zayn was in no hurry to ease it.

"Yes," Zayn agreed sweetly.

Harry was gripped by an urgent and irrational desire to make those wilful lips smile once more.

"And behaving like an ungrateful monster." His efforts were rewarded; Zayn's lips twitched.

"Such perception."

Truly kissable lips; shame about the sharp tongue that went with them. A nerve along the chiselled edge of his strong jaw began to throb.

"I came here to escape Christmas..."

"You should have said."

"Should have said what?" Harry demanded in a driven voice. 

Zayn drew up beside the Casualty doors with his engine running. "Christmas has bad associations for you, doesn't it?"

Harry stiffened.

Zayn had spoken on impulse; now he wished he hadn't.

For an unguarded moment there he'd seen something in Harry's eyes that made Zayn feel like an intruder. The moment was gone; now there was only hostility and suspicion as he scowled at Zayn.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Zayn shook his head. "I just got the impression... Forget it, I obviously got the wrong end of the stick. I'll drop you off here- less far to walk." Zayn thought about leaning across to open the door but, recalling what he had experienced the time he'd touched him, he changed his mind.

When Harry had gone Zayn drove around looking for a parking space, and even when he found one he wasn't sure whether or not his presence would be appreciated. But, personality clashes aside, it didn't seem quite right somehow to drive off without even finding out how he was. The family would certainly think it very odd if he returned with no news.