Daisies • Zarry

3. Charles Bukowski

Zayn spent most of his Saturday morning writing this research paper on Charles Bukowski, which included four long hours just analyzing his poems while he laid in bed with his laptop on his chest, desperately trying not to think about the previous night. After Harry sang Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg, which Zayn had immediately looked up when he went home, Harry then sang this cover of Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell and Kendall had gotten up and started dancing in the middle of it, which made everyone look at her, and Harry had laughed but Zayn didn't. He just thought that it took away from Harry's moment in the spotlight.

Zayn knew that there was probably nothing inherently wrong with Kendall and he wondered if he was only trying to find reasons not to like her because she was Harry's girlfriend, but Zayn also knew that he had never ever felt that jealous of a girl before.

Then again, Zayn also realized that he never ever had a crush on a guy quite like Harry before. He sort of wished that he didn't, but it was becoming clear that Zayn really couldn't seem to help it. He found himself spacing out from writing his paper for a moment and his mind started to float away into the clouds.

He pictured an alternate universe where he walked into Daisies one day and Harry was there, dragging him into the bathroom and locking the door as their hands explored each others bodies, and then Zayn pictured Harry laying beside him in his bed, playing with Zayn's fingers and talking about all the things he loves or hates most in the world and Zayn could just linger on his every word, watching his lips move before leaning in to kiss him deeply, passionately.

But unfortunately that was not the universe he lived in.

It was getting closer to noon and Zayn felt his stomach growling, so he decided to take a quick break from his homework and settled on going to the Chinese food place a few blocks down the street from him because they had the best crab rangoon and that's exactly what he was craving.

Still in his black adidas sweatpants, Zayn walked down the street, hands in his pockets and he figured he'd just swing by there quickly, order and then leave, but what he hadn't anticipated on was seeing Harry in the record shop next door through the window. It was practically automatic for Zayn to just pause there for a moment and he watched Harry sifting through old records, examining each one as he went along, and Zayn felt himself smile a little at the sight.

But then Harry looked up and saw Zayn standing there in the window, like Harry had some strange, sixth sense about him, and he waved at Zayn so Zayn waved back awkwardly. Then he immediately kept walking because not only was he starving, he also thought he looked like a complete bum in sweatpants and one of his old white t-shirts with holes in it, and that's not exactly how he wanted to present himself on a Saturday around noon in front of Harry.

Fuck, I knew I should have changed.

Zayn entered the Gold Star Chinese restaurant and ordered just a pint of rice, lo mein and crab rangoon before having a seat to wait, tapping his fingers idly on the table top impatiently. He stared out the window and watched as this couple walked by holding hands, these two women, and they looked so happy together and nobody was even batting an eye at them and Zayn smiled faintly to himself as they walked across the street toward Daisies. He wished that he was able to do that with a guy, just walk around holding his hand like it was nothing. And then in that moment Harry walked in with a record tucked under his arm, just walking up to the counter, not even seeing Zayn.

"Picking up an order for Harry," he spoke to the man, proceeding to hand his debit card to the other woman as he grabbed his bag of food. And then Harry peeked over his shoulder and looked at Zayn sitting in the booth.

God, why is the universe being so cruel right now?

"Hey again," he greeted Zayn, raising an eyebrow. "Am I stalking you or are you stalking me?"