Longing for you

“It´s raining”, I stated and stared out the window of Harry´s car.

“It is”, he chuckled, clearly amused by my comment.

“I don´t wanna go through it then”, I explained and looked back over to him.

“This is the nearest I can get you, I´m sorry”, he smiled and lend over to kiss my forehead. “But I promise I´ll pick you up in six hours and then we can cuddle in the bed together. Deal?”

“Alright”, I said and gave in my destiny as I got out of the car and ran over to the bakery. The warm lights welcomed me from the outside and I quickly stepped inside. Surprised I took a look around and found nobody being in there.

Strange, I thought since normally there were always somebody already here at this time. Not thinking much more about it, I got out of my jacket and stepped into the kitchen. Still nobody to be seen, the only thing, which spent me company was a big cake in the middle of the room.

Not suspecting anything I stepped closer and saw what the writing on it said. “We´re going to miss U Clary”. My lips turned into a smile and I looked around to find somebody, jumping out from a corner, but I was still alone.

“Alright”, I said unsure what to do know, but I figured I should probably do my work. My eyes flashed over to the cake now and then and I shook my head over this weird situation. Why would somebody bake a cake like that and that disappear like a ghost?

It just didn´t made sense to me. Indulging to my thoughts I prepared the daily cupcake cream. As I suddenly heard a noise from the main room I looked up and asked, if somebody was there, but I got no response. Before I could persuade myself that I only imagined the sound, I heard another one.

A little bit scared I washed my hands and stepped around the corner through the door, expecting something like a serial killer, but nothing near what I actually found.

Clotheslines were hung all through the bakery and the windows were covered with something, which made the bakery only get darker as it already was from the dark, gray clouds. As I stepped closer I realized what it was. Pictures, drawings and shadowy drafts. Sometimes black and white, sometimes colored.

My eyes went along the lines of them and I found myself being fascinated by them, one after another. My eyes left the pictures and searched for the one, who made them even though I already knew the artist.

But Zayn was nowhere to be seen. What the hell was going on? That moment he came out of the kitchen, holding the cake I had just seen, but this time it was on fire.

Of course it wasn´t really on fire, but lots of candles lightened up the room and the cake, where they were placed on top now.

“What´s going on?”, I asked, but Zayn interrupted me surprisingly. He started to sing Michael Buble´s “home” and I found myself being clinched to his lips as the lovely sounds filled the bakery. As soon as he ended I applaused.

“Thought you should know, you can always come back”, he said and looked down at the cake.

“That´s so cute”, I told him and stepped closer to give him a big hug, he definitely deserved one.

“This is for you”, he said and handled me the cake.

“Thank you so much”, I said and looked around.

“But what´s the deal with the pictures?”, I asked and my eyes got stuck at one with an airplane on it.

“I did all of them after the time I arrived here in Holmes Chapel. It feels like these were all inspired by this town and they just show, who I am lately”, he explained and I gave him a huge smile.

“They´re beautiful as always, Zayn”, I told him the obvious truth.

“I thought you should be the first one to see them”, he told me and I smiled at him for another time.

“The first?”, I asked as I tried to understand his words.

“I´ve decided I send them in to a picture competition”, he let me know and I replied: “That´s a really good idea.”

“What about the staff?”, I asked and looked around the empty bakery.

“I could get the bakery for us two for the next two hours and I thought we could have breakfast together since this will probably be our last time we´re able to spend together.”

“Sounds great”, I agreed and Zayn told me to sit down and wait for him to come back with the food, but I didn´t. Instead I walked along the windows and took a look at all the drawings.

Zayn was really talented and I thought that I´ve never known anybody else before, who had been that good with pencils and aerosols. He had drawn people, things, landscapes and everything was just as beautiful as the rest.

“You like them?”, he suddenly asked behind my back and I turned.

“They´re really amazing, Zayn. Honestly, they´re to good to keep them away from the public”, I told him.

“Thanks”, he said with an uncomfortable grin.

“So, what are we going to eat something now?”, I asked him and looked down at the found in his hands.

“Yeah, sure”, he answered and we sat down at a table, eating and talking like really good friends, even though we only knew each other for not even two weeks.

He made me laugh and that felt more than just good, while I eat all that food and enjoyed our time together. As soon as the other staff members arrived and said they would really miss me, I realized that this had been goodbye.

There was nothing more coming since I would leave in two days and I felt sad. Saying goodbye to Zayn was shitty and really upset me. He became just such a good friend and I would miss his simplicity and friendliness.

My eyes looked out for him in the people and as soon as I spotted him he gave me a big smile. God, I would miss him.

…

“We could move into a commune and be like a really big family”, Simon suggested and we all had to laugh about his idea.

“I don´t think we can stand each other forever. Probably we´ll just have this big fight and we won´t talk to each other again”, Taylor said as she got back to make the potato salad.

“I don´t think so. Living with you two and this little fella here”, I said and picked up Rosy, who played with my socks on the ground, “was easy than I thought.” Her little hands reached out for my hair and she grabbed some strains and slightly pulled at the end of them.

“Actually, you´re right. Lord, I still don´t know what to do without you being my personal slave babysitter”, she sighed and I laughed.

“Well, if you don´t like the idea of living together, we do”, Simon said and Felix nodded in agreement.

“We´re already looking for a flat to move in after graduation”, he continued.

“Sounds great”, I let him know and tickled Rosy, who let out a happy sound.

“What about you Taylor?”, Felix asked and Taylor looked up from her preparations for the barbecue, we were having for my and subsequently Harry´s goodbye.

“I thought about working in this amazing flower shop in Manchester.”

“This huge store on two floors?”, Simon asked and he seemed impressed. I had never been to this shop, but it sounded like a big deal.

“I already sent my application and now I´m hoping for a confirmation”, she said and I wished her every luck in the world.

“You have to write, Clary! Every week since we see each other again!”, Simon said and I agreed. Zayn promised to write me as well and I´ll try my best to do the same to make them just as happy as I´ll be. Harry and Connor tried to get along with the grill outside, but we heard them curse and I had to laugh since they seemed to have problems with it.

“I think I better see, if we´ll be able to eat something tonight at all or if we have to eat the sausages raw”, I laughed and made my way outside.

The weather was still hot, even though it was already late afternoon. Harry and Connor looked desperate and I laughed over their faces, causing Rosy to squeeze under my amusement as well. They both looked over to us and Connor sighed.

“Don´t let her see this! She´ll think her fathers´a huge loser”, he groaned and Harry laughed.

“Did you thought she saw you in any other way at all?”, Harry joked and Connor punched his shoulder.

“I think we both know Connor, that her godfather is way cooler than her Daddy!”, he laughed and I shook my head over their silliness. Rosy made a frustrated sound and reached out her little clumsy hands for Connor, proving Harry wrong.

“We need small hands here anyways”, Connor said as he took her from me.

“You have to fix this strap there”,Harry told me and instructed me. Carefully he rested his hand on my hip as he stood behind me and showed me what to do.

My thoughts were hard to concentrate since all I could think about was his large hand, touching me and I felt his warmth through the think material of my shirt. Somehow I managed to do what he wanted me to and I cheered happily as I did. I heard the doorbell rang, but I heard Simon´s voice, screaming he get that.

“You think you amazing godfather can do it now?”, I teased Harry and he pulled me closer, making me chuckle.

“I´m probably bad with the grill, but there are a lot of things I can do way better”, he smirked and I gave him a smile.

“You do? Things you can show me?”, I grinned and he did with kissing me. He was right, he was really good at doing it.

“Hey, Clary. There´s another guest for you here!”, Simon shouted and I pulled me out of our kiss and looked into his direction.

What I saw surprised me even more than I thought it could. Standing in the door, dressed in a loose tank top and shorts, covered in tattoos: Zayn.

Harry`s POV:

What was he doing here? I scoured my head for his name, but that moment Clary helped me out.

“Zayn”, she said and I heard the surprise in her voice. At least she didnt´knew about his experience here as well.

“Hey”, he greeted and walked towards us.

“What are you doing here?”, Clary asked and hugged him as soon as he was near us. Him, hugging her small little body made me angry.

It was not the action itself, but the way he closed his eyes as he did and seemed to enjoy the hug and nearness to her. My hands turned into fists and I tried to relax as could as I could.

I knew Clary would hate me for making scene for something like this. But as soon as they moved away from each other, I carefully pulled her closer to me again, wrapping my arm around her waist.

“You´re friend, it think it´s Taylor, asked me to come over and I thought I do it”, he explained and I groaned on the inside on Taylor.

Did she really had to invite this guy? Clary had told me she already said goodbye at the bakery this morning, so what was the point to come again?

“Sure, I could have thought about doing it myself”, she said and blushed over that fact she didn´t. When did they got so intimate with each other? I mean, they were just working together, right?

“That´s okay, I´ll really just stay, if you want me to”, he said. No, not at all.

“Sure, that´s more than just fine for me”, Clary smiled and I sighed quietly.

“Uhm...Zayn you probably remember Harry. Harry you do as well, that´s Zayn”, she introduced us, even though we had seen each other already at the pool day in Manchester. Not quiet a good memory, I thought and we hadn´t exchanged one word that day.

“Hey”, he said and I shook his reached out hand, realizing all the colored tattoos over his arm. At least in that way he seemed to have a good taste. And in my girlfriend, I corrected myself. “We should help Taylor, Simon and Felix with the food while Harry´s taking care of the grill again?”, she asked me and I raised my eyebrows.

“Sure”, I agreed even though I wasn´t happy about it at all.

“Just do it as good as you kiss”, she whispered as she gave me a kiss on the cheek and went of with Zayn. He was just as tall as I was and as I saw him walking next to her, I tried to imagine me next to her.

She looked adorable, looking up to be able to see his face while she was talking. Her small legs had to do two steps, when he did one and her ponytail whipped from one side to another. After I sighed deeply for another time I got back to the grill, where Connor was placing Rosy in her high chair.

“Ha! Ha!”, she squeezed as she saw me and I knew that she was trying to say my name, while being a cutie.

“I can try it”, Connor offered and thankfully I said next to Rosy, getting her out of her high chair and placing her on my lap, watching Connor trying his best with the coal.

“You shouldn´t do that”, he suddenly said and I gave him a confused look.

“Don´t do what?” Connor nodded towards the kitchen, where Clary and this Zayn boy had disappeared.

“Be made at her for having a friend here”, Connor explained and I groaned.

“He looks at her like he wants to be more than just friends. Friends with benefits more likely.” Now it was Connor´s time to sigh.

“Harry he looked after her, when you were still with Aimee. She was just happy she had someone, who hadn´t remembered her of you every single day.”

“And you know that because?”, I asked doubting.

“I´m having sex with her best friend, there´s a lot of things Taylor tells me after we just had done it”m he smirked over at me and I smilingly shook my head.

“I don´t say she has any right to have male friends, especially after the whole Aimee, kissing and guilt thing. However it doesn´t has to be him since he looks like trouble.”

“She never had another male friend before”, Connor stated and I protested immediately.

“She´s friends with Simon and you.” Connor laughed out loud.

“Simon´s gay and this means no boyfriend potential. And I´ve been of the market right from the beginning since you should remember she even knew about Rosy before I as her father did.” He kind of had a point.

“Still he looks like a bad guy with all his tattoos and he just seems like he has t many secrets”, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Harry, what you´re feeling right now is jealousy. Get used to it”, Connor laughed and I squeezed my noise.

Uh, I didn´t wanted to since I was obviously not jealous of someone like him. Not of his small torso or the you could see every vein under his skin or the hard face lines, who made him look like from a male fashion line for suits.

Rosy placed her chubby hand on my face and laughed. It seemed like she was making fun of me and my unspoken thoughts.

Damn it, Harry!, I thought to myself. I was jealous of this guy...like hell.

Notes