Objects of Virtue

Chapter 07

29th of May, 2021 – Newham, England.

It was just 6 when the two boys climbed out of Harry's Capri Ford. Niall had been waiting for Harry when he returned from his late lunch with Louis. There was look of mischief on Niall's face and he jumped into the passenger seat, that Harry conveniently ignored for as long as possible until it became pretty apparent that Niall was about the burst if Harry didn't address the elephant in the room or in this case, the car.

"Alright! Breath for Christ sake, you look like you're about to pass out Niall!" Harry said, poking Niall's arm as he drove through the traffic. "It was fine ok? He was fine! We had lunch at the Coaches, he enjoyed it, said it was better than the five star shit his father used to drag him to most Sundays. And that's that, honest!"

"He flirted with you, didn't he? You have that glow about you Haz, don't deny it, there's no point. Niall always knows. Niall always knows Haz!" The Irishman's face looked like it would split in two if you just held a pin to it. His blue eyes were absolutely dancing with mirth as he continued to dig at Harry for more information.

"He may have said something about my smile and what not but that's besides the point, Niall. He's not my type it's pretty obvious right?" Harry said, the words sounded, stale? Over used? Pointless – because he already knew that some part of him was already very interested in Louis Tomlinson.

"Yes and the Pope's my father" Niall replied cheekily as they drove quickly to the hospital, the radio on, playing Eagles tracks that both the boys ended up belting hysterically out of pitch and totally out of tune. Two peas in a pod, they were.

A quick check in with the policeman stationed outside Zayn's room revealed that he had been conscious most of the day and in quite a bit of pain. He was heavily dosed up on painkillers and was barely making sense. There was nothing that Harry and Niall could do other than pay him a visit and try to make some semblance of the situation, if he was able to. Knocking gently on the door, the boys waited patiently until the door was opened by Safaa. Zayn's mother sat by his side; his hand wrapped up in both of hers. The curtains were drawn and the lighting in the room was dim and homely.

"Hello Zayn. I'm Detective Harry Styles and my partner Detective Niall Horan. We'd like to ask you a few questions if you're up for it?" Harry asked as Zayn's groggy gaze fell on the two of them.

"Styles is a funny name man," Zayn said smiling largely at the boys, quiet obviously out of it.

"Funny, your sister seems to think so too," a bemused Harry replied. It was obvious that they were not going to be getting very much out of him at the moment.

"Did she come to see me?" Zayn asked seriously.

"Did who come to see you Zayn?" Harry inquired, intrigued

"Lizzy. Did she come?"

"No baby, she didn't come, I've told you this love," Zayn's mother replied, a tear emerging from the corner of her eye. They had had this conversation multiple times that day and it was starting to show.

"I'm sorry Zayn but I don't know anyone called Lizzy. Do you think you could describe her for me?" asked Harry as he flipped through his notebook.

"Sure man. She's my baby doll you know? Blonde, blue eyes. Gorgeous. She came over yesterday I think but she was dress funny bro. Can't remember much else. Hey, do you think I could borrow those lights hanging over there. They're so pretty man." With that Zayn swiftly fell asleep.

The rest of the room remained in stunned silence for a moment before Niall asked Safaa if she'd ever met Lizzy.

"Nah, first we've heard of her too. He was never too open about that sorta thing you know?" she replied