Stay With Me

Chapter 10

-Zayn

Slowly and reluctantly, Zayn woke up the morning after and woke Harry up as well. The curly haired lad groaned before uncovering his eyes, and letting the morning light penetrate his bright green eyes. They laid there for a few more minutes caressing over each others skin. When they finally did get up, it was to take a shower and to have a repeat of last night against the shower wall. Deciding it would be a good idea to get some morning exercise after earlier events. Harry and Zayn, both headed out o Harry's flat and started walking to a nearby bakery. It was a brisk fall day, the perfect day for an Autumn walk. The clouds scuttled across the sky, the sun breaking out in bursts as Zayn and Harry made their way up the hill to the bakery on the 'proper' side of town. Leaves fell in herald of the coming winter, and Zayn's thoughts drifted a bit, thinking of the years that had passed. Strangely, he felt young again, something the lad have not felt in a long time.

•••8 year old Zayn•••

The light breeze touched the leaves and they danced in the air of November. Red, orange and yellow, in various different shades. All of them floating gracefully on the soft breeze. It was as if a friendly hand was gently lowering them to the ground. Whispers between these leaves filled the air, whispers and mutters. The air was cool and crisp, like a refreshing drink of cool water after hours in a desert. The breeze fluttered around, gently caressing everything it touched with fingers that had been a comfort to so many over their long, lonely years.

Zayn stared at the leaves falling from the trees. It was quite breathtaking, at the most. Utterly beautiful. First a green leaf, then shortly afterwards a yellow leaf stained with bits of orange and green. They hit the ground lightly, making no sound effects. He could stay there all day, observing the utmost gorgeous pattern of the leaves dying off of the trees. As yet another leaf made it's final journey to the earth it fell in a graceful tumbling motion, seeking the least resistance from the autumnal air. Already dead, yet it's colour and it's dance were so alive. It's descent was utterly silent until it joined it's brethren below, and even then the noise was barely audible. Then a new leaf is plucked by unseen hands from the boughs above and takes over the stage as if choreographed.

"Hello."

Looking up when he saw a pair of ripped trainers in front of him where a fallen leaf was. Zayn stared at the girl that was around his age with curious wide brown eyes. Zayn's heart beats faster, he feels unable to speak normally, his brain starts to go through sensory overload, and Zayn just generally feels panicked because the young lad has no idea how to make the "getting to know someone" small talk that's considered appropriate.

Her hair was as wild as the jungle, untamable and unruly. Her once stunning red ringlets now vaguely resembled a birds nest, and any bows or clips that had once held them in place were long gone. Her skin was pale compared to Zayn's, and he kind of wondered if she ever seen real sunlight like that often. Then again they were in a crazy house with limited freedoms, and suckish meals. The girl sat down next to Zayn and pushed her white flowy dress down.

"My name is Amity...you must be Zayn Malik?"

"H-how do you know my name?"

"How don't I know who you are? Everyone is just completely terrified of you." Amity said

Said in her soft innocent voice. Zayn would describe her eyes as like the ocean, they were iridescent and flecked with every shade of blue. Her expression was sort of distant, but it probably meant that she was just thinking do something else.

"Then why are saying hi to me?" Zayn asked confused and a bit hurt that the other kids were afraid of him. He could hear Valac menacing growl in the back of his head, and he really hopes that the demon wouldn't hurt the sweet girl.

"Well firstly, you honestly don't look that scary. Maybe a bit lonely and sad, but not scary. Just like my uncle says; you're not completely mental until proven insane." Amity said with a goofy smile on her face.

Zayn appreciated her humour, and didn't mind at all as their conversation progressed into more than just small talk. Zayn explained why he was in there,and to his surprise Amity didn't give him that "you're crazy" look most people give him.

"I'm here 'cause I see things most people don't. My mother thinks I'm crazy, but I think it's special...they don't believe me of course, but that's only because they're blind in that sense." Amity said lightly pulling on the string of her shoelaces. A short pause. "Hey do you wanna go play in the pile of leaves over there?"

Zayn looked over to the leaves and smiled a bit at the unorganized pile. He nodded, and the both of them made their way overtime the wind swept pile. They played, and through the pretty leaves at one another until the guards ordered them to stop. They're fun might have ended, but the beginning of the friendship never did.

•••Flashback End•••

"Every fall I have the same thought. The pumpkins in the field look ridiculous. It's like somebody spent the night arranging them there. Large orange fruit as big as my head growing on these vines spread over the mud just blows me away." Harry said as they passed a patch of pumpkins. 

The leaves crunched beneath their feet as they strolled down the street. Occasionally, one leaf would fall past Harry, lightly swaying as the air gently carried it to the ground. The air was crisp, the kind of cold that made him feel alive when he breathed it in. As soon as the made it across the street to the café, he caught the scent of cinnamon and muffins. They both spotted it about ten feet in front of them, a pile of pumpkins and bales of hay flanked either side of the door. Harry sighed, relishing in the feeling of fall. It was something he'd have to wait a whole year to have again. Pushing the doors open, they both entered and they both just took a minute to take in the sight. Square tables, glass tops with menu underneath them. There were also slow turning ceiling fans above, and light classical music played in the background. The waiters were smartly dressed in black and white. The large windows went from ceiling to a few inches off the ground on the far wall. Small vases of yellow carnation flowers on were on each table, with the daily specials written on a chalk board at entrance. 

They go and take their seats at a cleared off table, and looked down at the menu that was under the glass. Once their waiter came and took their short orders of a coffee and a ice tea, along with two turkey sandwiches, and a cinnamon muffin for Harry. The food came in record time, and it tasted extremely good. At first they talked lightly, and then excitedly about random things like what they loved, and all that they're looking forward for in the winter. Zayn liked this. He liked the peace and the ease it came with being with Harry. So as the lunch date came to an end, neither of them could say goodbye so they decided on heading back to Harry's. 

"Are you gonna stay over again?"

When Zayn nods, Harry couldn't help the pleased smile that landed on his face. His cheeks were still rosy from the brisk chill from outside, but Zayn obviously took it as something else. Because the next thing that happened was Zayn pushing Harry back on the bed, and the raven haired lad crawling on top of him. They kissed passionately and maybe even had a repeat of this morning, but much slower and more sensual. They also might have fallen asleep tangled in each other's arm,s afterwards. Whatever the case was, it didn't really matter because they were both happy and content and almost positive that this would last.