Zayn stares up at the ceiling, not having the motivation to get out of bed and take a shower.

He sighs heavily, closing his eyes, still feeling tired. But he's not able to sleep. He's actually been tossing and turning all night and it's actually seven now. He told Liam and Niall they'll catch up with him later because his stomach hurts.

But it's not his stomach that hurts, it's his brain from thinking and his chest from guilt. He couldn't and can't stop thinking about how Harry yelled at him yesterday without a hint of his usual remorse.

He hates Zayn now. Like, really hates him. He deserves it anyway for being such a dick to him in the past. A judgmental dick. A judgmental miserable dick. A judgmental-he's a dick all in all, he really doesn't have to get into it.

Zayn throws his blanket off himself and sits up, stretching and scratching the back of his neck.

He rubs at his eyes, running a hand through his hair as he stands and decides to go to the bathroom to take a quick shower just as his phone rings.

He sighs heavily, walking over to it to see it's his mother calling at seven in the morning. Zayn can't lie and say he's not excited to see it's his mother but there's another part of him that really doesn't feel like speaking. He answers regardless.

"Hey mum."

"Hi Zaynie. Have any plans today?"

"Besides class, no." Zayn says.

"Can you take a day off?"

"Um, sure. But I can only be free until two."

"How come?"

"Missed class at two yesterday."

"And why did you?" She asks, speaking sternly now.

Zayn rolls his eyes.

"I wanted some time for myself. I have a lot to do."

She sighs. "Okay, well, I was wondering if you wanted to spend the day together. Your father is busy at the construction site." She says.

"Oh okay." Zayn says.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes."

She suddenly squeals loudly, making Zayn take the phone away from his ear quickly, cringing at how loud she is.

"Could you be any louder, mum?"

"It's not my fault I'm excited that my son wants to actually hang out with me. I feel so cool." She says. "You can teach me all the young slang."

Zayn chuckles. "Okay, mum. Let's start our day at nine, deal?"

"Sounds perfect."

LATER

Zayn walks silently next to his mother as she chatters away about a variety of things that Zayn has never heard. Celebrity news, gossip, real news and her personal news between her friends, which she only has two of.

Zayn just likes to listen. He never has been a talker, and he is listening. It's not like he's zoning out, unless he has something to really think about.

Like Harry.

He wonders if he's okay, or if he's back at the place. It's ten in the morning, he doesn't see why he wouldn't be. But why? Why is it so compelling to go? To do things like that when it obviously seems like he hates It? Is he getting money? Does he really need money that desperately?

Well, as a college student, Zayn would think so. He refuses to take money from his parents and the offer is on the table whenever he wants, so he's pretty privileged. But he doesn't want to always live that way. So yes, he's actually really broke at the moment but saving up.

"Oh Zayn, you want to get some frozen yogurt? I've never had any but I heard it was delicious." She says.

Zayn blinks in confusion. "You've never had frozen yogurt?" Zayn asks.

"No." His mother says as they walk over to the little cart on the side of the street. "I really love New York. I have to say, I was sort of scared for you to move so far away but this is a nice place. Sure, it's easy to get mugged, shot, or murdered but hey, there's some nice parts." She shrugs.

"Really mum?" Zayn sighs.

"What? It's true."

"That can happen in England too."

"I didn't say it didn't". She says, widening her eyes. Zayn looks away from her. "Look, I'm just being a mother. Cut me some slack. I can be worried if I want to. Your just so far away from me."

They reach the cart, Zayn ordering a plain vanilla frozen yogurt while his mother picks an abundance of flavors and toppings, actually looking delicious at the end.

"You are such an old lady sweet heart." His mother says.

"Thanks." Zayn says.

"Who goes to a frozen yogurt cart and gets one flavor?"

"Someone who has had it a lot."

"And I bet this is your regular."

Zayn looks at her.

"Maybe." Zayn shrugs, smiling slightly. She laughs, Zayn laughing with her. "I like plain, get off my case."

"Fine, fine. But is it okay if I get on your case about something else?"

"Depends."

"How are we doing with relationships?"

"What? I said I have two friends and they're  ni-"

"No. You know that's not what I mean."

Zayn purses his lips. He sighs heavily, swirling his spoon around in his cup in a way to distract himself.

"Zayn?" His mother presses.

This is a conversation his mother and him had had before, when he was in high school, when Zayn was completely and utterly confused of his sexuality.

When he started questioning. Why he doesn't really say he has an interest in people but thinks they're attractive. He even told Liam that he's asexual, he isn't attracted to anyone.

"I don't really like anyone."

If he ever said he liked boys, his mother would be okay with it, his father on the other hand is a different story. His father has always been so damn traditional and unaccepting of newer things.

"Really?" She asks.

Zayn nods without hesitation. "I don't." He says.

She nods. "Okay."

They walk in silence for a few minutes.

"You know I wouldn't care if there was a boy in your life."

"I know."

"And your father would learn to accept it."

"No he wouldn't."

His mother sighs.

"Is there anywhere here we can watch a film?" She asks.

"A movie theater." Zayn responds in confusion.

"Okay, but where?" She asks, quirking up an eyebrow.

Zayn grins, she grins back. "I'll drive us there." He says.

A film is a great way to get his mind off things.

When they get there, they go to see some old movie that the both of them know no one else would care to see. So, as expected, they're the only two in the movie theater.

They sit in the middle, finding the perfect seats.

Another pro of being alone in the movies is that Zayn can use his phone whenever he wants to, unless his mother is swatting his hand and telling him to put it away.

So Zayn puts it away and leans back in his seat with a heavy sigh, looking up at the black and white screen, suddenly playing old show tunes music. The buzzing of the screen is loud, but the audio overpowers it.

He watches as a man and a woman run inside of  a house, closing the door dramatically and panting.

Appareantly a gunman was running after them.

Several shots fire outside the door on screen, making Zayn jump subtly, the sound on the speakers suddenly getting louder.

Zayn hears his phone vibrate. He looks at his mum who is quietly eating popcorn and into the movie.

Zayn doesn't really understand how his mother is his mother. He does look like her, but their personalities are completely different. She is excitable, happy and has her heart on her sleeve. Zayn is most likely more like his father, reserved, scornful and quiet.

Zayn quietly takes out his phone, making sure to turn down the brightness and check the text message he had gotten from Niall.

Niall: hey, where are you?

Zayn: I'm with my mom, she came down to visit.

Niall: oh, your rich mom.

Zayn: yes.

Niall: anyway, just telling you that Harry came by today.

Zayn's heart instantly starts to race.

Zayn: oh.

He swallows thickly. Why would he be there to see him after he was like that to him? He isn't still mad?

Niall: Idk. He just asked if you were here, I said no, so he left.

Niall: is there something going on between you guys?

Zayn: oh I forgot, he asked for me to help him with something for music

Niall: I thought you guys didn't like each other.

Zayn: nah, I don't like him but if he needs help with music, I will.

Niall: oh okay haha. Are you having fun with your mom?

Zayn: yeah. But I'm going to class at two still.

Niall: oh okay. See ya later dude.

Zayn puts his phone back down, seeing his mother asleep next to him.

He looks back at the screen, deciding to watch the rest of the movie. He really doesn't want to think about Harry, worry about him, feel bad that he wasn't there to answer the door and see him. He wonders what Harry was going to say. What if he was going to tell him off more? Apologize?   Anything?

Zayn wouldn't want Harry to simply stop talking to him.

When he left Zayn yesterday, Zayn had never felt more abandoned. That sounds really stupid, but it's weirdly true. He felt so fucking bad.

Zayn shakes out of his thoughts, hearing a scream from the television, his mother also jumping out of her sleep and grabbing Zayn's hand.

Zayn looks at her, laughing lightly. She sighs heavily and rolls her eyes before closing them again.

NIGHT TIME

Zayn gets into the dorm building after his last class of the day, running a hand through his messy hair.

He rubs at his tired eyes, ready to take a shower and get into bed even though it's only nine.

As he walks up the stairs, he hears someone else walking down. He keeps his head down, watching his feet with every step. He never liked looking people in the eyes, it made him uncomfortable.

He always thought they were reading him easily that way, finding out every one of his thoughts and insecurities. But by not looking, he seems insecure, which is what is so hard about interacting with people for him.

"Oh um, Zay-"

Zayn looks up quickly when he hears the familiar voice. Harry must've been startled by Zayn's quick reaction because he stopped talking.

"Harry." Zayn breathes.

Harry runs a hand through his hair. "Hey."

Zayn notices his face looks clear again.

"Um, I was just heading out." Harry says.

"Oh, where?"

"I have this gig."

"No fighting?"

"No." Harry says

"Good." Zayn nods.

"But um,  I came to your dorm earlier and you weren't there. Your usually there before music class so I was confused and kind of worried like...the whole day."

"Oh...im fine." Zayn says.

Harry nods. "I can see that." He says. "I wanted to apologize for the way I acted yesterday."

"It's not a problem. I felt guilty myself." Zayn says instantly. He did. Or still does. "I still do." He says.

Harry smiles. "Don't." He says. "I'm not mad at you."

Zayn sighs in relief. "Good." He says.

Harry tilts his head to the side. "Me yelling at you...bothered you that badly?" He asks.

"I didn't want you to be mad at me."

"You didn't want the thought of someone being mad at you on your conscious?"

"No...thats not what I meant. I just..." Zayn trails off. Zayn bites his bottom lip, looking down at the floor then back up at a patiently waiting Harry. "I judged you...a lot. In a very bad way. And after hanging out with you, I realized how much of a genuinely nice person you are." Zayn says.

Harry looks at Zayn for a few seconds with a straight face before a smile quickly breaks out onto it, his cheeks turning a faint pink color in the dim light as he looks down at the ground. Zayn feels his heart flutter at the scene, for some reason, he likes it.

Zayn swallows thickly, feeling nervous now.

"Um,...thanks." Harry says.

Zayn nods. "No problem." He grins.

He hears the door upstairs open.

"I'll see you tomorrow then." Harry says.

Zayn hesitantly nods before watching Harry quickly pass him and disappear.