"...But the closest they had to baby pink in Chenille was Aubrey Pink. And I didn't even know that color existed. But Zayn said it was still pretty so I went with that."

Mindy smiled. "Well, I think you two made the right decision. From the picture, that's​ going to go well with the rest of your room."

"Good. So how many days does it say I'll have to wait before it gets here?"

"Three to six business days. They'll give you a call so all you have to do is call me. I'll come pick you up and take you to get it."

"Um... Actually." Harry said. "I was wondering if Zayn would be able to take me."

Zayn, who had been sitting on Harry's​ living room couch and watching him and Mindy at the computer desk, froze. "Huh?"

"You know where the place is already. If you don't mind, you could take me there to pick it up when it's​ time."

Zayn nodded. "Oh yes. Absolutely." But he saw Mindy's face and how curious she was. "Unless that's not okay with Mindy. Then she could do it."

She chuckled. "No. He's right. You do know where the place is. You can take him if you want to."

He only nodded because he knew Harry couldn't see him. Harry didn't have to know how eager he was.

"Okay then. It's settled. So you two should just exchange numbers and that way, he can call you when he gets a call from the store."

"Alright."

Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a cellphone. As soon as he located the power button on the side and turned the screen on, a voice told him the time. Zayn was intrigued. He remembered finding out sometime back how there was a special voice feature available on touchscreen phones for the blind or those with impaired vision. But he never saw anyone using it before today.

"I'm a bit slow when typing."

"That's fine." Zayn said. "Take your time."

He waited for him to open up a new contact field and then gave him the digits to put in. It did take him a while to get it all typed in, but once he saved the contact, he put the phone back into his pocket and gave Zayn his own number.

"Okay then. I'll call you when it's here, Zayn."

"Sure. I'll be waiting."

The front door to Harry's home opened and in walked a brown haired man with a beard and eyes to match. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a rag and entered the living room. "All done, Harry. The yard is all spruced up."

"Thank you so much, Liam. How much should I pay you?"

Liam chuckled. "You ask me that every time and every time I have to remind you it's free. I'm doing a favor for a friend. Not work. Plus I had a whole winter off a couple cuts ago. I'm not complaining."

Harry sighed. "Well, let me at least get you some water. I know you're hot."

"Yes. Thanks. That would be great."

Harry got up and safely moved from the living room to the kitchen. Liam followed him, leaving Mindy alone with Zayn.

"So... Harry seems to have taken to you quite well." She pointed out.

"You think so?"

"Yeah. I do. He was so excited about you coming over today."

Zayn shoved his phone back in his pocket. He hated to come off as clueless but he couldn't help but be that because that was what he was. "Really?"

"Yep. And he hasn't stopped talking about your visit to the home decor store either. You really made his week."

Zayn didn't know what to say so he sat there blushing like a dork.

"And I hear he wants you to teach him colors. Now that is quite something." She said.

"Yeah." He giggled out, finally forming longer sentences. "He thinks I'm good at it. But I'm not. The only reason I want to give it a try is for him. Harry's a good guy and I like him. I hope this befriending thing continues."

She nodded. "I'm really glad you said that."

He let out a breath. "You are?"

She nodded.

"Oh, thank goodness. I thought you'd be upset and think I was trying to steal him away from you or something."

She smiled. "No. Of course not. Harry can always use more friends. I think it's good for him because he doesn't get out as much anyway. But... That's not the only reason."

He could see the way her demeanor changed and he knew that he didn't like the possible reasons for that. "What do you mean, Mindy?"

"Uhm, you know I'm getting married, don't you?"

"Yes. Congratulations by the way."

"Thank you." She got up from the chair at the desk and sat down next to him on the couch. "That restaurant that you and Harry went to, Village Grill."

"What about it?"

"Liam's father owns that place and another one like it two cities from here. His father is deciding to retire from the restaurant business so he's giving his restaurants to his sons. That's Liam, his biological son and Niall, which is his step son. You know, the one you met."

"Right."

"Niall will get the one right here in the city. But Liam is getting the one sixty miles from here. So that means in order to run it properly, Liam is going to have to move there. And since I'll be his wife, then..."

"You're going to have to move there too."

"Right."

Zayn felt his stomach dip. Harry had been worried about Mindy ditching him and Zayn even told him she wouldn't do anything like that. Now that this had come up, how was he going to backtrack from that? "What about Harry? He depends on you for so much."

"I know, I know. And that's what's been eating at me. This isn't something that just came up. A week or so before Liam even proposed, I was asked by my job to take a higher paying position within the company but in that city. I've been striving for that job my whole life but wasn't sure if I should accept it or not because Harry and Liam were both here. But after all this, it feels like fate, you know. Liam suddenly having to run a restaurant in the city where my dream job is waiting for me. I don't think I can refuse that."

Zayn looked at her with lips slightly parted. Those words all made him feel so disoriented. This was not what he came here for today. "And Harry?" He asked again.

"Liam and I are getting married in early October so that's about six months from now. I won't tell him until we get closer to that date. If I tell him now, he'll worry and that's a long time to worry." She put a hand on his forearm. "I hope I'm not asking for too much but I was hoping you and Harry could really get to know each other first before I break the news to him. That way, when I do tell him, he doesn't feel like I'm leaving him alone. He'll have someone to turn to. Someone close by."

Zayn sighed and looked down. Barely a few days apart and yet another person was asking him to do tasks that seemed impossible. Why? Why did wanting to be Harry's friend have to start off so difficult? "I don't know, Mindy."

"Oh, come on, Zayn. You're perfect. You live right next door to him. When I'm not here, he'll have you. I'm going to be sixty miles away from here and my schedule is going to change with the new job. There's no way I can travel here every Saturday. I can't."

"So you're leaving him completely?"

"No." She quickly said. "I'm still going to come by from time to time. Harry is my best friend and I could never leave him for good. It would just be very nice to have you here. He knows he can always hire someone in my place. But he prefers a friend. That friend can be you and if so, you have no idea what it would do for his peace of mind."

Zayn recalled Harry talking about a blind man being attacked by a mugger. If he openly feared things like that, there was no doubt he probably thought about what it would be like when he was forced to depend on a hired person he didn't trust yet. He felt bad. "Yeah. You're right. I guess I could help you out."

"Plus, it's not like you're doing something you don't want to do anyway." She reasoned. "I'm just informing you so that you know how to approach things from here."

"Right."

"So you agree?"

It took him a moment to say it. "Yeah. I agree."

She squealed quietly and then hugged him tightly from the side. "Thank you, Zayn. It means so much to me. You have no idea. I guess Harry was right. You just might be the most generous guy he's ever met."

She stood up from the couch and Zayn was frozen for sure now. Harry called him the most generous guy he had ever met? Well, that wasn't something he said to Zayn but obviously he mentioned that to her. He actually said that.

Liam and Harry came in just as Mindy was shutting Harry's computer down.

"I was told you came over to meet me." Liam said to Zayn and he sat down on the couch next to him. "My name is Liam Payne."

Zayn retreated out of his daze and shook Liam's hand. "Yeah, I'm Zayn. Zayn Malik."

"Nice to meet you. You already met Mindy Alton, there. She's my wife to be. She's​ beautiful, isn't she?"

Zayn hesitated. "Umm.. sure. Yes, she is."

Liam pat his back. "There is nothing to be nervous about. I'm not going to get mad if you say yes to that. By the way, I hear Harry calls you a friend and any friend of his is a friend of mine. When the wedding rolls around in October, you're welcome to attend."

Zayn turned his head sideways. "You're serious?"

"Of course." He took his hand from Zayn's back and rested his elbows on his knees. "We'd be glad to have you there. And Harry likes you. So there must be something good about you that he sees."

Zayn thought about Mindy's generosity comment. "Okay."

"Are you two staying for a while?" Harry asked from across the room.

"No. I wish I could but I need to get home and get a shower. I have to drop Mindy off at her place first.

"Oh. Well, that's okay. Maybe next time."

"Sure thing." He looked at Zayn. "So anyway. I'm glad you did come over here to meet me. It's an honor that you came here for that. Maybe we'll talk again sometime and really get to know each other."

"Yeah, definitely."

Liam stood up and so did Mindy. Harry never sat down when he came in, so to keep from being the only one sitting, Zayn stood up as well.

"Always a pleasure​ doing things​ for you, Harry." Liam said and he went over to Harry for a hug.

"Thanks Liam."

Mindy touched Harry's shoulder gently before hugging him. "I'll be back next Saturday, of course."

"Alright. See you then."

She smiled lovingly and then looked at Zayn. "Bye Zayn. Good seeing you again."

By the look she had given him, he could see she wanted him to keep what she had told him a secret for now. So he nodded his head once as he bid his goodbye. "You too, Mindy. See you later."

Like he always did, Harry walked them to the door so he could lock it behind them. When he came back in, Zayn was still in the same spot.

"So you finally met Liam. What did you think?"

"Well, we didn't get to talk long but he seems cool and it was nice of him to invite me to his wedding, even if he doesn't know me that well."

"Liam is just like that. Always wanting everyone to be happy. If you ask for anything, he'll give it. And even if you don't ask, it's yours anyway."

That made Zayn so confused. Wouldn't a person like that be considered the most generous person Harry had ever met? Even Liam refused to make Harry pay for a favor that left him tired, hot, sweaty and thirsty in the end. How could Zayn rival his history of generosity towards Harry when he and Harry just met? What was it that Harry could see in him and why couldn't he see it in himself?

"Are you up for staying?"

Zayn shrugged. "I have nowhere to be. I don't see why not?"

"Then I could tour you." He proposed.

"The house?"

"Yeah."

Zayn smiled. "Of course, Harry. I would love that."

➡ ➡ ➡

"What's up, Safaa?"

"Nothing." She said after closing the front door behind Zayn. "I'm doing a bit of studying. But once I finish with that, I promise I'll come down and be with you guys."

"Sure. Where's mum?"

"Kitchen."

As Safaa made her way up the stairs again, Zayn went into the kitchen where he found Patricia at the sink and digging in a crate of vegetables.

"Hey mum."

He kissed her cheek and stood next to her.

"Welcome home, sweetheart."

That made him smile. He liked how she always referred to the house he grew up in as home, even if he didn't live there anymore. "So what are you doing?"

"I went to the farmer's market today and picked up some fresh vegetables. I hope you have an appetite for a side of asparagus this evening. They're​ in season and I just had to get them."

Zayn raised his brow. "Sure... Need any help?"

"Of course. Right now, I'm just rinsing them off under water. But you can break the stems, dry them in a towel and put them in that white bowl for me, if you don't mind."

"I don't mind." After giving his hands a wash, he snatched a towel from a nearby drawer​ and waited for her to sit one of the spears onto it.

"So, how have things been going for you outside of your father's shop?"

He was slow about getting out an answer. "Do you remember Louis Tomlinson from school?"

"Oh yes. The boy with the glasses. You haven't spoken to him in so long. Is he okay?"

"He's fine. We ran into each other a few weeks ago and we went out for coffee a little over a week ago. I didn't realize I missed being around him."

She smiled. "That's​ good that you saw him again. Louis was a sweet young man. And he was really smart too, I have to say. You two hung out together so much in high school, I think he even rubbed off on you."

"Not a chance." Zayn laughed. Even if I wanted him to, he couldn't. His level of intelligence was only attainable for people who were not me. Or else, what happened at college would not have happened."

"Nonsense." She said, and she paused washing the vegetables to look at him. "Stop putting yourself down. What that sleazy girl did to you should not have a bearing on your view of your intelligence. You're a smart man and you always have been. Sure, you may choose not to brag about it in the most articulate way. But that doesn't mean you aren't. Remember that."

Zayn smiled slightly. "Sounds like something Harry would say, to be honest."

"And who is Harry?"

"My blind next door neighbor. Remember? I told you all about him when we had that housewarming dinner."

"Oh yes. Yes. I forgot his name. But... He says things like that to you?"

"Yes. It's so weird how he believes in someone he doesn't even know well."

She sat an asparagus spear on his towel and he picked it up and broke the stem before drying it with the towel and putting it in the bowl.

"Well... I think that's very nice of him. And perhaps some of him can rub off on you as well, so you can stop putting yourself down. How much time have you spent with him?"

"Not a lot. Just a few days when I got off from work and a couple of Saturdays."

"Ah. Well, that's nice."

"Yeah." She sat another spear on the towel and he repeated the process. "Did you know Harry has a favorite color?"

"Really?"

"Mhm. I was thrown off by that at first too. It didn't make any sense to me but he told me how being blind didn't mean he couldn't have a color preference. I never thought about it like that. But he's right."

She placed another in front of him. "And what's his favorite color?"

"Pink."

She stopped what she was doing to give him a questioning look. "What?"

"I know what you're thinking but..." He stopped himself from saying she was wrong because no, she was actually right. Harry was into guys. But that wasn't important for her to know now. Maybe in time. "Color has no gender. Color is just color. Especially to a blind man."

"Sure. You're right. But out of all the colors in the world, why did he choose that one?"

"It was something that happened when he was a teenager. It's probably something he wants kept between us so I don't want to tell it. Just know that his experience landed him a loyal friend who really cares about his well-being."

"Awh." She said. "That's sweet. He needs that."

"Yeah. He does."

Suddenly out of nowhere, Patricia gasped, indicating she had just gotten an idea. "You know what I should do? I should bake a cherry pie for you to take to him."

"What?"

"Yes. I should. You sound excited to have met him so why shouldn't I do that? Anybody who wants to be a real friend of yours deserves a homemade dessert from me. Plus, he sounds like a sweetheart."

"Who does?"

Zayn looked back to see his father standing in the doorway.

"His friend, Harry."

"The blind boy?"

"Yes, you remembered?"

"I did."

"Ah, well, yes. Him." Zayn replied. "You know, he's not so bad. He's easily the most interesting person I've ever met."

Yaser and Patricia exchanged looks but those looks were different. Patricia was intrigued. Yaser was just stoic.

"That's​ great, honey. What have you two done so far to make you say that?"

"We just went shopping for bed sheets and stuff. And he let me tour his house. It's amazing how he gets around without knocking stuff over."

Yaser came all the way in and stood in the middle of the kitchen. He folded his arms. "Hmm. I suppose he could be good for you. It's a nice change from all those rowdy college days you had. Less scares."

Zayn looked away from him and cleared his throat. "Yeah..."

"Now, Yaser, don't you go bringing up stuff. He's here for dinner. Not a guilting game."

"That's not what I'm doing, dear."

"Yes you are. What's done is done. No need to bring it up. He's home now."

"I know that. I was only saying Harry might be good for him."

"But the reason you said it..."

Zayn couldn't take standing in the kitchen listening to them talk about him so he sighed. "Excuse me. I'm going out for a smoke."

His parents went quiet and watched him leave. Patricia shook her head and returned to rinsing off the vegetables when she heard the front door close.

"You love him so much but you can be hard on him, darling. I don't like it."

"Well, maybe that's the thing. Maybe that's what we were supposed to do before he went off to college and got himself into all that trouble."

"He can't help what Heidi did to him. How was he supposed to know? The boy just wants to be loved. He always has."

"I know that."

"So why do you have to be so tough on him? He already feels bad about everything that's happened."

"I'm tough because I want him to do better."

"Do better? Yaser, he's got a car, he's got his own house and a job. What more do you want?"

"I want him to finish something important in his life. Everything you named is all well and good and I'm proud of him for that. But he hasn't finished a single thing. I mean, wasn't he supposed to stop smoking a few months ago? But look at him."

She frowned. "That's not fair. You know the only reason he said that was because he..."

"Because he thought he was going to be a father?" He finished for her.

"Yes. That's exactly it. So what did you expect from him?"

He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Honey, all that I'm saying has nothing to do with me expecting anything from him. I'm tough on him because I love him and I want what's best for him. But he doesn't understand."