"Harry, when will your mum be back?"

"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit." I glance at my alarm clock and spring up from my bed frantically. "I look like a mess. Oh god, the bandage. I need to shower. I can't believe-"

"Breathe babe." He tugs me back down. I sit up on the edge of the bed, my eyes glued to the wall.

"Ahhh fuck. My hand hurts. How am I going to write? Everyone is going to ask what happened. It's so embarrassing, what am I supposed to say?"

"You should have seen the other guy."

I laugh, my head falling onto his shoulder.

"Don't go to school tomorrow love."

He wraps his arms around me, his lips brushing across my neck.

"My teacher is telling me to skip school," I gasp dramatically, clutching my chest. "You should be fired."

"I'm fucking you too. I don't see you complaining about that."

"How can you say such eloquent things in class and then spit out such filthy comments outside of school?"

He chuckles, his knuckles grazing along my jaw.

"You can stay at my place. I'll make sure Liam picks up all your assignments."

"What did I do to deserve you?"

"I dunno but I'm sure this beats extra credit, yeah?"

I want to knock the smirk off his face.

"Get out of my house," I joke.

"You don't even pay the bills. Wait until you have to."

"I better become a male prostitute."

"Oof," he smacks my cheek. "Don't talk like that. You're going to uni."

"I don't really want to. I'm not good at anything."

"Are you joking Harry? You're a straight A student. You're extremely talented, you just sell yourself short."

I sigh and stare blankly at the ceiling.

"Nothing interests me."

"What about me?"

I smile and roll over to kiss his cheek. He knows he's an exception.

"I should have warned you about touching my jawline."

I furrow my brows and he gestures to my bandage.

"Sliced you up pretty bad, too sharp."

"God you're so self-absorbed."

"I should probably go. Just come to my place anytime tomorrow. You have my spare key, right?"

I nod and he presses a lingering kiss to my forehead.

"Drink lots of water and take your pain medicine. Get some rest, okay?"

"Zayn," I groan. "I'm not a baby."

"You're my baby."

It's about the most cliché thing I've ever heard but my heart still does a backflip. So much for knocking John Greene for being sappy.

...

I toss on a long sleeved hoodie and listen for the door.

"Harry!"

I rush into the kitchen to help her put some groceries away and kiss her cheek.

"Hey mum. Do you need help with dinner?"

"I'm okay, what's gotten into you?"

"What can I say? You raised a gentleman," I give a dimpled grin and she laughs lightly.

"Can you fold the laundry for me?"

I nod and busy myself folding towels and putting clothes in the wash.

"Is school going okay? Did you bring up your English grade?"

"Yeah, everything is good."

"If you ever want to invite your friends over you can. I haven't seen Niall in awhile. When you boys were young he'd clear raid our cabinets and eat a whole bag of chips."

Sounds like Niall. I just smile as she washes a head of lettuce and hums a tune.

"You look really pale sweetie."

"Just tired."

She frowns and shoots me a knowing look. "You work too hard. Don't overexert yourself. Have a little fun while you still can. Your life flashes by and before you know it you're going gray and you can't remember where you put anything."

"You aren't old mum."

"Just enjoy every moment. Be grateful for everything you have and make sure your friends know how much you care about them."

"I try my best."

"Am I going to see that boyfriend of yours anytime soon?"

I suck in a breath.

"Harry," she says sternly. "Would I approve of him?"

"Undoubtedly. He has tattoos and he smokes but he's trying to quit. I promise he's amazing. He's kind-hearted and intelligent and hilarious. He's just...sincere."

"Is he trustworthy?"

Images of him kissing Mason flick in my mind before I decisively say "of course."

"Is he cute?"

I laugh, my cheeks growing warm.

"Very. I need a cold shower. I'll be out before dinner."

"Okay honey."

I shake out my damp curls and saunter into the kitchen.

"I am feeling a bit under the weather. Can I stay home tomorrow?"

She feels my forehead and sighs. "Yes Harry. Do you need me to take off work?"

"No, don't worry about it."

...

"Hi babe."

"Your sheets smell so good."

I snuggle deeper into the covers, inhaling traces of him on the white sheets.

"I just washed them," he laughs. "If you're hungry I can grab you some food and you're welcome anything in the kitchen. I don't know what all that entails."

clinging

to every

cell in

my brain

and filling

all the space

in my heart

twenty six

letters

but i can't

find the

right combination

to capture

whatever

i am feeling

for you

"It makes me feel safe."

"What love?"

"Your bed. It's so hard to breathe without you."

My heart picks up speed as he says "breathe me in because I breathe for you."

"What are you talking about today?"

"Poetry," he replies dryly.

"Groundbreaking."

He chuckles through the line and I smile to myself.

"Did you want food babe?"

"I'm okay. Thanks though."

"Make sure you eat something, don't take your medicine on an empty stomach. I need to help you with the antiseptic when I get home. Okay?"

"Alright."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

I lean back against the pillows, letting myself slowly drift off.

Pounding on the door jolts me awake. Zayn wouldn't forget his keys. What in the hell? I hesitantly open the door and regret it immediately.

"Hey Henry."

"Harry," I correct.

"Yeah whatever, I wanted to talk to Zayn."

"He's at work," I huff. "Come back never." I start to close the door but he stops it and plasters on a smile.

"May I come in?"

"No," I reply coldly.

"Do you have a job or are you supposed to be in school?"

"That's none of your business. Now do me a favor and get the fuck out of my face."

"You're just using Zayn."

My blood boils as I stare daggers at him.

"Excuse me? You fucked him and then cheated on him. Go before I call the police."

"So how old are you? Sixteen?"

I roll my eyes as he pushes past me, making himself comfortable on the couch.

"What happened to your hand?"

"Got in a fight."

"Figures," he scoffs. "We had plans you know."

"What?"

"Zayn and I. We were going to live in London and travel the world. I swear to you I still love him. Listen Harry, I know I didn't get it right but I don't deserve this. He won't even let me apologize."

"Why'd you kiss him?"

"I just missed the taste of his lips. I miss everything about him. Can you imagine someone ripping him away from you? Do you know that pain?"

"I'm sorry Mason. I truly am but things weren't meant to be."

He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to hold back tears.

"How do you know?"

"You don't seem all that bad. I wanted to hate you but I know why Zayn loved you. You're headstrong and determined and obviously very sensitive. I don't hate you. I just can't."

He places his hand on my knee and I flinch.

"Just treat him right. Don't repeat my mistakes. I'm sorry for being a jerk, I'm sorry for trying to rip your relationship apart. I've seen the way he looks at you. It's something I never could do. I tried so fucking hard."

My hand rubs him back soothingly as I assure him everything will be okay.

"Things happen for a reason."

"Hey Henry," he cracks a smile. "I like your hair."

"Thanks Michael."

"Fuck," he exhales.

"You alright?"

"You're so damn likeable."

I smile and he gets up, a tiny smile on his face.

"I guess I needed this. I needed closure. If you ever want to grab a beer it's on me."

"I'm only sixteen," I mock.

"Sorry," he frowns.

"Don't worry about it. Promise me something though."

"Uh okay."

"Don't settle. Find someone that will respect you and care for you no matter what."

"You really are an incredible person."

...

"Zayn," I fling my arms around him, peppering his face with kisses.

"You didn't even miss me," he says sarcastically. "Mason called me."

"Oh, what did he say?"

"Apparently he came over to pay me a visit. Sound familiar?"

"Yeah," I exhale.

"He really likes you. I accepted his apology."

"He isn't so bad."

"I'm sure he doesn't know he's the reason why you're hurt. He'd be extremely upset."

"I cut myself, not him."

"You need to tend to the wound or it'll get infected. C'mere baby."

He grabs my hand and leads me into the bathroom. I sit on the edge of the tub and he carefully unravels the bandage.

"This is going to hurt babe. I'm sorry."

I take a deep breath but he doesn't use the antiseptic.

"Your cuts are too deep. I'm just going to use a mild saline solution."

He dilutes some and outs it on a clean piece of gauze, dabbing at my skin.

I wince, a hiss escaping through my gritted teeth.

"It's okay. You're okay."

My fingernails dig into his shoulder and in a few seconds the burning pain resides.

"So strong," he kisses my hairline.

I smile as he winds a new bandage around my hand.

"I um...it's hard for me to wash my hair."

"I'll clean you up babe."

I giggle as he scoops me into his arms and carries me to the shower. He lifts my shirt up over my head and tugs off my sweatpants.

"I hope you like bubbles."

His fingers massage my scalp, working up a lather.

I hum contently as the warm water cascades down my back.

He soaps up a washcloth and scrubs my diligently, paying special attention to my body.

My back presses against the cold tile as his warm lips find mine, the washcloth traveling to my thighs. A moan gets caught in the back of my throat as his fingers get tangled in my hair.

"Are you still sore babe?"

My cheeks flush as I shake my head.

"I missed you today," he breathes huskily.

I like this side of Zayn. Dominant and assertive. Hungry for me.

He sucks a love bite into my neck and grazes his teeth along my pale collarbone. My hips grind into his, relishing the friction we both crave.

"My bandage," I moan. "Going to be so wet."

"So are you," his lips search for mine again.

He bites my bottom lip before sliding his tongue into my mouth.

My body is on fire but the cold water pelts down. I attach my mouth to his neck as his hand wraps around my member, pumping steadily. I bite gently into his neck. He gives a little squeeze a pulls, my small pants and the soothing sound of water filling the room. It doesn't take much for me to spill but my mess washes down the drain.

"Were you a good boy today?"

"Y-yes," I stammer.

He licks a teasing strip down my member, taking me in and twirling his tongue along my tip. My hips buck forward as he hums, sending vibrations through my body.

So he makes me cum again, the milky substance spurting into his tongue.

Twenty six letters.

But I can't think of a single word.