"You have such beautiful hair." Trisha said, feeling Harry's curls.

"Mom." Zayn warned, setting the table.

"It's okay, thank you." Harry blushed.

"This is still such a pleasant surprise. I've been begging Zayn to let me meet you forever." She said as she sat down.

"Does he always cook dinner?" Harry asked, making Trisha start laughing.

"No, I can already tell you're special because he's cooking for you." She said when she stopped laughing.

Zayn sighed to himself, serving them.

"Where's the garlic bread?" Trisha asked.

Zayn and Harry looked at each other.

"Um, I burnt it." Zayn said.

"It was my fault." Harry added, scaring Zayn a little.

Zayn was worried he would come right out and tell his mom the bread got burnt because the two of them were too busy making out.

"Well, it's okay. We'll survive." Trisha smiled.

"So Harry, what do you want to do after you graduate?" Trisha asked as they all started eating.

"Um, maybe model if I can get my foot in the door. I don't really have any other plans or interests in anything that's convenient for society." Harry said.

Zayn looked at him with pure admiration. "Me either. What a perfect way to put it."

Harry smiled at him, and Zayn's chest felt so warm.

His stomach felt so full of butterflies just because of the way Harry worded that.

"Well what are you interested in regardless of society?" Trisha asked after smiling at the way her son gazed at this boy.

"Like if you could have any job, what would it be?"

Harry thought for a moment. "Maybe an international food taster? A supermodel, um, or a singer. I wouldn't mind working from home somehow either. Maybe as a writer."

"I like the first one." Trisha smiled.

"Speaking of food tasting this is really good Zayn." Harry said.

"Thanks." Zayn said quietly.

Zayn was quiet most of the dinner, watching Harry and his mother bond.

It was strange how quickly they got comfortable with each other, but Zayn couldn't have been happier.

His two favorite people liked each other.

"Let me help." Harry said as Trisha stood to clear the table.

"You're so sweet!" Trisha praised him, winking at Zayn when Harry had his back turned.

Zayn blushed, smiling and shaking his head.

×

×

×

"Tonight was really fun, Zayn. She seemed to like me. I hope she did." Harry said as Zayn walked him out to his car.

"She liked you tons. I'm glad you had fun. We should make this a tradition. That way you never have to eat dinner alone." Zayn said.

He'd been giving this a lot of thought during dinner, and it hurt him to think of Harry sitting in his room alone when he ate dinner.

Harry smiled, throwing his arms around Zayn and hugging him tightly.

"Did I trigger the water works?" Zayn smiled, hugging him back.

"A little bit. Thanks for being so considerate, Zayn. It means a lot. I wish I could stay here with you. I hate being alone so much." Harry said softly.

Zayn pushed him back some, looking into his eyes. "I wish you could stay too."

Harry smiled sadly, guiding Zayn's face to his own and kissing him.

"Hey, you know what?" Zayn smiled when the kiss ended.

"What?" Harry asked, looking cute as he looked at Zayn with those big eyes and little smile.

"Maybe," Zayn began, pulling their bodies together and holding Harry's hips. "Since my mom liked you so much, she'll let you stay over."

Harry smiled. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Come ask with me. You're cuter than me, she'll probably say yes if you help me ask." Zayn said, taking his hand.

"I'm not cuter than you." Harry chuckled.

"I think you are." Zayn said.

Harry smiled to himself, blushing.

"Oh, hey. Forget something?" Trisha smiled when they both came back inside.

"Not exactly. I was just wondering if Harry could...stay the the night." Zayn said, feeling awkward.

He was almost a grown man, he shouldn't have to ask.

Trisha smiled, deciding to have fun with this.

"Oh you were?"

"Yeah. He gets really lonely at home because his mom is always working and...I just thought it'd be fun." Zayn said.

Harry nodded, showing off his dimples and trying his best to be cute.

"Plus he's my best friend other than Niall." Zayn added.

"True. But with Niall I don't have to worry about the two of you sleeping in the same bed." Trisha smiled, making Zayn turn red.

"Mom." He said quietly, giving her a look.

"I can sleep on the couch, I don't mind." Harry said, trying not to laugh.

"No, it's alright. Just don't be too loud and at least try to get to sleep before midnight, okay?" Trisha asked, mainly looking at Zayn, who nodded.

"Can we go to his place so he can pack a bag? He'll need something to wear to school." Zayn said.

"You can't share your clothes?" Trisha asked.

Harry folded his arms, pretending to be offended. "Yeah Zayn, you can't let me wear some of your clothes? As any boyfriend should?"

Zayn gave him a playful look that told Harry he was going to get it when they were alone.

No look had ever excited him more.

"Okay, you can borrow some of mine." Zayn said with a tight smile.

"We'll be in my room." Zayn nodded to his mother before he walked off.

"Thank you so much for letting me stay." Harry said to Trisha.

"Of course. You're always welcome here, okay?" She smiled warmly.

"You don't know how much that means to me." Harry said, hoping she didn't think he was weird.

She just smiled at him. "It means a lot to me too that you've made Zayn so happy. Seeing him happy makes me happy."

Harry nodded, smiling. "He makes me happy too."

"Um, goodnight." He said politely before he dismissed himself.

Harry bit his lip to keep from grinning as he hurried down the hall into Zayn's room.

"You think you're cute? Gaining up on my with my mom?" Zayn chuckled as Harry came in.

"I mean you just told me I'm cute so...yeah." Harry smirked.

"But uh, what're you gonna do about it?" Harry asked, taking it upon himself to close the door behind him.

"You wanna know?" Zayn asked quietly, staring into his eyes and walking up to him.

"Yeah." Harry said quietly, his back pressed to the door now.

"You really want to know what I'm going to do to you?" Zayn asked, looking at Harry's lips and gripping his sides.

Harry swallowed slowly. "Yeah." He repeated, his voice cracking.

Zayn smirked, moving his head and letting his lips brush against Harry's ear.

"I'm gonna kiss you."

Zayn then kissed Harry's cheek, lifting his hand and patting his other cheek as he turned and walked away.

Harry blinked a few times, realizing how hot and weak he'd just been.

He tried to get himself together while Zayn kicked back in bed with a smile on his face.