Zayn breathed a sigh of relief as he quickly ducked into the mechanic shop.

"Good morning, son." His father greeted.

"Morning, Dad."

"You're a little late."

"Yeah. Traffic. You know how people always magically forget how to drive in the rain."

He nodded. "Well, the computer is waiting for you."

"Yes sir."

He took his bag from around his body, scurried behind the counter and logged into the computer.

Zayn's father, Yaser, was the mechanic at this shop and this was his business. When Zayn was young, Yaser used to do all kinds of work on his friends' cars. It wasn't until after his wife, Patricia, told him he should make a business out of it that he actually took note of his skills and took it seriously. And he seemed to have done it at the right time too, because their business thrived right away.

Before Zayn left for college, his father urged him to stay and work in the shop so he could properly run it when he gave it to him one day. But Zayn wasn't interested in cars or how they worked or needed to be fixed. He wanted to go to college and do something different. Three years after he graduated high school, he finally stopped procrastinating and went. Unfortunately, after three years of school, his life suddenly turned for the worst and two months ago, he dropped out of school and came home.

He knew his father was disappointed because if Zayn wasn't going to work for him, then he wanted him to at least finish college. But Zayn was Yaser's only son and Yaser could never express his disappointment directly to him even if he felt it in secret. So he happily offered him a job at his shop and Zayn was taken back in to live with him, his mother and his twenty one year old sister, Safaa.

However, Zayn knew he couldn't take staying with his family too long. After getting a taste of living away from them and getting to do his own thing, sharing everything and having a curfew was out of the question. So the first opportunity he got, he found a house to rent and went for it. Luckily for him, he had family privilege. So his check, unknowingly to the other workers at the shop, was always a little fatter. That meant he had plenty of money to take care of himself and it was the only thing that allowed him to live on his own. His father had always been the best father to him.

Just as his computer warmed up, the bell above the door dinged. It was his first customer of the day. He perked up and smiled at them. Finally someone was here to start off the day. Getting customers was always exciting. Well... Not really. But it did always make the time go by faster.

* * *

For some reason, things in Zayn's life always had a strange way of catching up to him. Whether it be his job, hasty decisions or people he came across and left behind in life. In this case, it happened to be the people he came across and left behind.

Being back home meant being back amongst everything he knew before he left. Not just family, but friends and familiar places too. So it would likely be impossible not to run into someone from the neighborhood or his old school.

Patricia had been eager to get together as a family and celebrate Zayn moving out on his own. But Zayn knew that he still had some last minute things around the house to do. He didn't have much furniture in the house besides one couch in the living room, a bed and chest in his room and a table in the kitchen. But he at least wanted to make that look nice. So he figured some nice things for a table setting and throw pillows for the couch should make his half empty place look better. At least it could help convince his parents that moving out on his own was the best decision.

So after work when the rain had subsided, he had found the old home decor place in a shopping center not too far from his place of work and went there. He did end up finding some really nice pillows with sewn on patterns as well as white plates with gold edges. The gold wasn't real, of course, but that didn't stop it from being pretty.

As he was coming out with a bag of plates in one hand and a bag with two pillows in the other, he heard his name.

"Zayn?"

He stopped and turned around and exchanged shock with someone he hadn't seen in three years. He froze.

"Yeah, I thought that was you coming out of there! Wow, man. Look at you!"

Zayn froze where he was and let the blue eyed man in thick rimmed glasses come hug him. He was unable to hug him back because of the bags.

"How are you, Zayn?"

"I'm okay. How about yourself, Louis."

"I've been good. The veterinarian career still hasn't taken off yet, but I'm moving in the right direction, I think. I work at that pet shop next to the store you came out of. I just got off from work."

Zayn seemed surprised. "Oh. I see. That explains everything."

"So it's been a while since we've seen each other. When you left, you kind of ditched me. I would text you occasionally just to see how you were doing but you never sent me texts back."

Zayn looked away guiltily. "Well... See... I was at college... You know..."

"Nah, that's okay. You don't have to lie. I got the message that you were doing your own thing up there. Plus, I don't think I was ever your cup of tea. Maybe in high school we were best friends. But after that, I could never be the people you were into. The party buddy type."

He really felt guilty now. "No, Lou. Well, yeah, it's true you were kind of a nerd and I wasn't. But that wasn't why." Liar. "Just... You were so far away. We couldn't hang out anyway. But I'm back now."

Louis tilted his head sideways. "You're back? Like on vacation?"

Zayn shook his head, feeling embarrassed. "No. For good."

"You transferred down here to college?"

"I dropped out."

Louis was shocked. "Before your last year? Zayn, you only had one more year left."

"I know. But a lot of stuff happened up there. It's not something I particularly want to get into now in the parking lot."

"That's okay. You don't have to. And I won't ask."

Zayn lowered his head. Louis always did understand him and respect him. If anything, that was the real reason they were best friends in high school. And after the way things went for him a few​ months ago, he could definitely use a true friend to talk to right now. "Um, Lou."

"Hm?"

"How about we go for coffee and have a chat about it. Maybe we could catch up on old times and stuff."

He shrugged. "Yeah, that sounds cool."

"Do you have the same number?"

He nodded. "Yep. Sure do. You?"

"Yep. So we should do that, then. Right now, I'm still settling in my new house. Just moved in almost three weeks ago. My family is going to come over for dinner to celebrate. But after that, I promise we'll get together."

Louis smiled. "Okay. I'll be waiting. See you then, Z."

He chuckled at the use of his old nickname. "You too."

After he finally got in the car and left for home, he ran his hand through his hair. He couldn't believe he had just ran into Louis after not having seen him or spoken to him in three years. He and Louis used to be the best of friends when they were in high school. They were often made fun of since Louis sometimes flaunted his smarts while Zayn didn't know anything impressive enough to flaunt. But that never mattered because they cared about each other and knew that was most important. However, when Louis went to college straight out of high school, they​ slowly started to drift apart. Zayn wasn't really going anywhere and sometimes found himself getting extremely jealous of Louis and how easy that all came to him. By the time Louis started his third year and Zayn had started his first, Zayn had no interest in continuing their friendship.

Now that he saw Louis again, he felt bad about purposely ignoring him. Louis never did anything to offend him. All he did was be himself. Maybe if Zayn appreciated that most in a friend, then he wouldn't​ be back home after quitting school in the first place.

➡➡➡➡➡

A few nights later, Zayn was at home, eating with his family at the dinner table. He didn't have to cook a thing. His mother made most of the meal and brought it over. All he had to do was supply the rolls and the ice cream for dessert.

"I see you've tried to dress this place up and make it look very nice." His mother said.

"Yes. I did. But I'll slowly buy things to make it look more homey. Next time you come by, it'll look better."

"But you can't paint these dull walls as long as you're only renting. At least not without their permission. So that'd be hard, wouldn't it?"

"I guess you could say that. But I wasn't going to do much painting anyway so that doesn't make much of a difference to me."

Safaa smiled. "Must be nice though. Having this all to yourself. Not having us around every day."

He chuckled. "Well, don't get me wrong. I love you three. But after having my freedom, I just missed it, you know. I like having my own thing."

"Me too. Once I graduate, renting will be a thing I'd look into too."

He nodded. "By the way, speaking of graduating, how's college going?"

"Still going great." She said.

"Still haven't picked out a profession yet?"

"No. But I do know it'll be something in the medical field, no doubt. We'll see."

Yaser smiled. "You have to finish first. Can't do anything if you don't finish."

"I know, daddy."

Patricia sat her fork down and looked across the table at Zayn. "So... How do you like the neighborhood, sweetie?"

"It's fine. I'd don't have a problem with it at all."

"Is it safe?"

"I would think so. I haven't had any concerns since I've been here."

"Well, that's good."

"What about the neighbors, though?" Yaser questioned.

Zayn shrugged. "I haven't really met them. I've only met the one that lives to the left of me."

"And how are they?"

"It's just one person and he's blind. He's also one year younger than me."

"And he lives alone?" His sister asked very surprised by that.

"Yep. He lives alone."

"So how does he get around and stuff?"

"Apparently his memory gets him around his house. But when he wants to leave the house to shop or something​, he has a friend for that. Her name's Mindy. I met her too. She's​ really sweet and she's my age."

The girls began to give him suggestive looks but he didn't even entertain them. "Nope. She's dating already."

"Aw, that's too bad." Patricia said. "But you'll find the one very soon, sweetheart."

He quickly shot that thought down as well. "Mom. I know you'd like to see me marry but after everything I've been through, I need someone I can trust. And... I'm not sure I should be hunting for that yet because obviously, I'm not good at it. I think temporary is good for now. Just a girl to chill with."

She was apprehensive about that. "You just want someone temporary?"

"Yes."

"Temporary is just another fancy way of saying unfinished, don't you know that, son?"

Zayn sighed. "Yes, dad."

"Alright then. Just remember that." Yaser didn't want to comment too much more on Zayn's love life so the sudden silence was starting to make the atmosphere awkward. The only thing that saved it was when Safaa announced she was finished​ eating and wanted dessert.

They didn't need to sit around the table for that, so while his family ate dessert in the house, he went outside for a smoke. After smoking for a couple minutes, he heard a door close to the right of him. He looked back to see Harry coming out of his house and he had another garbage bag in his hand.

He watched him slowly make his way down the pathway the way he did before and then turn left when he got to the sidewalk. It still amazed him how Harry didn't ever go off the sidewalk. How was he so good at that?

When he softly bumped into the trash can, he lifted the top and put the bag over in it. Zayn had been waiting for him to do that before he spoke up.

"What's up, Harry?"

Harry jumped. "Zayn? You scared me."

"I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just wanted to speak."

"Well, hello Zayn. Out for a smoke?"

"Yeah."

"I see."

Zayn had to stop himself from pointing out his choice of words. "So how are things?"

"Still good. And you?"

"Great. Right now, my family is visiting. They're inside."

"Really?" Harry said excitedly. "Are they visiting from out of town or something?"

"No. They live in the city. It's just like a little dinner for me moving into my own place, you know."

"Yeah. That sounds like fun. But you're missing it while you're​ out here on your smoke break."

He shrugged. "You're right. I guess. But I'll be going back in soon anyway." He took a puff of his cigarette and blew out the smoke.

"Well, have fun with your family."

"Actually, one quick question."

"Yeah?"

"How is it that you get from your front door to this trash can without drifting over into the grass or off the sidewalk?"

He chuckled. "Years and years of practice. I've been in this house for as long as I've lived. Twenty three years."

"Oh. You have?"

"Yeah. This was my grandmother's house but I lived here with her and when she died, she left the house to me."

"Oh. That makes sense. But how is it that your trash can always ends up on the sidewalk so you bump into it? The sanitation workers usually leave them all in the street at the curb."

He nodded. "Yeah but see, Mindy always comes the day after they collect the garbage. Like last time when you met her. That was the day after."

"Oh, it sure was, wasn't it?"

"Yep. Basically this has gone on since we were young. When we were teenagers, she spray painted a mark on the sidewalk. So when she came by, she would just move the trash can to the same spot every single time. That way I could count my steps and be accurate each time. It takes sixteen steps to get from my front door to the sidewalk. And once I face left it takes eight to reach the trash can. But when I get to six, I walk a bit slower so I don't run into it too hard and fall, you know."

"Ah." Zayn said. "That's so interesting. Also, sorry about your grandmother passing away."

Harry pat the trash can. "Thanks." He inhaled and exhaled deeply. "Anyway, you should get back to your family. I'm sure they're missing you in there."

"Would you like to meet them?"

"No. That's okay. I don't want to barge in on your family time."

"But you wouldn't be."

"That's okay. I promise. Maybe next time?"

"Definitely next time."

"So then I'll talk to you later then."

"Yep. I guess so."

As Harry walked away though, Zayn made it a point to watch his feet just so that he could count and see if Harry gave him accurate info. Just as he told him, it did take eight steps to reach the pathway of his home, and another sixteen steps until he reached his door.

"That's amazing." Zayn mumbled to himself.

Seeing things like that made him wish he saw more of Harry approaching everyday life. How did he cook? How did he choose what to wear outside of memorizing his colors of sunglasses? How did he handle everything he had to do? He would love to go over and learn all those things.

But how? Why would he go over there? He had no reason to see Harry. They weren't friends. They were just neighbors. So if he randomly showed up at his doorstep one day, that would be weird. Too weird.

He huffed and looked out across the street where other houses stood. He didn't want to be the weird neighbor. So he guessed his only conversation would have to come on the days Harry took out the trash as he happened to be outside smoking a cigarette. That wasn't so bad though. Seeing him once a week was better than not seeing him at all.