"Please watch your step, Harry. Uh, I mean... Y-yeah... Watch your step." He helped Harry off the curb and over into the car.

"Wow. I see you're already learning."

"What?"

"You just stopped yourself before you could offend me. You're learning."

"Oh. Yeah." Zayn closed the door and then got in the car on the driver's side. "The day we saw each other in Walmart, I went home and thought about what you said. About how not being able to see colors doesn't mean you can't have color preferences. I guess adjusting my speech is just as discriminatory towards you as assuming you can't like colors because you're blind."

They put on their seatbelts at about the same time.

"You're right. It is. But you're the first person outside of Grandma and Mindy who's actually said what I've been thinking all these years. That's very considerate of you, Zayn. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He pulled off from the curve and started the drive.

"Do you know what the best part about speech is?"

"What?"

"You only need your ears and mouth to do it right and I still have both of those. Every single one of us learned the way the human language works by the way people​ spoke to us and communicated with us as we grew up. As for me, my grandma never held back. She never told me I couldn't do something and she never gave me limitations. That's why when people purposely avoid using words in my vocabulary simply because of my lack of sight, I'm offended. There is no designated speech for the blind. We just interpret certain words we hear a little differently."

"Right. Like when you tell me 'I see', I know that you mean you understand. Not that you literally can see."

"But I do see, Zayn."

"What?"

"I get that you don't know this but what I have is congenital blindness. That means I've been blind since birth and in turn, means I have no concept of what it means to see with my eyes. No matter how many times you try to explain it to me, it just won't work. Because the only way I know to see is with these." He held up his hands.

Zayn glanced out of the side of his eye. "Your hands."

"Yes."

He sighed and then nodded. Having Harry explain things like that made everything so much more clear. "I get what you're​ saying. I guess it's just as hard to grasp for me as it is for you to grasp the way I think."

"Yes, Mindy was the same way at first. It took her a while to truly understand the way I am and how to help me without smothering me."

Zayn gripped the steering wheel upon hearing that word. It concerned him and he had a feeling he might be doing that. "To be honest, it's so fascinating knowing a blind person. I think it's cool to learn little things about you and how you live. But I don't want to smother you either."

Harry poked at the fabric on his pants. "Mindy and I have been friends for about ten years. She's had me figured out for at least the past five so I would figure the requirement to know me as well as she does is five years. You have a long way to go. Do you really think you could ever befriend me for that long?"

He thought for a moment. "Sure. I once had a friend for four years of high school if that counts for anything."

"Had? What happened?"

"He went off to college and we stopped hanging out and talking the way we used to."

"Just like that? So were you ever actually friends or did you just call yourselves that for fun?"

"Um..." He thought out loud. "Maybe not. Maybe we were just acquaintances. Though I can't lie. He really did consider me a friend to him and himself a friend to me. But I feel somewhat guilty because now that I think about it, for me, he might have just been someone else to share the ups and downs of high school with."

"And where is he now?"

"Oh, he has graduated college and has been back home for a couple years now. As a matter of fact, I ran into him a couple weeks ago."

"The same way you ran into me?" Harry joked.

Zayn laughed. "No. He stayed on two feet. I promise. He just saw me coming out of the home decor store I bought the pillows from and stopped me. He works at the pet shop next to it. After talking for a few minutes, I invited him for coffee. And then a few days ago, we went to a small shop and chatted together. We had a really great time. I didn't realize I missed him as much as he missed me."

Harry hummed. "That sounds nice. Even better, I can hear you smiling."

Zayn glanced at him before turning the corner. He didn't need to confirm that Harry was right but he was. He sure was smiling.

They soon reached the parking lot of the home decor store and Zayn turned off the car's engine. "We're here."

"Great." Harry unbuckled his own seat belt, felt for the door handle and let himself out. By the time Zayn got out of the car and came around, Harry was just standing there waiting for him.

Zayn felt for his hand and gently tugged it. "This way."

Harry followed him in a slow manner and when they reached the curb in front of the building, he found it heartwarming when Zayn told him to watch his step without hesitating this time.

"I'm sorry if holding my hand is making you uncomfortable. If it is, just tell me and next time I'll bring my guiding stick. I just don't like that thing because it can draw negative attention to me. I once heard a story about a blind man who got attacked downtown. Maybe I could fend off a mugger with my stick but I wouldn't be sure where to hit them if I couldn't see them anyway, right? So I just have this idea that getting mugged is less likely to happen when I have a person instead of a guiding stick with me."

Zayn shook his head with a smile. "No. It doesn't bother me at all."

"If I had a proper boyfriend, this would be less awkward for us."

Upon hearing those words, Zayn tensed and hoped Harry couldn't feel it. He kept forgetting Harry was gay.

They walked inside the building and Harry barely frowned. "It smells like raisins in here."

Zayn looked at him funny. "What?"

"Smell the air. It smells just like raisins. That sweet smell."

Zayn sniffed the air and then all of a sudden... Harry was right. Why in the world did this store smell like raisins? And how did Harry smell it when the scent was so faint?

"Yeah, but I can barely smell it. It's not the first thing I notice when I walk in the door. So how did you?"

"I told you before. When you can't use your eyes, you make use of your other senses. In this case, in order to understand what's around me, I used my sense of smell. That's one way I gain familiarity with places. You know... In case you bring me back here again."

Zayn was glad Harry couldn't see him because he couldn't help but look at him in incredulity. He really hated to treat Harry as if he was a spectacle of some sort but what else was he to do? This man was amazing.

"So which aisle are the comforters on?"

Zayn slowly tore away from his thoughts. "Uhm... To the left. This way." He led Harry onward through the store until they reached a long aisle with comforters and bed accessories. "Here we are."

"Okay. Now can you find all the pink comforters for me and let me touch them? Textured, of course."

"Sure. Um... Well, let's start with the pink ones."

He went over to a huge sample pad that was bolted against the wall and guided Harry's hand to it so he can feel over the first one, much like he did in Walmart.

"Is this pink?"

"Yeah. What do you think?"

"Well... It's silk. I don't like it all that much. I want something rough."

"Oh. Okay." Zayn found another pink textured one on the sample pad and moved Harry's hand to it.

"Ooh. This is nice. Though I can't really feel the pattern.

"Zigzags."

"They must be small then."

"Actually, it's quite the opposite. They're huge zigzags. But the sample is small so it just looks like lines."

"That makes sense. Show me another one."

"Okay... Um... Well, surprisingly​, that's it for the pink ones they have in store."

Harry was confused. "Wait. That's it? I thought you said this place had a wider variety than Walmart."

"They do. I meant that was it for the pink textured comforters they have on the sample pad. This place only carries the color it's displayed in so that means that if it's​ also available in pink, instead of buying it today, you'd have to order it online and wait for it to get here and then pick it up another day."

"Oh. I see what you mean. But that's okay. Where are the other samples?"

"Here. Touch this one."

Zayn put Harry's hand to a sample and he felt over it with three fingers.

"Circles." He said excitedly. "They must be small."

"They are. "Do you like it?"

"Does it come in pink?"

Zayn scanned over the small sheets of paper next to it, indicating the colors that particular comforter was available in. "Ehm... Fuchsia pink."

"What is that? Is that pretty?"

"Sure. But to me, Fuchsia is somewhere between hot pink and a really bright purple color. I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for."

"Oh. Then pass. Unless that's close to what I'm looking for. Mindy told me the color of my bed sheets is a baby pink and that getting a baby pink comforter​ would match best. Now, I trust her judgment and decision-making but I don't really understand the difference between all the pinks and I always tell her to stick to the basic color when talking to me. Hot pink... Fushia pink... Doesn't natter. Pink is all pink to me."

Zayn nodded. "Okay... Well, let's see." How do I describe it? Hot pink is automatically striking when you see it. It's bold. It's... sexy. At least that's​ what I think about when I see it."

"Sexy." Harry chuckled out. "Mindy has used that word many times. That's how she describes Liam when she's telling me about their date nights."

Zayn stumbled over his words. "O-okay. So there you go. On the other hand, baby pink is docile and tender-like. Much easier on the eyes compared to hot pink as far as appeal goes but still cute. Most people associate the color with princesses and baby girls. But I don't want to be that stereotyping asshole again so you get the idea."

Harry smiled. "Ah, I do. And that's me."

"What is?"

"Baby pink. That's what I'm looking for."

Zayn lit up. "That's​ good. That narrows the search down for us. So let's only look for textured comforters that come in baby pink then."

"Yeah." Harry waited patiently until he felt Zayn take his hand again. "By the way," He said quietly. "The way you described the colors made so much sense to me. Thank you."

Zayn pat the back of his hand carefully. "You're welcome."

They continued looking and feeling over the samples until they had finished. By then, Harry had found two that he really liked. Zayn wasn't sure how he didn't get bored and restless, waiting for Harry to choose something but he never did. This was actually quite fun for him.

"So Harry, ruched design or Diamond Chenille?"

"I don't know. I like the way my fingers​ get lost in the ruched comforter. But the Chenille is so soft and I love how easy it is to feel over the pattern. What do you think?"

"I think it's up to you."

"But your opinion matters to me. What do you think?"

He gave in. "Personally, I like the Chenille. And it looks cool in this green color. I bet it would look just as good in pink."

Harry reached out for Zayn's shoulder so he could use him to balance. "So Chenille it is. Now I just need all the information so I can go home an order it online. Can you write it down for me."

Zayn was hesitant as he pulled out his phone and opened it up to the note pad application. "Sure... and not to be rude but how do you suppose you'll order online? I thought you said doing that would be impossible for you."

He stopped leaning on Zayn so he could face him. "If you're thinking what I think you're thinking of, don't be silly, Zayn. I'm obviously not going to do it by myself. I'll get Mindy to do it when she comes over."

"So you're going to wait until Saturday?"

"Yeah. I'm in no rush. Besides, Liam is coming over to cut my grass that day, so I'll be just fine."

Zayn typed in all the information he needed and saved it.

"Okay then. It's saved. Ready for me to lead you out?"

"Yep."

Zayn took hold of him again and just before leaving out, he sniffed the air once more. It still smelled like raisins and yes, he was still wondering how Harry noticed it. When they were back in the car, Zayn turned on the engine and let the air conditioner run.

"Before we start moving, I was just wondering if you want anything to eat before I take you home."

"Dinner?"

"Yes. Only if you don't mind me taking you to dinner of course."

"Well-"

"Or... Not taking you to dinner." He quickly said. "I shouldn't say it like that. I just mean go have a bite to eat together. Dinner. But as friends."

Harry was quiet for a moment. "Sure."

Zayn was good about containing his excitement but inside, he was clearly jumping for joy. Eating food together was always a good way to learn about someone. This was his way. "Okay. Where do you want to go?"

"Um... You're giving me the choice?"

"Yeah, is something wrong with that?"

"No it's not. It's just this is our first time really hanging out in a friends type of way. I didn't expect you to yield to me this soon. It's not because I'm blind, is it?"

"No. Not at all. I just thought it would be nice to give you the choice since you are my guest today. It's only common courtesy. So where do you want to eat?"

Harry put his seat belt on and smiled. "Oh. Well, there's this restaurant called Village Grill that Mindy takes me to all the time. How about there?"

He shrugged. "Sounds good to me. Why not."

He knew that Harry wouldn't be able to tell him how to get there, so he quickly pulled up the directions on his phone and let the GPS create a route for him. Then he put the gear in drive and they were off.

* * *

As Zayn and Harry were being led to a table, Zayn noticed how the name Village Grill had fit the place so well. Or maybe it was that the place fit the name so well. Either way, the place and name went perfectly together because the inside of the restaurant had that small village feel. And it was clean, so that was especially a plus.

He helped Harry sit down when they reached their table and he sat down across from him. The hostess informed them their waiter would be there soon, so Zayn figured he might as well start up a conversation while they waited.

"It smells so good in here, doesn't it?"

"Yeah it does."

"For some reason, I don't remember this restaurant. How long has this place been here?"

"Mindy told me about three years. So not long."

"Ah. Well that explains why I haven't seen it before."

Harry twisted his head sideways. "I don't understand though. You're from this area, right?"

"Yes. I am."

"But you don't know this place?"

"No. I wasn't always here. I was actually away at college."

"That's cool."

Zayn shook his head even though Harry couldn't see. "Not exactly. Some really disappointing things happened while I was there. So I just quit and came back home a few months ago."

"Oh." Harry said sadly.

"Harry Edward Styles and... What? No Mindy today?"

Zayn's attention was taken to see their waiter had arrived there. Besides his brunette hair, which was partially covered with a red Village Grill hat, Zayn noticed he had the bubbliest, brightest personality he might have ever seen. He also seemed to be around Zayn's age. Zayn was already entertained by him and he also felt much more comfortable knowing Harry knew him.

"Hello, Vile." Harry said.

"Ha.... Ha." The man said. "I was just about to compliment you on finally getting a date again and this is how you treat me? By calling me out of my name?" He fake gasped at the same time Harry gasped for real.

"Um no. Please. Stop it. He's not my-"

"What's up bro? My name's Niall Horan or as this one likes to call me, Vile Horan."

Zayn laughed an bumped fists with him. "What's up? My name is Zayn."

"Damn. He's even got a smooth voice. I see what you did there, Harry."

"Niall, please stop it." Harry tried.

"So how'd you two meet?"

"Uhm... He's my next door neighbor." Zayn answered with some apprehension.

"Aw, that's cute. You can even go over there​ at night. Be honest, have you?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "You have, haven't you?"

"What? No."

"He's not my boyfriend, Niall." Harry finally said to keep it from going on any longer.

Niall paused. "Huh?"

"We're not dating. He's just a friend."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Niall's whole demeanor changed. "Aw man. I was happy for you for a split second." Then he looked at Zayn. "I'm sorry, bro. I should've never assumed. Are we cool?"

Zayn nodded. He didn't fully understand why he wasn't embarrassed by what had just taken place but he felt that it was likely because he was so busy wondering if Harry was alright that he didn't have time to worry about himself. "Yes. We're cool."

"Good. So what can I get you two friends to drink?"

"Just water." Harry mumbled.

"And I saw a sign for peach tea on the way in. Let's go with that."

Niall wrote it down and stuffed​ the pad and pen in his half apron. "Alright. Harry, I know you'll be getting your usual but Zayn, I'll give you a moment to look over your menu, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks."

Niall left the table and Harry leaned on his elbow.

"So how do you know Niall?" Zayn asked.

"He's Liam's obnoxious step brother."

"Are you two friends?"

"No. The only time I talk to him is when we come here. And that's because Mindy always makes me. But I think he plays too much."

Zayn laughed. "More like assumes too much."

"That too."

"Is he anything like Liam?"

"No he's not like Liam at all. Liam is quiet and reserved. Which is odd for a guy whose father owns this little restaurant and another one like it two cities over."

"Liam's father owns this restaurant?"

"Yes."

"So his father is actually Niall's step-father then."

"Right. Liam's father married Niall's mother."

"Makes sense."

"Well, you know... You can always come by on Saturday when Liam comes by to cut the grass. As a matter of fact, I would love for you to meet him. You'll love him."

Zayn was skeptical. "Um... I don't know."

"Yes. Please? And you don't have an excuse because all you have to do is walk next door. Unless you're intimidated about meeting him. You're not, are you?"

Zayn narrowed his eyes at him. He was well aware that Harry was purposely challenging him with that question. But he didn't want to make him think he was intimidated, either. "No, I'm not afraid to meet people. Of course I'll be there."

"Alright then." Harry grinned and sat up. He seemed to have forgotten all about getting embarrassed. "So Zayn. I can't help but to keep constantly thinking about the way you described the different color pinks to me earlier today."

"Really? Why?"