"Hello?" Zayn heard Harry say into the speaker.

"It's Zayn."

"Oh. Okay. Hold on."

After he heard the click of the intercom, the door unlocked and opened.

Zayn walked right in and held his hands out. "I'm done." He said with a smile.

When Harry got a whiff of the smell on Zayn, he went into a fit of coughs. It took a moment to stop and control himself but finally he did. "Wow, did you just finish smoking or something?" He asked as he closed and locked the door.

"I did."

"I can tell. Don't you usually wait until after you leave here to do that stuff?"

"Yeah but that's the thing. I woke up, I went to work with my dad and as I was standing outside during lunch today, I realized that I don't want to do this anymore. I finally understand how it works."

"How what works?"

"This whole smoking routine. This is the first time I have been forced to pick and choose when to smoke because I didn't have a choice. I can see why you did this and I know how it works. Clearly, I'm supposed to get so frustrated with rationing every week that I decide quitting altogether is better. This time I'm quitting for good and I just smoked my last cigarette."

Harry folded his arms as he listened. "You do know it's not as easy as saying it, don't you? Well, I know you know because you tried once before. But now you're sure you want to quit. So what's your reason this time? What's your motivation not to give up?"

"You."

"Me? Why me?"

"For starters, because you cough like a maniac whenever you come near the smell of smoke." He chuckled out. "And also, if we're taking our time and progressing to something more, then what kind of... partner would I be to you if I kept smoking around you even when I know it bothers you?"

Harry just tilted his head and thought about it. "Okay. I see your point."

"Good. Plus I'm just ready to get it over with for myself as well. I know about the withdrawal symptoms because I had them the first time I tried to quit. But the difference is I think I'm more mentally ready this time. I'm going to do it for real. That's what I wrote down, isn't it? That I will stop smoking."

"It is."

"Right. So then why wait?"

"I don't know."

"Exactly. Me either." He leaned forward and he encased Harry in the tightest hug he could give him without hurting him. "I know when I'm all done that it will be worth it. But it wouldn't even have been a thing I ever truly wanted if it wasn't for you. So thank you."

Harry settled into his touch. "You're welcome."

"Hello, Zayn."

Zayn hurried up and let go of him to put his hands behind his back. "Mindy? What– What are you doing here? I mean. Not what are you doing here. You're here to see Harry, obviously. I just didn't see your car outside."

She chuckled. "Yeah, Liam took it and went to buy a watermelon. They're finally back in stores now."

"Oh. Then I'm just going to go home."

Just as he reached for the doorknob, Mindy stopped him. "Wait. You like watermelon, right?" She asked.

"Um sure."

"Then stay and have some with us. We don't mind. Plus we can all get to know you more. Liam hasn't really had the chance to talk with you like we have."

"That sounds like a good idea." Harry chimed. "All of us, just hanging out as friends, right Zayn?" Harry asked.

Zayn paused and looked at him. Harry just made it a point to tell him they'd only be here as friends. He must've known Zayn was worried that he had told Mindy more than he wanted her to know. Not that he was embarrassed about what happened with Harry because he wasn't. He just didn't know what Mindy would think of him if she knew he kissed Harry but hadn't decided to go any further just yet. She might've thought he was just playing with Harry's heart.

"Alright then. I'll stay. That sounds good."

She smiled. "Come on, Harry. Let's go. That hair is not going to finish brushing itself."

At her command, Harry carefully made his way to the living room and sat down on the floor in his favorite spot in front of the couch. Mindy positioned herself on the couch behind him so that he was in between her legs and then picked up the brush.

"I had no idea you were coming over today. Or else I'd have waited." She said.

"That's okay." Zayn replied as he plopped down on the couch. "I don't care. Watching you brush his hair is cool, I guess."

"If you think that's cool, wait till I'm done. It'll be all fluffy and puffy. He'll look so adorable."

"But to me, it feels weird to touch." Harry countered.

"That's all in your head. So while you imagine things, we're going to continue to brush through it to make sure it doesn't get matted up."

"Of course, ma'am ." He said with a grin. "See how she thinks she's my mother, Zayn?"

"No I don't. But I do help you take care of yourself. I am your caregiver and I manage your finances. I'm more like your loving sister."

He shrugged. "Eh, I guess you're right about that."

"So what have you two been up to?" She asked, changing the subject on to something new. "I heard you guys went picnicking and learned about the color green."

"We did." Zayn answered.

"How was it?"

"It was good."

"The whole time? How were the people? Sometimes they tend to give Harry funny looks as if they've never seen a blind person before."

He shook his head. "They were fine too although we were away from most of them. We mostly just sat down and ate and enjoyed the breeze. No one bothered us at all."

She seemed surprised. "Wow. That's good then."

"Oh yeah." Harry piped up. "And I forgot to tell you Zayn took me around to different flowers around the park and let me smell them. It was all supposed to be part of us enjoying nature since Green is the color of nature. Did you know that? Did you know green is the color of nature?"

"Based on what I see around me every day, that makes sense. And that's nice that he did that. Zayn is pretty good to you, huh?"

"Yeah."

"I'm glad you two had fun."

"Me too."

As Mindy returned to brushing Harry's hair, Zayn watched her carefully. She would just pull his hair into sections and brush each one of them one at a time, making sure it was tangle free. For some reason, Zayn kept getting the urge to want to push her away from him and do it himself. What would it be like to play in his hair anyway? Well, it would probably be weird. And not only that, it might cause Mindy to suspect something he wasn't ready for her to suspect yet. So he kept his odd thoughts as just that.

By the time she was done, Harry's hair was fluffy and more beautiful than Zayn had ever seen it before. And Mindy was right. He did look adorable.

"Do you want a ponytail or do you want it free flowing?"

"Ponytail."

"Okay."

She took a rubber band and tied his hair up quickly. "There. All done.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be right back." She got up and went out of the living room and Zayn saw that as an opportunity to slide down to the floor and sit next to Harry.

"I didn't know Mindy and Liam were going to be here today." He said. "It caught me off guard when I saw her."

"I know. We decided she should come today since she didn't get to come on Saturday when we went to the park. There were some things I needed to get done and she had to drive me."

"Did you get them done?"

"Yep."

"Good." He pulled his knees up to his chest. "Your ponytail is nice and all. But I like it better when your hair is free flowing."

"You do?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Just because. No reason at all."

Harry blushed and it was so satisfying seeing his cheeks turn red just underneath his sunglasses. It' was soothing in its own way.

"So... I don't know. About that kissing thing that happened on Saturday..."

"Don't worry. I haven't said anything to Mindy and Liam. I know you don't want me to."

"Do you like keeping it a secret though?"

"Actually, I don't consider it a secret. We're only just waiting until the right time which is when you're ready. Besides, just because you can't kiss me the way I like to be kissed yet, it doesn't mean we can't do other stuff."

"Like holding hands?"

"Sure." He laughed out. "That would be included."

Zayn reached out to grab his hand, just to see what it would be like to hold it in a way that was different from helping him but Mindy came out of the bathroom and he drew away.

"Wonder what's taking Liam so long. He's been gone for twenty minutes already."

Almost as if she had summoned him with those words, Harry's front door opened and in walked Liam. When he saw Zayn, he was pleasantly surprised. And after he put the watermelon down, he even hugged him.

"Zayn, man. Good to see you. You like watermelon?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Have a slice. I also got some chocolate candies if you want some. For some reason, Mindy gets a sweet tooth when she eats watermelon. My fiancee is so weird, I tell ya."

"Shush." She said. "You love me."

"I do. Can't wait to marry you either."

That little conversation left Zayn smiling dopey to himself. They were such a cute couple. They reminded him of what he imagined he could have with Heidi. Now that that was never happening with her, maybe he could have just a small portion of that with someone new who was inching his way in his life.

Mindy quickly got out the appropriate knife and cut slices of the fruit for them. Instead of sitting down, they just stood around the kitchen together and ate them. As they ate, Zayn learned new things about Liam that he hadn't known before. But his most favorite thing was something Liam told him in secret when Mindy stepped out of the room to answer a call. He learned that Liam thought playing the piano for Mindy at their wedding reception would be romantic and he desired to do just that even though he didn't know how to play well yet.

Apparently he had been going off to take piano lessons without her knowledge for two months already. What was so fascinating to him about it was that Liam never struck Zayn as the romantic type. He did see him as kind and sweet but he never thought he would ever bother going the extra mile just to please the woman who already loved him and would soon be called his wife.

After their snack, Mindy put the rest of the watermelon in Harry's refrigerator. "The watermelon will be here on the bottom shelf when you want it, Harry."

"Okay. Thanks."

"You're welcome. Oh, and Harry."

"Yeah?"

"There's something I wanted to ask you but I keep forgetting. So let me ask you right now before I forget again."

"What?"

"Since we already know you're going to be in the wedding, I want to know if you want to walk down the aisle with anyone. If you do and you're not choicy, I could get one of my good trusted friends from work to walk with you."

He thought for a moment before replying. And it was more of a question than an answer. " Are you saying I don't have to?"

"Yes I am. You don't have to walk with anyone if you don't want to. I know you like to do stuff on your own so if you would rather walk by yourself, when we figure out which venue it will be at, we'll need to go there once a week and let you practice counting your steps so you'll know what to do when the day comes."

He felt for the chair at the table and sat down. "No, no. I know I like doing stuff on my own. But I don't want to put so much on you on your wedding day. I don't mind walking with your friend from work. I'm not choicy."

"You're sure?"

"Mhm. I don't mind. Bring on the partner."

She smiled and walked over to him and left a huge kiss on his cheek. "You're the best, Harry. That's why we both love you. Always thinking of others."

Liam nodded. "That's very true. For as long as I've known you, you've been like that. I especially appreciate the way you've looked out for Mindy time after time."

Harry blushed. "Aw. Thanks, guys. I love you too."

As all of this was happening, Zayn was right there at the counter, standing back and watching them. There was so much love here among them. So much respect and warmth. He wondered how he could ever fit here. These three seemed to move on through life with ease and with roughly no setbacks at all. They weren't struggling with addictions or sometimes the proper view of self worth. Life just seemed to flow on by for them.

To anyone else, he didn't really belong here with them. Not even on paper. But somehow it didn't matter to them. Their differences never really made a difference to either of them. This was probably what he had been looking for even when he never knew he was looking for it. A second family. A home away from home. A place to go when times only got harder.

And they certainly were not going to get any easier. Not if he was really serious about making the cigarette he smoked today the last one he'll ever touch.