Harry was actually very quiet on the drive there. So it gave Zayn a lot of time to think about where they were going and who they were seeing. Maitea said there would be about seven of them there altogether. Obviously he didn't know any of Maitea's friends so he was slightly nervous about meeting them but he was so glad that Louis was going to be there. Louis always had a way with lightening up the mood.

"We're here." Zayn announced as he pulled over to the curb.

"We are?"

"Mhm." He turned off the engine and realized he had parked behind Louis' car. And he was relieved that his friend was here first.

"Are you ready, Ace?"

"Yeah."

"Me too."

Zayn got out of the car and by the time he came around, Harry was already out. Harry had felt for his elbow and tried to lock his with his own but Zayn stopped him.

"Wait."

"Huh?"

He put his hands on his shoulders. "I know you're nervous and I know you want to make a good first impression. So do I. But I'm here. If you feel uncomfortable at any time, just let me know."

He nodded. "Okay."

"And... and one more thing."

"What?"

It was quiet until he felt Zayn meet his body, front to front and put a hand behind his head.

"What are you doing?" He whispered.

Zayn didn't say anything. Instead, he met his lips with Harry's in a slow kiss. Harry gasped but kissed back anyway and when he did, Zayn gradually intensified it until they were fully making out, tongue clashing against tongue. When Zayn stopped the kiss, Harry looked shocked.

"I don't know what that was for. What was that for?"

"Because I think it's time to introduce you as my boyfriend."

It took Harry a moment to realize what was just said to him but when he did, he cheesed hard. "Then what are we waiting for? Come on."

Zayn chuckled and Harry took his elbow. They walked up to the door and Zayn rang the doorbell. He was very nervous about meeting Maitea's friends but he knew she was excited that he was coming. Hopefully her friends liked him as much as she did.

It was Maitea who opened the door.

"Zayn. You made it."

"Yep."

"And I see you brought your friend."

He looked at Harry and smiled at him. "Yes. This is my boyfriend, Harry Styles. Harry, meet Maitea Juarez."

She was taken back that he had introduced Harry as the B word but she didn't want to be rude. So she stuck her hand out. "Um... hi. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too."

Zayn softly reached for her hand and put it down. Then he shook his head. "He's blind." He mouthed.

"Oh... I'm sorry..."

"It's okay."

"Well, you two can come on in and make yourself comfortable. Louis, Tasha and Audrey are already here. Senona is bringing two others."

"Alright then. Sounds good."

They went on inside and were led into the living room. "When they got there, Louis stood up quickly from the couch from where he had been sitting next to Tasha.

"You made it. Finally."

"Yes, I know I'm late. We had a bit of a delay."

"Traffic?"

"No. Just a delay. However, we made it and I have someone I want you to meet."

"Okay..." Louis said skeptically.

Zayn inhaled and exhaled. He'd been trying to keep them from meeting each other for a long time. Now he was finally introducing them. "Harry, this is Louis Tomlinson, my best friend. And Louis this is Harry Styles, my boyfriend."

Louis' eyes got bigger and he pointed to him as he asked Zayn with his eyes.

Zayn gave him a simple nod and grinned. "Oh. Wow. It's good to finally meet you." Initially he stuck out his hand but then he shook his head at himself and he reached out and took Harry's hand to shake.

"I have heard nothing but good things about you."

"Same to you. I know you're an old friend of Zayn's from high school."

"I am."

"That's cool. Zayn has talked about you a couple times before."

"Oh really? And what did he say?"

"Just that he's happy you two are in touch again. And I can tell that he is."

"Ah. I see."

Zayn noticed Louis give him a look and he cleared his throat. "Harry why don't you have a seat next to one of Maitea's friends. Louis and I are going to go take a brief walk."

"Okay."

Zayn led him over to the couch and sat him down next to Tasha. And then he and Louis went outside.

"Why'd you give me that look?" Zayn asked.

"Because I'm curious."

"About?"

"How you two came to be, of course. The last time I saw you, you were single and hesitant about making a move. Now you show up with him on your arm. I want to know what happened."

He chuckled. "The color green happened."

"Huh?"

"We went out on a park date that wasn't actually a park date. I was teaching him the color green. And we kissed."

"Wow. And what was it like kissing a blind man?"

"It was pretty normal, Lou. Just because he can't see, it doesn't mean his lips don't work."

"True. I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"But still. You're likely the only one of us who'll ever kiss another man. I wanna know how it is. Friend to friend."

"Let's just say his lips are as soft and sweet as he is."

"Weird."

"I figured you'd say that. But that's why he's my boyfriend and not yours." He pat Louis on the shoulder and headed back in the house.

But Louis stayed true. "Still weird."

* * *

Dinner and meeting Maitea's friends and family actually went over very well. But no matter how weird Louis thought it was to see his best friend into a boy, it was watching the movie in the living room with everyone that was the best part. Because when the lights were off, he could be as into Harry as he wanted to be. It wasn't just them on the couch. A couple others were there too. But Zayn still pulled Harry on him to cuddle while he watched the movie.

"I think it's a good thing you really can't know the difference between dark and light." He whispered to Harry.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because if you did, you would understand how much different it is to watch a scary movie in the light vs the dark. Dark is scarier." He whispered.

Harry smiled. "I may not know the difference but it's still scary not knowing what's going on fully. I hear screaming and heavy breathing, but I'm still not sure what's happening to the girl. I'm glad it's just a movie."

"Yeah."

Harry hummed, then grasped his chin. He was trying to face him directly, but he wasn't exactly on target since he couldn't see him. "Are you really scared?"

"No. Not that much. I've seen this before but it's been a while and I've forgotten everything that happened. "

"That's too bad. I thought I might need to give kisses of comfort. After all, I am your boyfriend now. So many more opportunities have been opened to you."

Zayn's chest was tingling at the thought that Harry finally identified himself as his boyfriend. "That sounds interesting and exciting."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yes."

Harry dropped his hand from his chin and lay on his shoulder again. So Zayn pushed his hand through Harry's hair. But he felt someone was looking at him and his first thought was to look in Louis' direction. Sure enough, Louis was definitely watching them but he quickly turned away as if he hadn't.

Zayn knew he caught him red-handed but he chose not to point it out and turned his attention to the movie again. But just because he didn't mention it, it didn't mean he wasn't still thinking about Louis. Because he was. He felt that even if he had nothing against him dating Harry, he still must've felt confused and uncomfortable because he didn't understand how things had gotten this way. Louis was Zayn's best friend and he had no idea Zayn could ever feel this way about another man until he sprang it on him in a store one day. Knowing him, he was probably wondering just how much he really missed when Zayn was away at college and not communicating with him anymore. So he kept getting the feeling that there may be a need for coffee and catching up with him once again.

➡️➡️➡️

Harry sat on the foot of his bed and kicked off his shoes.

"Well, I've never had Chilaquiles before but I have to say it is one delicious dish. Took me a bit to learn how to eat it but once I did, I enjoyed it."

Zayn was only standing in the doorway. Even though he had come in and helped him get dressed earlier, it just did not feel right walking in without officially being invited in.

"Me too. But I had eaten so much that when Maitea's mother wanted me to take some to-go, I had to decline because I felt guilty."

"Tell me about it. I had the same feeling." But then he furrowed his brow. "Why are you still out there?"

"Huh?"

"You're over there like you're afraid to be near me or something."

Zayn was fighting for words now. "Oh no. I... Um no."

"It's okay. You can come in. I won't bite."

He slowly stood up off the wall, then came on into the room. "Thanks."

"Mhm."

He sat on the bed next to Harry and placed his hands in his lap.

"You seem full of thought, Zayn. What's on your mind?"

"Not gonna lie, I really want a cigarette right now. This is usually the time of night I go outside and smoke one."

"Oh, Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Shall we play another game of hide and seek then?"

"This late at night?"

"If you want."

He shook his head even though Harry couldn't see. "I honestly should be headed back home."

"Home? You have to work tomorrow?"

"No."

"Then stay over."

"Stay over? Like spend the night?"

"Sure."

"That's a nice invitation but why would I do that and inconvenience you when I have a perfectly comfortable bed right next door?"

"Because you wouldn't be inconveniencing me. And also my bed is comfortable too. But I don't have to tell you that because you already know that. You napped here once."

He chuckled. "True. But I sleep in my underwear. Remember?"

"I didn't forget."

Zayn was speechless, so he just laughed to divert.

But Harry fell back on the bed and pulled Zayn down with him. He reached over to his side and up his chest until he came to his neck, then he put his thumb over Zayn's lip for placement. Once he found them, he leaned over and he kissed him. Zayn returned it easily and for as long as Harry wanted to, then sighed in satisfaction when it ended.

He was expecting to lie there longer with him but Harry got up from the bed and put his sunglasses away. Then without warning, he just began to get undressed right in front of him. Much like earlier today, Zayn watched him quietly and didn't say a word. There he was with his smooth skin again. So beautiful and bright under the room light. It was a shame Harry would never see it. A real shame.

Before Zayn knew it, Harry was fully undressed and in nothing but his underwear and he was getting under the covers. "Well aren't you going to get undressed too?"

He was taken out of his trance. "Uh... you mean in my underwear like you?"

"Isn't that how you sleep?"

"Yes."

"Okay then."

Zayn only stared at him, but after a moment, he went out of the room and then next door for his toothbrush and a change of clothes. Then when he came back, he too began to get undressed. He folded his clothes nicely and placed them on the dresser before turning off the lights in the house and climbing in bed with Harry.

Just as he put an arm up and behind his head, Harry moved closer to him, shoved his face in his neck and put a hand on his bare chest. Zayn held his breath for a while because it was so foreign to him. But then he gradually began to calm when Harry used that same hand to gently rub over his skin soothingly.

"Are you alright?" Harry questioned.

"Yes. You?"

"Mhm."

Harry planted one last kiss on his neck and from there, Zayn just couldn't stop smiling. This was so different from what he knew. Not that he never slept beside anyone like this before. He did do this with Heidi many, many times prior. But what made this special was that this was a type of intimacy that was about more than just lying shirtless with somone else. This was intimacy that seemed almost required in a way. As if they could never be Zayn and Harry without it.

He was sure it had a lot to do with the fact that he knew skin contact was vital for Harry since he was blind and needed to feel things and be up close and personal. But he himself didn't need it and yet, he still loved it. He loved it so much that he kept getting a tightness in his chest as if he were suffocating on the feeling. This boy here had the ability to make him feel a lot of emotions but also make him comfortable with feeling them. He didn't understand how Harry did it. But it was so wonderful to be the one getting to experience it.

➡️➡️➡️

The next day when Zayn woke up, he was initially frightened because he forgot he stayed with Harry. But then he remembered where he was and how close they were together last night and he smiled. Only that smile faded when he realized Harry was already awake and out of bed. Well it was good while it lasted.

No longer wanting to lie in Harry's bed without him present, he got up and went to the bathroom. He used the toilet and then came out to get his clothes from the dresser when he heard a noise in the kitchen. Was Harry cooking? It sounded like it. This might be his opportunity find out how Harry did it. He'd been trying to see how he prepared his meals ever since he met him.

Knowing he wanted to kiss him good morning, he rushed to the bathroom to brush his teeth. When he was done, he tiptoed outside the room and down the hallway. After peeking into the kitchen, he found that he was right. There Harry was and he was carefully cracking eggs over into a bowl.

He slowly sneaked up behind him until he reached him and then grabbed him around the waist. Harry gasped in shock but Zayn calmed him right away.

"Relax. It's me."

"Zayn. You scared me. How did you even sneak up on me. I can usually hear you."

"That's what happens when you let your guard down. I only spent one night and you're already getting too comfortable with me here."

Harry mumbled a laugh and wiped his hands on a wet rag that he had lying on the counter. "Well, I was going to put these in the refrigerator and wait for you to get up but since you're up, breakfast will be made."

"And I'd like to watch."

"Why? Because it fascinates you?"

"Yes. You fascinate me all the time."

"Ha." He said. But he couldn't resist when he was being turned around and pulled into him. When he put a hand on Zayn's shoulder and felt skin, he frowned. "Are you still undressed?"

"Yes."

"Well you better hurry up and go change."

Zayn looked into his eyes. They were a dull gray but they were still more sincere than even the brightest eyes he'd ever seen. "Are you trying to get rid of me so I can't watch you cook?"

"No. I'm not." He giggled when Zayn squeezed him tighter. "I'm serious."

"Me too."

"Zayn. You're gonna get caught."

"By whom?"

Harry had no answer because he was finally been pulled in for that good morning kiss. Just as he relaxed into it, someone cleared their throat from behind. They jerked apart and Zayn faced the doorway. He was shocked to see Mindy there.

"Mindy." He said and he didn't know what to do because he was just there in his underwear, out in the open and exposed.

"Am I interrupting?" She asked and her face was even redder than Zayn's.

"No, no. Um... we were just..."

"Making out in the kitchen?"

"Ah... I'm really sorry." He scurried on past her out of the kitchen and went to get dressed.

She just looked at Harry with a look of shock on her face.

"I didn't even hear you come out of the bathroom." He told her.

"That's because I didn't push the door all the way closed when I went in. I didn't use the bathroom. I just needed to straighten something out."

"Oh."

"So... how long have you two been seeing each other in that way?"

"Since yesterday."

"Yesterday? Okay, I know it's new but I have to say that kiss did not look like this was something that just started yesterday."

"Well... we kissed in the park the day Zayn taught me about the color green. But it's been here and there since then. It wasn't official until last night. And no. We didn't sleep together. Well, we did sleep together but not like that. It was more like sleeping next to each other in the same bed."

"I understand."

He swallowed a lump in his throat. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"Because I didn't tell you about us." He answered shyly.

She walked all the way in. "No. Don't apologize. Telling me is not something you have to do. Ultimately it is your decision and I can't make you or get mad when you don't, even if I am your friend. However, now that I know, I think it's pretty amazing the way things work out."

"What do you mean? How do they work out?"

"In wonderful ways." She said.

"So you're not upset?"

"No. Far from it. If anything, I'm just curious. It's quite a pleasant surprise to find him standing in your kitchen and showing that sort of interest in you."

"Yeah, I know. And if you're looking for an explanation as to why he was only in his underwear, that's just how he sleeps."

"Just like how you sleep."

Harry chuckled. "Yep."

She smiled at him. "Well, I'm happy for you. I really like Zayn a lot and I appreciate what he's doing for you. So if you are going to start dating again, I would rather it be someone like him."

Harry had smiled big and the worry on his face had vanished. "Thanks, Mindy."

"You're welcome."

He turned to start cooking again and she hummed to herself as she exited the kitchen. This was an unexpected surprise for her but at the same time, it felt like a sign. She had been holding off until the right moment and that moment felt like it was finally here. Her wedding was just four months away now. Telling Harry what her plans were was of major importance.

While she sat on the couch in the living room, she thought about when she wanted to tell him and how she wanted to tell him. Whenever she decided to do it, she knew it needed to be between the two of them and sometime after Zayn left for the day. That way she could approach it in the right way without hurting him. Gosh, that was going to be the hardest thing she would ever have to tell Harry. But she hoped she ended up explaining it the right way so that both parties came away from it with a mutual understanding and a calm heart.