"I'm too depressed to go to school." Harry whined to one of the house maids that stopped by to wake him up.

"Your mother insisted I come up here and make sure you're awake, master Styles. She'll be angry if you don't go." The maid said.

"Yeah because me being here bothers her so much. I could scream my head off and she wouldn't be able to hear me from all the way in her office in the east wing." Harry muttered.

He eventually sighed. "Whatever. Leave me be."

She left, and Harry rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling.

Louis was in Italy, so Harry had been alone all weekend.

His mother was busy all the time anyway, and usually Harry wouldn't care.

But this weekend he sort of wished she could've spent some time with him since Louis wasn't around.

A majority of Harry's happiness depended on Louis.

He knew that wasn't safe or smart, but he couldn't help it.

Harry sat up, dragging himself out of bed and going over to one of the windows in his room.

He had a perfect view of their back yard and the large garden from this window.

He always liked the view, but this morning it all looked so dull because of the clouds and rain.

Harry really didn't want to go to school today.

He hated having to drive himself, and go to school without a kiss goodbye.

Harry shuffled over and got his phone, sending Louis a message telling him how much he missed him.

He sighed again as one of his tears fell on his phone screen, wiping it off using his shirt.

Harry put his phone down, wiping his eyes and going over to his closet.

Today he chose to wear the Saint Laurent coat Louis bought him along with his usual button up shirt and black skinny jeans, choosing black boots this time.

He put on all of his jewelry next, fixing his hair and adding a dash of expensive cologne to both sides of his neck.

Harry glanced at himself in the mirror, gathering his phone and bag and leaving his bedroom.

Harry never truly looked at himself in the mirror.

He only glanced.

Harry walked out to the garage, biting his lip as he looked over his cars and tried to decide which one he wanted to drive today.

The Audi was his favorite, but he was feeling more Lamborghini today.

His stomach growled as he got in, and he then decided to stop at Starbucks for breakfast on the way to school.

×

×

×

That afternoon in math, they had a quiz.

During it, Harry wrote all the answers down on a slip of paper and slid it onto Zayn's desk.

"I'm sorry about Friday." He whispered, holding eye contact before turning back around.

Zayn looked down at the paper, wanting to rip it up.

He didn't need Harry's help, of all people.

However, Zayn figured it wasn't like he had anything to lose here.

So, he used the answers Harry gave him.

After the teacher took up their quizzes and gave them book work to do while he graded them, Harry turned to Zayn.

"Um, are we cool again?"

Zayn stared at him, honestly too tired to be an asshole right now.

"Yeah, forget it."

Harry smiled. "Great. So did you use those answers?"

"Maybe, why?" Zayn asked, not trusting him.

"Just wondering. I wanted to help." Harry shrugged.

"D'you want the answers for this?" Harry asked referring to the book work.

Zayn shook his head no, going back to his drawing.

But he couldn't continue because Harry was staring at him.

Zayn stopped, slowly lifting his head and staring back at him. "Can I help you?"

"Sorry, you're just really good. I can't draw for shit." Harry said.

"You mentioned that." Zayn said flatly.

"Sorry, bad habit." Harry said without thinking.

Zayn blinked, staring at him again.

Bad habit?

"Um, but yeah. That looks cool." Harry said before he turned back around.

Zayn didn't think too much about it, rolling his eyes before he went back to drawing.

×

×

×

"Sometimes I miss elementary school." Niall sighed that afternoon while he and Zayn were stuck in school traffic.

"Why?" Zayn asked quietly, staring out the window at the rain.

He hated riding the bus on days like this because the combined smell of a bunch of damp people ended up smelling like a mix of wet dog and ass.

Thank God for Niall and his license.

Zayn would've taken classes to get his license too, but he felt it was pointless because he didn't have a car to drive.

"Zayn?"

"What?" He asked, snapping out of his thoughts.

"Were you listening?" Niall chuckled.

"Sorry, say it again." Zayn said, making sure to pay attention this time.

"I said because I miss recess. Playing, innocence, happiness." Niall shrugged.

"Oh, yeah. I guess." Zayn said.

"You guess?" Niall chuckled.

"I mean...elementary school wasn't the best for me. It was better than this but it wasn't anything spectacular." Zayn said.

"I didn't know all that I know now, which is sort of nice and not nice. I miss not knowing how to stress over stuff, and be anxious. I miss being getting excited, and believing in stuff." Zayn said.

"I remember when I was a kid I spent all my time in my room alone with my toys. My imagination kept me occupied, I didn't need other kids. That was the best. Playing all day and not having a care in the world. It was beautiful, really."

Niall stared at him. "Why do you have to make everything so deep?" He chuckled.

"Sorry, can't help it." Zayn said with a slight smile.

"In conclusion, I agree. I miss elementary school too." He said.

"Hey, do you have rehearsal this week?" Niall asked.

Zayn shook his head. "We don't rehearse again until the end of the month."

"Oh, cool." Niall nodded.

"I know." Zayn smiled, relieved about that.

Niall bit his lip, tapping his thumbs against the wheel.

"Um, do you want me to take you straight home or...do you maybe want to go get something to eat?" Niall asked, blushing.

He couldn't breathe without blushing, and he hated it.

Zayn looked at him. "Where?"

Niall shrugged. "Wherever. I'll pay."

"Okay, sure. It's not like I was going to do my homework anyway." Zayn chuckled.

Niall smiled, staring forward at the road.

Zayn licked his lips. "I got a 98 on my math quiz today."

Niall slammed on breaks, almost flinging Zayn because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

"Seriously?" Niall gasped, looking at him.

"Niall drive! Before we get rear ended!" Zayn snapped, looking behind them with fear.

"Oh, right. Sorry." Niall said, pressing the gas.

"B-But a 98? Zayn that's incredible, I'm really proud of you."

"Don't be. Harry gave me the answers." Zayn said.

Niall frowned. "He did? Why?"

"He's determined for me to like him, I guess." Zayn shrugged.

"Are you going to keep taking answers from him?" Niall asked.

Zayn thought for a moment. "If I do and can get my math grade up far enough, I can quit the play."

"Holy shit Niall, this is perfect. I can quit the play!" Zayn said excitedly.

"But why do you think Harry wants you to like him?" Niall frowned.

"Because he just has a thing where everyone has to like him. Most attention whores do." Zayn said.

"Which is okay with me, the more he wants me to like him, the more answers he gives me and the more my grade goes up. Niall if I can get out of this performance, you have no idea how happy I'll be. I'm talking like kiss a stranger happy." Zayn said.

"Or maybe kiss a close friend." Niall mumbled.

"What?" Zayn asked him.

"What?" Niall echoed, glancing at him nervously.

"Nothing, just thought you said something." Zayn said, looking out the window again.

He began to think his plan over again, smiling to himself.