Until you came (Zarry) /English Version

26. Between two worlds in passing

Louis

The publishing house is breathing down my neck. Harry's way behind with his novel. No wonder he spends all his time with Zayn. I'm pretty sure they have a soft spot for each other.

Today I have an appointment with Harry. He has to give me some chapters and on that occasion I'll check the situation and take a look at his divine neighbour.

Harry

Together with Louis I sit in the garden over my manuscripts.

"Hazza, I want to know what you've been doing the last few weeks. You haven't made any progress. I'm not used to that from you. What's going on? What is it?"

Louis looks serious.

"Ah...I...", I stutter and try to figure out a justification.

"So what is it, Haz? Are you distracted by anything?"

My wife comes along and follows our conversation with interest.

"I don't understand, honey. You have all day, don't you? Why can't you put something down on paper," she says reproachfully.

Why is she actually interfering in this conversation now? After all, I don't criticize her work either.

"Well. Having time is one thing. The other is how you use it. Am I right, Harry?" Louis indirectly agrees with her and smiles gloatingly.

I hope I don't blush. What is this cat-and-mouse game? Does Louis suspect anything?I'm tired of all his stupid questions.

"I just had a little writer's block. Ever heard of it?" I reply.

"Aha, a writer's block, then," my publisher says. 

He's sore and leans back over the paper stack piling up on the table. 

"And when do you think this writer's block will be over and you plan to finish the novel? We have a release date to meet, Harold!"

"You think I don't know that, Lou? You want me to write reams about something totally insignificant to fill blank pages?" 

"How about you just write about your personal experiences, huh? That would certainly fill a lot of pages in your book," it bursts out of him.

This sentence hits me in the mark. Am I mistaken or do I hear sarcasm from his words? Everything he says sounds ambiguous and I immediately associate it with the events of the last day.

"Louis, what do you mean by personal experiences? What are you getting at? I really don't experience anything exciting or criminal in my everyday life," I growl.

"Oh, come on. You can't tell me that your life has nothing exciting to offer."

Taylor sits at the table with her mouth open and her gaze wanders back and forth between me and him.

"Is your life really that boring? I hardly believe that. Still waters run deep, as you know, Hazza. So tell us your secret."

"What is that all about, Louis? Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? Why are you harping on the matter like that?"

Outraged and quite annoyed, I stand up and walk aimlessly through the garden. I can't really assess the situation. What does he know about me and Zayn? Does he know anything at all? After a while I go back to both of them and sit down on my chair again.

"Well, I might be able to help you out," he suddenly says.

My cheeks are blushing. Taylor is squinting  and stares at us in amazement.