Home Is Where The Heart Is

Zayn's call woke Harry up with a jolt. Groggy and disoriented, he fumbled for the phone under his pillow for two whole minutes before he could answer. "Haz you sleeping?" Harry hadn't spoken to Zayn Malik in a long time. They had been best friends once and now they barely managed to keep in touch. Sometimes they would exchange a couple of messages or at the most a handshake at formal occasions. He couldn't remember the last time they had had a conversation. "I was. What's up Zee?" Harry sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep off his eyes. If he was calling, it must be important. "Its Tommo's mum." Zayn blew out an audible breath. "She passed away a couple of hours back." Harry's mind blanked out for a minute and when he could register Zayn's words, his mind flew to Ally. It was odd. He should have thought of Louis or even his mum who had been best friends with Jay. But he knew that his ex girlfriend would be devastated. Louis' family had been everything to her. Although nobody really knew where she was. "You there Harry?" "Yeah.... Zayn I'm in LA. It'll take me time to fly down to London." Phone in hand, he jumped outof bed and started putting on his clothes. Jay had been sick since July. He should have been to see her when Louis' sister, Lottie had called last week to tell him that she was getting worse. He'd been caught up in work and when his mum had called him a couple of days back, he'd promised her that he'd go back during the weekend. The weekend wasn't there yet but Jay was gone. Harry felt sick to the stomach with guilt. "I'm in LA too," Zayn said. "I want to go too." "Of course you'll go," Harry replied. "She was like a mum to all of us and Louis would want us there. Why don't you meet me at LAX and we'll take the same flight?" Zayn sniggered. "That would piss our agents off so bad." "About fucking time." "Lets keep it quiet though yeah?" Zayn paused and then added, "Don't want any flashes going off in my face." Harry had heard about his anxiety but they hadn'tspoken about it yet and he didn't think this was the right time to bring it up. "Okay. So LAX in half an hour alright?" "Right." "Ummm... Zayn listen, do you know if anyone has spoken to Allison about this?" "I think Niall's been trying to track her down mate." "Okay." Harry disconnected the call, not really sure what to do next. He had to call home and let his mum know. But he ended up calling his elder sister, Gemma instead. "Gems, I got some bad news." The words rushed out of his mouth. Gemma gasped. "Oh no, Harry! Is it Jay?" Thats when it sunk in for him. Johanna had been a great person and like a mother to all of them in the band. He still remembered that day in the Syco office when the One Direction had officially been announced. She had huddled all six of them in the stairs and made them sit still for a photo, saying that one day they'll be famous and she'd still be the one to take the first picture of them together. She'd been so proud, not only of her son but of all their achievements. She'd thrown Harry a party when he'd signed his movie deal. She'd hosted a dinner for Zayn to celebrate his album inspite of their management saying a vehement no. "It is, isn't it?" Gemma said from the other end of the line. "Yeah. Will you tell mum?" She sniffed. "She'll be so upset." "I know Gems." Harry sighed. "I'm so sorry I'm not there but I'm trying to fly back as soon as I can." "Oh God Harry!" Gemma said suddenly, her voice rising. "Who's telling Ally? This will break her heart. You have to track her down somehow." Harry's heart slammed into his chest at the mention of Ally's name. "Have you ever considered that she doesn't want anything to do with any of us?" "Don't be a mean twat, Harry! Jay was like a mum to her..." "Jay was like a mum to all of us Gemma." Harry had always felt a little disgruntled at how his own sister always ended up taking Ally's side. "You all have mums Harry. She lost hers at 9. It's not the same thing." The guilt that he had been feeling rose up to his chest. "Niall is tracking her down okay?" "Be careful on your flight Harry. I love you." "Give mum a kiss for me." As Harry sat in the cab for the airport, his mind drifted off to his relationship with Ally. She'd been such an important part of his life and now he didn't even know where or how she was. He only hoped Niall found her because she wouldn't forgive herself if she could not pay her last respects to Jay.

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