Mystery Buyer (L.S)

Six

It was 8am and Louis had just started his shift at the record store. He had stored the box with the frames drawing at the front desk under the counter. He was working alone for the day until 5pm and was expecting Frans company anytime now. The store had had a delivery yesterday that was left for Louis to store away onto the right shelves. He lugged them onto the countertop and cut the tape at the sides to open the box up, checking the different artists and noting where they needed to go and making piles for each shelf. He picked up one of the piles and walked to the needed shelf, packing the CDs in the right place so that it was alphabetical order. He did this with each pile until all three boxes were all set out. Just as he finished the bell above the door jiggled and Fran came in as excited as ever.
"Hey Lou! Sorry I'm later than I thought!"
"Heya, no worries. You haven't missed anything exciting" Louis grabbed a fold up chair from the back room as he spoke offering it to Fran. "We don't have anything comfy I'm sorry" he shrugged letting out a small laugh.
"Don't be silly, I'm not here to be comfy, I'm here to see you! And your little buyer man, obviously... but mainly to see you! Do you need help with anything?"
"No, not at all. Even if I didn't you wouldn't be helping, you nutter! It's your day off."
Fran sat on the fold out chair leaning her elbows against the counter and Louis had his back to the counter leaning against it. Fran was showing him photos of a guy she was speaking to, telling him about how she always seemed to message him first otherwise he doesn't seem interested and Louis replied back with how she shouldn't settle for someone who doesn't treat her like the world.
"I mean, we can't all date someone like you Louis. You'd be first on my list if you were straight!"
Louis blushed, "Oh stop it, you don't mean that" he looked away, trying to hide his face slightly. Fran was just giggling at his embarrassment
"Its true Lou!" she said back to him, noticing his shyness and going back to her phone. "So what time is Mr Harry coming?"
Louis shrugged, turning to look behind him at the clock on the wall.
"It's only 11 and I told him I was here all day so I guess anytime.."
-
It was almost 1pm and Harry still hadn't turned up.
"Maybe it was a joke?" Louis mumbled. He was sat on the desk while Fran was sat on the chair still.
"Don't be silly, even if he isn't coming, he's still paid you! So you've won either way." Fran tries to reassure him, squeezing his knee, making his giggle a little with him being so ticklish. "Shall I go get us some food? Or a drink at least?"
Louis sighed and nodded.
Just as Fran got up and started to grab her bag the door opened, making the bell jingle. Louis jumped off the counter so that he didn't look unprofessional.
"Oh shit..." Fran whispered as quietly as she could making Louis look at her. "That's Harry. I don't believe this Louis. It's Harry Styles." she kept her voice as a whisper.
Louis looked at 'Harry' and back at Fran and lowered his voice "You know him?"
"No I don't know him, but I know OF him." Fran looked at Louis. "He's an model, Lou.."
Louis looked at the curly haired guy who was walking around the store, who had his back to Louis.
Louis watched, taking in everything he could see. He has longish brown hair that curled, and he was wearing dark grey skinny jeans with a white shirt. Louis couldn't take his eyes away from this tall slim figure that was before him. Harry ran his hand through his hair as he turned to face Louis, walking in his direction to the counter. Louis just stared, not even meaning to, those green eyes were captivating and the dimples were to die for. Harry was at the counter at this point and Louis was just exploring his face. Fran nudged Louis' hip making it snap out of it.
"Yeah this is Louis" she answered for him since Louis had completely missed the question.
Harry grinned, "I'm Harry, I wanted to come pick up the order?"
Louis blushed, fumbling around for the box under the desk and put it on down between them. "S-sorry I was miles away." he stuttered slightly, blushing deeper.
Harry pretended not to notice, smiling warmly at both Louis and Fran. "Thanks so much, I can't wait to see it."
"D-did you make a mistake? I can refund the tip if you did?" Louis mumbled, stuttering again.
"No no, that's yours." Harry chuckled. "You're very talented!"
"Uh, thanks" Louis smiled feeling his cheeks burn red.
"I gotta head off but it was so nice to meet you Louis. Make sure you keep drawing, I'll keep my eye out for anything new." Harry said slowly walking away but keeping his head facing Louis. Louis just nodded, still a little mesmerised by Harry's beauty.
Louis made sure Harry had left then turned his back to the counter and slid down to the floor.
"Why why why am I am so lame" he mumbled hiding his face in his hands. Fran started laughing.
"You weren't that bad Lou! I was staring too.. I can't believe that Harry Styles is your mystery buyer!"
Louis looked up at Fran from his seat on the floor, leaning his head against the shelf.
"Hang on, didn't you say the dude that paid your rent was a Mr. Styles?" Fran blurted out.
"Well shit.." Louis furrowed his eyebrows, confused again. "But why?"
Fran shrugged, "Maybe you should message his profile and ask him?"
-
Louis had finished work and was at home. He had done a little drawing since being home and had some food and now he was laying on his sofa in joggers just watching Netflix, falling asleep slightly. It was Thursday evening and he only had one more day of work. It was only half a day shift and it was at the coffee shop with Fran, so he was looking forward to it. He decided to message Harry and ask about the rent, just to put his mind at ease. He sat up slightly to wake himself up a little and logged into Artsy on his phone as it was easier.
*Hey, it's Louis. I hope you like the drawing.
Im sorry to message you so late, or to message you at all. My landlord mentioned that someone had recently helped me with some rent and they had the same second name as you. I just wondered if it was you, really? I'm very grateful, its just playing on my mind. I hope you are having a good evening either way.*
Louis decided it was getting late, it was about 11pm. He got up, tidying all his things up on his coffee table, lining them up neatly, then turned off the TV, headed to his room and just crawled staught into bed, keeping his phone with him, which chimed as he lay down.
*Hey Louis, I absolutely love the drawing. You didn't have to frame it, I really appreciate that. It really finishes the piece. Don't worry about messaging. I was actually thinking of messaging you but didn't know if that would be weird. Oh, yeah. That was me, I'm sorry if I crossed a line. My Uncle lived in the flat across from you before he died and I noticed the sign. I just wanted to help after not knowing the help my Uncle needed. I hope that's OK! X*
Louis read the message and was stumped at what to reply. Harry wanted to message him? He added a kiss at the end? He WAS the one who paid his landlord. There were so many thoughts whirling in his head. He needed Frank's advice and was just about to call her when he remembered the time. I guess it's a conversation for tomorrow. Louis plugged his phone on charge and tried to ignore the thoughts in his head. The thoughts of a curly haired boy with gorgeous green eyes and the thoughts of the white shirt with the top three buttons undone and the tattoos showing through the white material. And the dimples. The cutest of dimples.
This was hopeless.
"Ughhhhh" Louis groaned, turning over and hiding his face into the pillow.