Mystery Buyer (L.S)

Seven

Louis woke up early, earlier than his 6am alarm. He felt happy, not quite excited but had a little butterfly feeling in his tummy. He was eager to talk to Fran about the message from Harry, although kind of nervous too. He lay in his bed, rereading Harry's message and trying not to read into it too much. Why was he thinking about messaging Louis first? And how embarrassing that he had seen the rent notice on the door. Now he knows Louis is basically broke, that's just great.

Louis' alarm interrupted his thoughts as it hit 6am. He practically jumped straight up and out of bed, wanting to get to work as soon as he could to talk to Fran. He rummaged through his wardrobe for clothes. He felt good today, real good. It, of course, had nothing to do with the curly haired boy that filled his mind. He pulled out some grey skinny jeans that had a distressed look to them along with a red and black tshirt, throwing them onto his bed while he searched for a jacket. Once he decided on one, which was black in colour, he threw that onto to bed too then began to change into the chosen outfit. He glanced out of his window to check on what the weather looked like for the day. The sun was out, not a boiling hot day but he didn't need a coat and wouldn't get away with wearing a beanie - his hair was a mess. He finished changing, puling some socks on before heading to his bathroom to sort what currently looked like a birds nest on his head. He messed with a brush and used water to style it the best he could. He was by no means into fashion or anything of that sort, nor did he know how to style his hair. Although he didn't think he looked too bad, he worked well with what he had, he thought. He brushed his teeth, sprayed his deodorant and aftershave and checked his hair one last time before heading back to grab his jacket. He grabbed his phone to check the time, 6.35am. He was running later then he normally would and now remembered why he doesn't normally make an effort with his looks and hair and all the rest. He shoved his phone into his back jean pocket and slipped his vans on without undoing the laces. Then grabbing his skateboard, unlocked and locked the door on his way out making his way to the cafe.

-

Louis reached work with slightly rosy cheeks. It was colder than it looked and he was happy to be going indoors. He headed inside to the ding of the doorbell and closing the door behind him. Fran poked her head around the doorframe from the back kitchen area and grinned to see Louis.
'There he is! My favourite co-worker. You're a little later than usual. Does it have anything to do with how good you look today?' Fran walked from the back room to stand behind the counter as Louis walked to join her, blushing and making his rosy cheeks even pinker.
'Oh shush, liar.' he mumbled, heading to drop his board in the back and grab his apron.
'No, I'm serious. What's with the cute hair, Lou? Wait, are we expecting someone?!'
'No, no, I just felt in a good mood today.' Louis replied with a shy grin. 'Although...' he paused.
'Although?! Although what Mr?'

Louis grabbed the menus and condiments to start setting the tables. He noticed it was only a few minutes until opening time. As he was placing one of each thing on each table, Fran followed him, eager to hear what she had missed.
'Lou, cmon?!' she begged, still following him from table to table.
'He messaged me last night, not a big deal..' he paused, looking at Fran as he carried on setting tables. 'It was him with the rent thing. Something about his uncle lived across the hall from me and he wanted to help out?' Fran kept looking at Louis, waiting for the rest as she could tell Louis was holding back, so he continued the conversation. 'And he may have mentioned that he wanted to message me first...'
'There it is! That's what I was waiting to hear, eeeek!' Frans voiced was all high pitched and excited. She still followed Louis as he finished and headed back to the counter. 'So what did you guys talk about?!' she asked him.
Louis bit his lower lip feeling kind of embarrassed that he needed to consult Fran before he was able to reply.
'Uhhh, we didn't.' he shrugged. 'Im awkward and lame, Fran. I didn't know what to say...'
Fran smiled softly at Louis. She really was the warmest and kindest person Louis had ever met. Although he didn't meet many people.
'You aren't lame at all Lou, gimme the phone, let me see!'
She took his phone, scrolling as she read the message.
'He added a KISS?! He made the first move Lou, this is good!' she handed the phone back to Louis as the doorbell jingled when their first customer entered. 'This is very good, easy peasy!'

Louis grinned putting all his faith in Fran, who he was now considering is friend, his only friend. His best friend in fact. He nodded to her as she began to serve the customer and he started filling up the coffee machines, waiting for the order from Fran.
'Thanks, take a seat and I'll bring it over to you as soon as its ready!' she said to the customer.
When the customer left, she asked Louis to make a hot chocolate as she grabbed one of the premade toasties from the display fridge and began to toast it.
'So first, did he cross a line with the rent thing in your opinion or are you chill with that? He'll appreciate honesy, especially if this is gonna go further.' She asked, turning to face Louis as she waited for the toastie machine.
'I mean..' Louis shrugged. 'I don't think he crossed a line but I don't want him to think I'm some sort of charity or anything you know?'
'Yeah okay, so definitely let him know that, 100% Lou. He'll understand what you mean. I can type it and you read it and change it how you think if you wanna?'
'I'm so bad with my words...' Louis hesitated, messing with the edges of his phone case while looking at Fran.
'I know you are' she grinned at him, holding out he hand again offering her help with the reply.

Louis handed Fran the phone and finished up with the toastie and hot chocolate. Fran typed out the message while Louis served the customer, asking if they needed anything else before heading back to the counter. As he reached Fran she handed him his phone. He read the message she had drafted to himself and changed a few of the words and they way some things were written so that they were more to his texting style.
*I'm really glad you like the drawing and the frame, I felt it needed something abit extra as a thank you! No you didn't cross the line at all. But I just wanted to explain that I do always pay my rent, I'm just sometimes later than the deadline because of how and when I'm paid.. I'm actually kind of embarrassed you saw the sign. But I really am grateful and I'll pay you back when I can.
P.S. Messaging me first wouldn't have been weird! X*

Louis took a deep breath before pressing send then placed his phone face down on the counter, his anxiety flaring up a little.
Fran glanced over, immediately noticing him looking at the floor and how anxious Louis was. She finished serving her customer then clipped up the order on the board with the others. She then headed over to Louis and placed her hands onto his shoulders.
'You know what you need?'
Louis glanced his eyes up to meet hers.
'What's that?' he questioned.
'A night out' she smiled. 'Some friends of mine are having a party at their place tonight, and you're coming with me. No excuses.' she grinned and ruffled Louis' hair before he could decline or come up with any excuses. 'I know you're not busy, Lou. And I'd really like you to come too.' she carried on, glancing over her shoulder at Louis whilst she was making drinks.
'Fine..' he sighed with a slight smile. He'd never been invited anywhere before, not really. He was happy she wanted his company but extremely nervous. Very nervous. Social settings are not on his usual agenda. But he'd be fine, Fran would be there.

12 midday came and both Fran and Louis' shift was over. The staff for the next shift came and took over from then and they left together.
'I'll get our taxi to do a detour and come and pick you up later, yeah? About 7.30ish okay?' Fran called as she started heading in the opposite direction. Louis just nodded in agreed, his stomach in knots as he dropped his skateboard and rode home.