Mystery Buyer (L.S)

Twelve

Louis woke up to his 5am alarm for his 7-12 shift, rolling onto his side and rubbing his side as he switched it off and check led his notifications. He'd has a 'goodnight' text from Harry which we replied to with a 'good morning' text. Without even trying, Harry had put a smile on his face and it meant his day was going to be a good day.

He slid out of bed and headed for the shower. He brushed his teeth while he waited for the water to hit the right temperature before getting in. He felt like a long shower. The kind where you close your eyes and let the water run down your face. And the kind where the bathroom steams up the mirrors and turns the room into a sauna.

Louis had been in the shower for a good 30 or 40 minutes before getting out. He towel dried his hair then wrapped the towel around his waist before heading into the kitchen area to boil the kettle. Once he had clicked the switch on the kettle, he headed back into his bedroom to get dressed. Rummaging through his wardrobe he decided on a long sleeved top in navy with thin white stripes going horizontally, and paired it with navy/demin skinny jeans and plain black socks. He headed back to the kitchen and made himself a cup of tea, also grabbing a cereal bar, then sat on the sofa. He placed his mug onto the table and stretched out his legs on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other as he bit into his cereal bar whilst scrolling through his phone. He checked Artsy to see how many drawings were left on his listing realising there was only one left unsold. He scrolled to his 'sold' section, seeing that he had another two drawing that needed packing and posting. He finished his cereal bar and cup of tea quicker than he had planned then grabbed his packaging so that he could post the drawings on his way to work.

Once he had packaged them both up he headed back to the bedroom to style and dry his hair fully, then slid on his black high top converse, wrapping the laces and tying them behind his ankle.
He grabbed his work bag and padded envelopes and headed out of the door, locking it behind him. He decided to walk today rather than skateboard.

-

When he arrived at work, Fran wasn't there yet. He checked his phone realising he was earlier than usual, so stood leaning against the wall, one foot on the floor and one on the wall. He school through Google for drawing ideas while he waiting. Only Fran had a key as she was usually the first to arrive. As he was waiting he realised he had forgotten his jacket/coat, feeling the cool wind hit his face and blow his hair. He pulled his sleeves over his hands slightly, they were always a little too long for him, as he received a text. Of course from his favourite person.
*Good morning, early bird. How come you were up at 5am?!*
Harrys text always made Louis smile no matter what they said.
*Lol, I have work. Trust me I'd be in bed if I could be!* he typed back, sending it just as Fran hurried up to him.

'Lou, you're early! Sorry!'
'It's all good, Fran. Don't worry!' he reassured her.
She unlocked the door and pushed it open making the bell jungle above their heads.
'Ah the sound of paradise!' Fran said as she held the door open making him laugh. 'Hey, you look nice today Lou, I love that top!'
'Thanks Fran..' he replied getting shy again.

They both started to set up for the day, Fran sorting the counter and Louis arranging the menus and condiments. As Louis made his way back to behind the counter he could feel Fran looking at him, getting anxious and knowing how obviously awkward he much look.
'Whaaaaat?' he said, stopping what he was doing and looking over to her.
'You're seriously gonna wait until I ask?!'
'I have no idea what you mean, Fran' Louis avoided the topic of Harry as long as he could be he knew that she would ask over and over until he did.
'Lou..'
'Fine, fine. I'd say I'm in way to deep. I'm gonna end up falling for this guy and I'm gonna get myself hurt again.' he mumbled avoiding eye contact.
Fran asked what he meant and he explained everything that happened.
'You're so daft, Lou. From what you just told me, he's in just as deep as you.'
'Nah, he's not. He's just a nice guy..'
'Lou come on.. He's basically begging for you to ask him to kiss you.'

Louis pinched the skin between his thumb and finger not knowing what to do or say. Fran walked over and stood in front of him with her hands on his shoulders.
'I promise you. You got this, okay? And if he does somehow mess this up then he's a huge dick and I'll be here for you after. Yeah?'
Louis nodded feeling how sincere Fran was and how warm her smile was. He was so lucky to have her. She gave him a huge hug just as his phone chimed.
'You answer lover boy, and I'll sort out the tables' Fran grinned, heading over to a table of customers that had just sat down.

*Not to rub it in but I'm in bed, tucked up nice and warm ;) Are you at the cafe, then?*
Louis started to reply, trying to hide the grin on his face as he felt Fran looking over at him. He headed into the back room to avoid her, making her laugh.

*That's mean, y'know! It's way too early and cold for you to be mean and rub that in my face, when you know I'd much prefer to be in bed. Yeah I'm at the cafe today. X*

He shoved his phone back into his back pocket before joining Fran at the counter again, making them both a hot drink from one of the machines.

-

It was 9.30am, so they had been working for around 2 and a half hours and they were deep into their work. Constantly chatting with each other. They were both smooth workers and could more or less work and serve customers without looking and with little concentration.

'Hot Chocolate to go, please'
'Sure, anything else?' Louis turned his sack to the customer while he pressed the button on the machine which started filling the cup.
'Um, any muffin you recommend?
'Definitely the chocolate then.'

Louis grabbed the muffin and the hot chocolate before turning back to the customer and handing over the items. As the customer took them from him and their hands touched, he saw hand tattoos. Those hand tattoos that he would recognise anywhere. His head shot up to meet eyes with Harry, making his hand twitch a little and the drink overflow over the top of the cup.

'Shit, sorry.' he said embarrassed, making Harry laugh.
'Don't stress, what do I owe you?' Harry asked, grabbing a napkin from the stack in front of the till.
'No its okay, my treat.' Louis mumbled with a smile. 'Let me redo it though, so you have more than half a cup..' Louis continued with rosy cheeks as he grabbed a cleaning cloth to wipe up the spillage.
'Nah, I'm good. I actually only came here to see you.. I mean. I was in the area.' Harry laughed, realised his slip up of words as Louis blushed even more.
'Oh, so you came to make me awkward and make me spill drinks, huh?.'
'I do apologise that you're so clumsy. What time do you finish today?'
'12 today, so still a few hours.. Did you wanna hang out after?' Louis surprised himself asking that so confidently but tried his best to stick to that confidence.
'I'm actually working today, I have a shoot at 1.30pm..'
'Oh, alright...
'... But, I'd like you to come with me? If you want to that is?' Harry took a sip of his drink.
'You want me to come to your shoot with you?' Louis was a little shocked, in a good way though.
'Mhm, only if you wanna though. No pressure.' Harry nodded
'Yeah sure I do!'
'Glad to hear it, I'll pick you up from here after your shift?'

Louis nodded as Harry finished his drink.
'Definitely the best hot chocolate in town, you were right.' Harry winked. 'I'll see you later, Lou.'

Louis waved as Harry left. He hadn't called him any nicknames before. He had butterflies and kept replaying the 'See you later, Lou' in his head. Damn, this boy. Why was Louis so obsessed?! He has never felt like this about someone he barely knew. Heck, he never felt this way about anyone.