Warm hands, warm hearts. A Heartstopper Cofeeshop AU.

Part 3: A Favour

Charlie

When I get home from work, the house is just the way I want it to be- empty.

My feet ache from 5 busy shifts in a row, hectic mornings at the cafe and the long walks I've been taking to clear my head. I've been letting my nostalgia carry me about the neighbourhood when it hasn't been pouring, and it's soothed the loneliness a bit. Every day a new destination.

But today I was simply too tired, and covered in mocha sauce, and sad still at no sight of Nick Nelson in a whole week.

Not that it mattered. Even if I did see him again, how would it go?

"Here's your two drinks for you and your probably-girlfriend, I haven't been able to stop thinking about seeing you again, bye have a nice life?"

And that would be it. I have to stop hinging so much hope on him walking through the door again.

At least my friends have noticed somethings up- we've had two movie nights since my stop at Truham. Tao has been so pleased to have an extra excuse to gather us all for a film, but even then I can see how tired he is, sneakily doing homework while it plays. Elle joins from her separate dorm room, a few hours away from Tao and even with the extra bit of distance between them nothing has changed. I can feel their love through the screen, and it's heartwarming.

And a tiny bit lonely.

Aled doesn't really turn his camera on, but he's there to chime in to the conversation and tease us every so often.

And to ask about the "infatuation catch-up"

I still haven't said anything about the 25 seconds spent conversing with Nick, because even I know how desperate and stupid it sounds to be so hung up on it. So when Aled asked again last night, I brushed it off and said that all the boys here are boring. Which is mostly true.

After a shower to scrub off the mocha and the smell of coffee, I crawl into bed for a much needed nap. It's nice to have no one here to judge me for going to sleep at 2 in the afternoon, no noise to keep me awake. I press my face into the cool pillow and am so close to sleep when my phone buzzes loud and frantic- a phone call.

I peer over to my bedside table and stifle a groan. It's my boss.

Don't get me wrong, I love who I work for. It's not some big name chain brand cafe, but a good old fashioned family business. Tom and Lorraine technically own it but I've only spoken to Tom maybe twice- Loraine is the one with a passion for good tea and coffee. She's sweet, and welcoming, and pays us well enough for what we do. But I'm so tired right now that she's the last person I really want to talk to.

I answer anyways.

"Charlie! Oh, thank goodness I've caught you!" Her voice crackles through the line. She sounds stressed and slightly garbled, like she's going through a tunnel.

"Hey Lorraine, everything okay?" I ask, desperate to get to the point so I can head to sleep.

"Oh Charlie I'm so, so sorry to ask this of you. I know you opened today but Trina's had to go to the ER for something... oh! Yes right, her appendix, poor thing. James can't come in and Tom and I are off on a little holiday. Normally I'd say we'd just keep the store closed but we have two catering orders being picked up and..."

She's trailing off, I can hear a hint of panic in her voice and I'm already frustrated with myself because I know already that despite how much I want to, I won't be able to say no.

"Of course Loraine. I'll be there. I can take over at 4? I just need a few hours to sleep."

"Oh Charlie thank you thank you thank you!" I can practically hear her smiling through the phone.

We spend the next few minutes sorting out details-overtime pay and my morning shift tomorrow, which James agreed to cover. When we hang up, I don't know why I want to cry.

I love my job. I do. I just... I just wanted to sleep.

So I set my alarms for 3:30 and close my eyes again.

Nick

My hands reek of chemicals, but the house is finally clean- scrubbed and vacuumed and dusted just the way mum likes it when we have company over. Normally I'd be exhausted by it, but it's nice to have something to do.

It's half past four now, and soon the living room will be alive with the sound of "the birds"- mum's friends. Every few weekends they gather on our couches to drink wine and catch up and fill the room with laughter. Mum always looks so happy.

Normally they find an excuse to pull me on to the couch with them and pry me for details- school and rugby and why I don't have a girlfriend. But today I'm not in the mood, so now that the cleaning is done and their arrival approaches, I plan on a long walk.

I'm emptying the vacuum bag into the trash when mum comes down the stairs, earrings in her hands and beaming. She doesn't have to ask before I take the small studs from her to put them on-something she's always been terrible at. I'm sliding the backing onto the second one when she sneaks a peck onto my cheek.

"You've just been so helpful today, but I have one more favour to ask you Nicky."

" 'course" I respond, pretending to dramatically wipe her kiss off my cheek. She fakes a scowl.

"I placed a little order with that cafe a few blocks down, Lorraine's place- where you've been getting me those treats from. Some danishes and little cakes for the birds and I. I meant to pick it up myself but Shirley's going to be early. Would you-"

The cafe where I saw Charlie.

I cut her off by accident.

"Yeah! Yes. Err- no problem." She kisses my cheek again.

"Oh thank you."

She pulls out her purse to give me cash and after smoothing my hair out in the mirror I'm out the door. I've been back to this place an embarrassing amount of times this past week.
Five, to be exact. But Charlie hasn't been there again. I'm sure he has better things to do anyways, than hang out in some coffee shop.

And it's not like I was going there just in case I ran into him anyways.

Still, when I reach the door, I do the same thing I have each time. Brace myself. Try to ignore the strange pang in my chest.

Take a deep breath.

I open the door and scan the seating area. The arm chair is empty, the tables are full but no one I recognize. And just like each time before, I feel
strangely defeated. I cast my glance down now, to the floor, and shuffle my way towards the counter.

"Hi." A familiar voice speaks.

I look up, and Charlie's there- on the other side of the counter. He's wearing a black long sleeve, a green apron that looks like it's been dusted in flour. And he's smiling at me, head cocked slightly to the side.

I breathe in again.

"Hi."