Oh Honey!

ONE

October 2, 2018

Harry

Restless. 

That is the only way to describe myself after finishing my first solo tour. I've been staying in New York City following the tour as management claims I need to find inspiration for my next album, what better way then to be in the city that never sleeps. To say that I have been enjoying my time off, well that would be a lie. During tour, I broke up with my girlfriend of about a year. Being on the road and having a relationship was extremely hard but then again, she never came to my shows. 

Shaking off this mindset I decide to go around the city a bit, well as much as I can before people begin to recognize me and I have to retreat home. There is always a downside to each profession. The beautiful sounds of the city are booming from my window, the golden sun beaming in reminding me that the city will soon turn cold and dreary. Starting my day at 10 a.m., a little later than normal but at least I am out of bed. 

After a quick shower I change into my running attire which now consists of shorts and a light hoodie. I make my out of my apartment and start my run. Running through the city never gets old. The faces you pass and the sights you see remind you of how much life you miss when you don't pull your head up. Along my run I end up in the lower Manhattan area and stumble across this delicate store named "Oh Honey". It's quaint. The windows on the outside have honey drips across the top with small bees flying around and the smell of sweet honey linger in the air. This run can be postponed. Opening the door, I hear Head over Heels by Tears for Fears softly playing followed by a greeting from someone within the store. 

"Welcome to Oh Honey! If you need help with anything, please let me know" said the girl with captivating blue eyes and blonde hair that illuminated from the sun pouring in through the windows. Never in my life has someone made me completely at loss for words, yet all I could do was smile and give her a thumbs up. God...what an idiot. I make my way around this small shop, stealing glances at the girl behind the counter. She is captivating. I can see her softly mouthing the words to the song that is playing, tapping her fingers to the beat of the drums.

 I return my focus to the merchandise in front of me, eyeing up the "Enjoy Health, Eat Honey" shirt in front of me. After choosing my size I continue around the store and pick up small honey sticks that are samples of the honey that is sold in the store. I'm too nervous to face the girl at the counter just now so I continue through the store for longer than it should have taken me. With all the courage left inside of my body, I face the girl behind the counter. She's dressed in the prettiest white sundress I have seen, maybe because she is the one wearing it, doused in light blue flowers across the fabric. I give her a smile because there are no words that are able to come out of my mouth and place my items on the counter. 

"I love these honey sticks, I promise you'll want more once you taste them" she says, flashing the most heavenly smile I have seen yet. 

"Is that so? I guess I will have to try them and let you know what I think." That was good, right? I'm not sure as to why I am overreacting like a grade school boy who is having his first encounter with a woman but there is something about her that makes my heart race. 

"Please do, I'm very interested to know your thoughts.. uhm.." Eluding to the unknown of my name.

"Harry."

"Ah Harry, you will have to come back and indulge me in your thoughts" she states showing off her radiant smile once more. 

I let out a soft chuckle, "I am a harsh critic, I hope these are as good as you say or else I'll be rather disappointed..." leading off forgetting I didn't catch her name.

"Luciana, it's nice to meet you." 

Luciana. Just beautiful.

She gives me my total and hands me my bag saying "Good or bad, I hope to see you stop by soon. Have a great rest of your day"

These could taste like sewage and I would come back to see her again. I give her an equally as bright smile, "You'll be seeing me around. Thank you. Enjoy your day Luciana."  

As I go to leave the store I notice a small box with dainty handwriting that says "Share your thoughts" with small a stack of paper and a pencil. Should I leave her something? Oh fuck it, why not. I take a piece of paper and jot down my number as well as a small message of gratitude. I glance back once more and see her ringing up another customer that must have come in while I was getting my thoughts in order by the t-shirts. I slip the paper in the box and leave the store.  I leave with a smile so large that my cheeks hurt. My run from earlier has been long forgotten as the girl with the floral print dress stays lingering in my mind. 

On my trek back home I start to think, what if she reads the note and thinks I'm weird. Even worse what if she has a boyfriend? Do I go back and get the note back to save myself from embarrassment? The pros outweigh the cons here, I'll take my chances. 

Once I have reached home, I immediately cut open one of the honey sticks to see just how good she claims them to be. Wow. She was right, they are delightful. Now I need to distract myself from the impending spiral of wondering if I went too far with giving her my number. I never give people my number so what compelled me to leave it to her? 

 I pull it out of my short pocket to reveal a message from an unknown number. I think my heart stopped momentarily when reading the message.

Unknown: "Hey Harry, It's Luci or Luciana from Oh Honey. I saw your note and wanted to thank you. I hope to see you soon. ᵕ̈  " 

Harry: "Hey Luci! I just got back home and tried the honey stick, I think you'll be seeing me a little sooner than I realized."

 Luci🍯: "I can't wait! So my promise was a good one then?"

Harry: " You have phenomenal taste"

The smallest banter has my head spinning. I need to see her again but I would prefer for her not to be behind the counter.

Harry: "What time does the store close today?"

Luci🍯: "4! Don't worry if you can't make it back today, its open from 10-4 monday through saturday but I'm also available after those hours ᵕ̈  "

Did I read that correctly? I most definitely did but does that mean she wants to see me outside of her workplace? 

Harry: "Hmm seems as though I am available around 4 today if you'd like to accompany me to coffee? My treat."

Immediately after sending that message I put my phone down as I cannot bare the thought of me insinuating her message wrong. I leave my kitchen and decide to shower once more as a precautionary measure. I put on my new t-shirt and a pair of light baggy jeans and a cardigan and make my way back to the kitchen. I should make something for lunch but I cannot stop thinking about if she has responded yet. I check my phone to see that she has. 

Luci🍯: "I can make that work. Meet me back at the store at 4 then?"

Harry:  "I'll see you then!" 

What am I supposed to do with myself for the next 4.5 hours?

 _______________________________________________________________________________

Hi, I know this starts off kind of fast but I don't intend for this story to be super long but I also have a million ideas floating around in my brain as to where I could take this, so it very well could be. Hopefully this is satisfactory for the first chapter! We'll see her pov next and thats where the date will kick off, I hope you enjoyed!