Bad News

Chapter 9 - Explanation

Harry blinked twice and about to say something when Anne emerged from the kitchen door.

"Harry, honey! Perfect. Let's go, young man. I promised your dad a nice dinner tonight," she says quickly after grabbed her coat off from the rack and looks back at me. "Oh and Grace, tell William to lock the place before you both go."

"Eh, okay. Will do," I replied quietly.

The bell on the door chimes once again after they went out, leaving me alone behind the counter. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Harry's sudden appearance to the bakery has really taken me by surprise.

William joins me a few seconds later to check if everything's on its place and tells me to go change my clothes. I was about to go to the changing room when the bell chimes again with Harry comes in the next second.

"How are you gonna get home?" His question is a little rushed. "Grace?"

"Huh?" I didn't even know he was talking to me.

He clears his throat. "I asked you a question," he said while tucking his hands in his jeans.

"I– uh– I'm gonna take the bus." I can feel Will's gaze on me from the corner of my eyes.

"I will come back here right after I drop my mum off–," a loud horn made me jump in surprise. "Just– wait for me. I gotta go now before she goes crazy–," another one can be heard. "Right, nice to see you, Will."

And with that, he left. Seriously though, is it really necessary to wait him?

I quickly head to the changing room before Will can say anything, which was a stupid plan considering he's still waiting for me behind the counter.

"What was that?" he grins at me.

"Nothing," I grumble while hanging my apron. "Does Harry come here often?"

He chuckled before answering. "He used to, but now he only comes if Anne wants him to pick her up. Why do you ask? And how do you know him?"

I sighed and turning to him. "Just asking." He eyed me curiously. "We are friends, kind of. I'm not so sure though. But he saved my life once, so yeah," I replied while wearing the grey jumper I've worn since this morning.

We walked side by side to the door and Will locked the door. "Right, I'm gonna head off now. Are you sure you will be okay?"

"Yes, Will. I'm not five, I will be fine," I replied to him while playfully rolling my eyes.

My hand was quick to snatch my phone from the bag I was holding and calling Louis' number. He picked up after four rings.

"Grace, what the hell! Why didn't you tell me?"

I smiled upon hearing his voice again. "Sorry, I guess I was too busy." Louis was quick to accept my apology. "So, how's work?"

Louis is an accountant back in Brighton. He works for my father's friend, who's an absolute ass by the way, since he finished Sixth-Form. You can tell he doesn't really like his job but it is the only thing he could do for now. And since he has to support his mother along with his four little sisters, there is nothing he can do but obeys everything his boss says.

I tried to convince him to quit his job. You see, Louis actually has a great voice. He even won a few singing contests back in his younger years. But he always tells me that singing is just a hobby, it is not something he can do for a living.

"Same old, same old. How's yours? Where do you work anyway?"

I nodded but then realise he can't see me. "In a bakery and yeah it is good. One of my co-worker taught me to bake cakes, which is something I'm dying to show you."