SuperLou {{Larry AU}} (On Hold)

Chapter 1

Louis

Another day, another way. That's my life motto. No matter what happens the day before, by sunrise you have a fresh start. I know not everyone believes my logic, but I still go with it. I mean, if you have no one to remember who you were the day before, it's easy to start over. Right? I like to think of it as sparing possible acquaintances of a potential social life burden. So, you see, this is a completely selfless logic. If I so happened to become friends with some sort of human being, they wouldn't be able to even bribe me out of my flat. Even for a lifetime supply of Raman Noodles. And that's saying something.
   I usually only make an effort to talk to my boss and professors. I mean, even a loner still requires respect from their overseers. My co-workers don't really give a shît about me. I guess I'm too tattooed for their taste. That's okay. I'm not looking to impress anyone but myself, and I'm perfectly comfortable with myself. I don't meet many people who are confident in themselves, like I am. Sure, some may view my way as conceited, but a lot of people don't recognize the difference between high self esteem and being vain. They are completely different.
      I have a job at a small flower shop called Orchid Me Not. It doesn't pay much, but I get by fine and I really like my boss. She's a little old lady named Gale who owns the shop. Apparently, she had owned the shop since she opened it with her late husband the 60's. Gale explained to me after she hired me that she liked my attitude and thought that my style might bring some new customers into the store. I suppose that my 'style' is based on the way I show my creativity. Some have colorful hair, some have colorful clothes. I just have colorful skin, but that's the least excepted of them all.
          I wake up every morning in my small flat. I swear, you can flip an egg from the toilet. Nah, I'm kidding. It's not a mansion, sure, but it's perfect for a guy living by himself. I roll out of bed and see that it is 9:15 am. Shît. I scramble to my closet and throw on jeans and a t shirt, and run to the kitchen, grabbing my phone, keys, and a granola bar before rushing out of my flat. I arrive at Orchid Me Not half an hour late. I can sense Gale's 'disappointment stare' , as I like to call it, before I even step through the door. I know she expects a lot from me, and I hate to make her regret her choice of hiring me in the first place.
      "Hi Gale, sorry I'm late. Alarm clock is broken." I tell her, tying my gardening apron around my waist. Gale stirs flower feeder into a jug of water and hands it to me. "Oh, that's quite alright, Louis. However, I wished you called to warn me. I would of had Tara start her shift earlier." I nod. " It won't happen again, I promise. I'll purchase a new clock after work." I tell her, watering a pot of flowers. Gale sighs and leaves, and I automatically feel terrible. I hate to worry her. Tara walks over to me holding a delicate vase. "Hey Louis. I need your to run to the ceramic shop and buy nine more of these. We received an order for a wedding, and we need to create the centerpieces." I take the vase and the phone. "I'll be back." I yell to no one in particular, and leave the shop. Billy's shop is two doors down, and he has been doing business with us for years. He supplies vases and jugs for us, and we pot flowers out front for free. I open the spoor and a bell rings. Billy steps out of the back.
    "Oh, hello Louis. What a surprise! What will it be today?" He sets out a notepad. "Uh, Tara said she had bought a vase here, and we need nine more for a large order." I tell him, handing him the vase. He nods and smiles. "Anything for Gale." And walks back to his workshop. I chuckle to myself. Gale and Billy would be so cute together. I keep on telling him to make a move, but he solemnly sticks to his idea that Gale is out of his league. I told you, adorable.
I shout a thank you and leave the store, heading back to the shop. When I arrive, I notice that Tara is no longer there. "I'm back, Gale. Where's Tara at?" I ask curiously, grabbing a rag and dusting the display of pottery in the window. Gale looks up from her flower sorting. "She told me she felt sick, so I sent her home." Ah well, I guess it's back to work. By the end of my shift, I'm exhausted and covered in potting soil. Gale grows all of the flowers she uses in her pieces out back, and she stuck me with weeding today. Not that I'm complaining, though. It still beats working at the gas station. Gale begins to close up shop. "Louis dear, can you lock up when you leave?" She asks me as she picks up her purse. "Of course, Gale." I reply. She nods and closes the door behind her, leaving me alone. I've always loved the shop in the evening, when the sunset reflects off of the large glass windows and the flowers look so colorful and alive.

I wipe the counters down with a towel before turning the sign on the door to the 'Closed' side. Just as I'm hanging my apron on the hook, someone knocks on the door. A man with a very urgent expression stands outside, pointing to a flower bouquet in the window. "Please! It will only be a second!" He yells through the door. I glance at the clock and see that it is already five minutes past closing time. "Sorry, mate. We're all closed up." I tell him, and he rakes his fingers through his curly hair. "Please? I just need a small flower thing." He pleads. I sigh. Gale won't mind one last sale. I hope. I open the door for the man and he walks in and picks up a small rose bouquet. "How much for this flower thing?" He asks me. I chuckle. "First of all, it's called a bouquet," He shrugs. "Second of all, it's seven pounds." I answer him, and he stares back at me with an astonished look on his face. "That much for a tiny thing like this?" He asks. "Bouquet." I correct him and he groans. "Look, mate," "Louis." I correct him, once again. "Look, Louis.... isn't that a little much for something so small?" He asks, placing the money onto the counter. "All flowers are grown on site." I reply, putting the money into the register. "Thank you for your business..." I drag on the sentence. "Harry." He tells me his name, grinning. "Thanks, Harry." I say, holding the door open for him. "Any time, Louis." He replies, leaving the store. I lock the door and walk to my car, completely charmed.

(A/N) Picture of how Louis looks in the story up top!