A Different Form of Art

Chapter Eleven

Liam POV

I woke up with a start, the nightmares were getting to me again. I realized that I didn't hear my alarm, and looked at the clock. It was already 8:10, past the time that I was supposed to be opening the shop.

Shit... I thought as I jumped out of my bed, quickly pulling on clothes as fast as I could. I looked in the mirror while I was running out the door, long enough to see that my hair was a complete mess, the curls going everywhere. Ugh, not the time hobbit hair. I had showered last night but I didn't have time to straighten it before I left. Whatever, one day like this won't kill me.

On my way out of my flat, I tripped and tumbled down the stairs into the dirt below, getting the knees of my jeans all messy and I looked even more rumpled than before. Great, just great. Could this day get any worse? Of course it could, what was I thinking? Let's not encourage fate though.

By the time that I rounded the corner and saw the shop in front of me, I was out of breath. I noticed that Bradley was leaning against the doorway of my shop, coffees in hand. My lifesaver.

"You will not believe the morning that I've had." I started, as I fumbled with my keys trying to unlock the shop.

"Well, I've got some time, so why don't you tell me what happened?" Bradley asked, handing me one of the coffees.

"Thanks so much. Well pretty much I must've forgotten to set my alarm last night, cause it never went off. By the time I woke up, I was excessively late and threw on the first clothes my hands touched, and didn't even have time to straighten out these disgusting curls on my head. And then, of course that isn't enough, I tripped going down my stairs on the way here and now I'm covered in dirt and I'm just really not having a good day... Sorry to dump that all on you. I just, ugh. Could this day get any worse?" I ended my rant there for now, I was angry as hell. I looked up and met Bradley's eyes, I had been making all sorts of hand gestures and probably looked crazy. He was only smiling though.

Leading me through the door and into the shop, he began to calm me. "Hey, Liam, it's gonna be okay. I don't have an appointment for a half hour, I'll run home and grab you some clean clothes, and even my straightener if you want. Although, I must say, I like you with your curly hair. It's very cute." He planted a quick kiss on my lips. "Do you want me to bring you clothes and a straightener? And maybe some food?" He asked.

"Yes, that would be amazing." I said, drinking my coffee and trying to calm myself. "Thank you so much Bradley, you're the best boyfriend ever." I leaned over and pecked his lips quickly.

"Okay then, I'll be right back. Take care of yourself as best you can while I'm gone." He said, winking at me before slipping out the door.

Gah, that boy. He was so great. I went to work, putting on my apron, opening the blinds, and water the flowers that needed it, along with restocking some displays and forms for special orders. I finished off the coffee that Bradley had brought me, and glanced at the clock. It was almost 9, and I still hadn't had any customers yet. Not a surprise, most didn't show up till at least 10, especially on a Saturday.

Bradley came bursting back through the door. "Hey, I gotta hurry cause I've got an appointment at 9, but here." He handed me black skinny jeans, a black t-shirt with a picture of a lion on it, a straightener, and a bagel along with another cup of coffee.

"Thank you so much Bradley, seriously. Thank you. You're a lifesaver." I said, setting down the items on the counter, I would go change in the back room after he had left.

"You're very welcome, I do have to run though. See you later?" He asked, leaning in.

I kissed him deeply. "Mhmm defiantly. Seven work?"

"Sounds perfect. See you at seven." He said, before slipping out the door. I walked into the backroom with Bradley's clothes in my arms and quickly put them on. They were soft, and smelled just like him. I put my apron back on to make sure I wouldn't get them dirty, and got to work straightening my hair. About halfway through, I heard the little bell tinkle in the shop, signaling that someone was here. Shit, I thought, mentally cursing.

"Just a minute! Be right there." I called out.

"Liam? It's Aiden." I heard footsteps getting closer. "I brought Tracey, I thought you might want to meet her?"

I poked my head outside the back room door. "Yeah, of course! I'm just straightening my hair, I didn't have time this morning and Bradley brought me his to use. He's so nice." I said dreamily.

"Yeah mate! You forgot to text me last night. How'd the big date go?" Aiden asked.

"It was amazing!" I exclaimed. I quickly gave him a summary of what happened, and ended with Bradley being my boyfriend now.

"Wow, congrats! Anyways, I brought Tracey over here so you could meet her." A girl with long, waist-length black hair and pale skin walked around the corner. "This is Tracey, Tracey this is Liam. We were wondering, actually, what you and Bradley's plans were for tonight, if you had any. Yesterday something about a double date came up?" He asked.

"Yes, yes, Bradley is meeting me here at seven, I can text him and ask him if he's okay with you guys coming with us?" I asked.

"Well, I was actually gonna head over there right after this anyways, so I can just ask him myself, if that's alright?" Aiden countered.

"Sounds perfect to me. I gotta get to work right now, but I'll see you two later, alright? It was great meeting you, Tracey." I said.

"Nice meeting you too, Liam." She said.

I watched as Aiden and Tracey walked hand-in-hand out the door and across the street to the tattoo shop. I hope Bradley isn't too busy, he had an appointment a half hour ago, but I don't really know how long tattoos take to do. Hopefully they wouldn't be interrupting him.

After I had finished straightening my hair, I grabbed the bagel Bradley had brought me and headed out into the main part of the shop, in case any customers showed up. I remembered that I still had my book from a few days ago under the counter, so I pulled it out and continued reading from where I had left off.

Pretty soon, I heard the doorbell ring again, and looked up to be greeted by the same boy from a few days ago, whose mum was in the hospital. I walked over to talk to him.

"Hey, you look familiar. Flowers for your mum again?" I asked.

"Yeah, they are actually. She's gotten worse, and I really need to cheer her up. Can you help me?" He asked.

"Of course. Follow me." I said, and the boy walked behind me until I found what I had been looking for. "These ones would be perfect."