Fix a heart (h.s.) ✔

Similarities

"Excuse me, I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll go back inside.", I mumbled, not particularly fond of the man to my right.
"That won't be necessary, Ms. Monroe.", he answered, taking a few steps towards me, cigarette being brought to his lips ocassionally.
"You know I prefer being called Luna."
"And you know I prefer to be professional with my business partners.", he replied, smiling somewhat evily.
"As far as I'm concerned I'm none of those."
"Not yet. But I sure do hope that will change soon.", his statement confused me as he took another step forward and I stepped back.
"How so?"
"I would like to offer you something.", he pinched his lip between his pointer finger and thumb.
"What?", I was growing impatient, just wanting him to get to the point already.
"Since I know about the financial situation you and your family are in, I will pay for your education and I'll pay for everything you need, however long you want me to."
"If?", the offer was incredibly tempting yet I couldn't help but ask.
"You stay away from my son."
"I knew it.", I snapped, taking determined steps towards him.
"You know I won't do that, right? I won't hurt him like that."
"Do you really think whatever you have is forever?", he questioned harshly, throwing his cigarette to the ground before stomping on it.
"I don't know! I don't know if it's forever! Hell I don't even know if it'll last 'til tomorrow. But I do know that it's for today and as long as it is like that I'll do nothing to change it.", I sneered, my right hand coming up to the necklace as if protecting Harry's promise to me from the cruel words.
"Well you either take the offer and be benefited by it or you don't and I'll find some other way.", he chuckled, taking out a pack of gum before popping a piece into his mout and walking past me.
"I expect an answer by tomorrow.", he turned one last time before disappearing into the house.

I stayed outside a few more minutes and just relaxed as I felt two strong arms hug my waist, pulling me into a muscled chest.
"Hello, love.", his raspy voice mumbled as I turned in his hold, throwing my arms around his neck.
"Hi there.", I mumbled into his neck as he pulled out his pack of cigarettes, taking out his minty gum and putting it into a tiny piece of paper.
"You should get a chewing gum withdrawal, you know?", I laughed as he looked up at me horrified, the cigarette handing out of his mouth.
"I don't think I'd stand that even for a few hours.", he mumbled, taking out a lighter, cupping his hands around the flame to prevent it from foing out as I wrapped my arms aroung his waist and his left arm went over my shoulders, hugging me to him.

Just now, as we were silent it occured to me that I had only seen Harry smoke once and had found it rather attractive back then, now however, as I had just witnessed his father smoking, I found it rather unpleasant, even though his jaw clenched heavily whenever he drew on the cigarette.

I continued to think about Harry and his father and realized that they had a lot of things in common.

They smoked.
They chewed a lot of gum.
They liked to play with the rings on their fingers.
They pinched their lip.
They clenched their jaw when they were angry or concentrated.

The men that couldn't be any more different, were so similar in so many ways.

"Luna?", Harry's gravely voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry, I zoned out.", I sheepishly apologized.
"It's fine. I just asked you something, not that important.", Harry shrugged, turning his head away from me, desperatley trying to surpress his grin.
"What? No, tell me.", I demanded as I put both of my hands on his cheeks to make him look at me.
"No, I obviously bore you so much that you just zone out on me so there's absoloutley no need for me to repeat whatever I just asked.", the curly haired man sighed overdramatically, taking another drag from his cigarette as I laughed.
"You know that's not the case. I just..I have a lot on my mind right now. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to zone out. Will you forgive me?", I decided not to tell him about his father's offer as I pouted up at him.
"Alright, fine. I guess you have one more chance.", he shrugged, as I softly kissed his cheek.
"So, what did you ask?"
"I asked if you wanted us to be, you know, official. Like in a relationship.", he mumbled, somewhat embarassed, quickly bringing the cigarette to his lips again.
"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?", I questioned, just to see him this flustered a little longer.
"Sort of.", he grinned, before throwing away the bud of the cigarette, immideatly taking out another piece of mint gum, popping it into his mouth much like Des had done earlier.
"Well then, I'd absoloutley love that."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. I'll be your girlfriend.", I grinned, before launching myself at him, kissing him passionatley.
"Thank you so much.", he mumbled after we had pulled away and I smiled up at him.
.

.

.
"He did what?", Niall asked me as we were both back in the storage room, preparing for the new delivery that would arrive today. My boss Isabella was in the front, cleaning a bit and fixing everything to be sure everything was ready before we opened the shop again after the winter break.
"I know, unbelievable right? His father is truly a terrible person.", I huffed, picking up the next box of old books and putting them in the sale section.
"That's really messed up.", Niall mumbled, stepping on an empty box to make it as flat as possible before throwing it into the bin.
"Yeah, but it doesn't matter. I would never take up the offer. He said he expects an answer by today but my answer still is no.", I angrily shoved a box to the back at the thought of this idiot before searching through another one to see if there were any unsellable books.
"That's...hey where's the necklace from?", my best friend reached for it but I took a step back, grasping the heartpendant before he could touch it.
I had developed an odd sense of protectiveness over it and it occured to me just how weird it was when Niall looked at me, hand raised in mid air with a mildly surprised expression written over his face,

"Harry gave it to me.", I said, releasing the pendant from my hold, letting Niall look at it.
"What is it with you two anyway?", he asked, smiling as I giggled.
"We're together.", I whispered, blushing furiously.
"Really?", Niall exclaimed, making me cover his mouth.
"What are you two doing in there?", Isabella's voice was heard from the shop, her steps nearing the storage.
"Is everything alright?", she leaned onto the door frame as we pretended like nothing happened as we continued to scour through the boxes.
"Yes, fine. Why?", Niall asked, not daring to look up.

Isabella wasn't necessarily strict but we had respect for her.
She was a really nice woman and cared for our well being, but it was important to her to get work done and get it done good or don't do it at all. That's what she told us all the time. 

"Tell me, what is it?", she grinned and I remembered me that, she too, was just a young woman with just as much curiosity as we had.
"I have a boyfriend.", I mumbled, not being used to all the attention.
"You do?", she exclaimed as well, smiling brightly.
"Yeah..is that such a surprise?", I questioned as I couldn't help but feel slightly insulted.
"Oh of course not, Lu! It's just that you haven't focused on yourself in a long time since you have been completely occupied by your family, so we didn't expect you to do this. But we're incredibly happy that you've finally let yourself trust someone.", Niall sincerely said while putting a hand on my shoulder, pulling me into him, hugging me tightly.
"Right, I really don't want to ruin this and Luna, you know I'm happy for you but we need to rush this up. We're opening up in ten.", Isabella interrupted, quickly turning and walking out.

A few hours later Isabella had left and Beth, another co worker had taken her place.
I was in the back, helping an older man to find a book for his niece when the bell rung, indicating someone had just entered the shop.

"Hello, I'm looking for Luna Monroe.", I heard a deep voice and instantly started to worry.
I knew the voice all too well and had been dreading the arrival of the man it belonged to all day.

"She's in the back, if you just walk along the aisle then turn right you'll see her.", Beth answered and I cursed her helpful nature as I acted as though I hadn't heard a thing, continuing to show different books to the customer.

"Excuse me, Ms. Monroe? It's urgent, so if you could interrupt what you're doing for a second?", he stood right behind me, clad in suit and tie as always.
"Unfortunatley that won't be possible, Mr. Styles. I'm helping a customer at the moment.", I replied, not tunring around.
"Oh no, I don't mind. I'll look on my own in the mean time. Just take your time.", the man assured and it was the second time I cursed someone that day.

"I can't belive you'd think that I'd even consider your offer.", I hissed as soon as we had reached the staff room.
"Well I told you I'll find a way, so take it or don't.", Des shrugged, taking a look at his expensive watch.
"My answer's still no.", I crossed my arms in front of my chest, willing myself to stay professional.
"Fine. Just know you will regret this someday. Have a good day, Ms. Monroe.", he said, leaving before I could answer.