Still That Little Boy (Louis Tomlinson AU)

Chapter One

"One coffee please?" The white-haired woman with the canvas of wrinkles covering her face spoke in a sweet tone. Her grandmother-like smile showed her yellowing teeth as her thick framed glasses slid down her nose slightly.

"Yes ma'am, coming right up!" Veronica spoke in a polite tone, her Taylor Swift red lips in a closed mouth grin. She clicked at the cash register and asked the lady to give her the money.

The woman's wrinkly pale hands with periwinkle fingernails shakily--from age-- handed over two dollars and twelve cents.

The coffee was soon to the lady and and she was waddling to a table for two in the back of the restaurant, sitting slowly by herself.

Veronica sighed, leaning her body on the counter and scraping her hand through her wavy, tangled black hair. Veronica wasn't sure if the choices she made are the right ones.

Moving to America was a hard choice, but she wanted too. A new start is what she wanted, and she might have found the love of her life. And University was amazing, the exact way she dreamt of it. Her dream was to become a lawyer, and Law school was the best way of course. Harry, also, Harry was the sweetest, curly haired boy she had ever met. Not that she had met very many sweet curly haired guys in the first place. Her boyfriend was cheeky and a great flirter, but also stayed faithful throughout their two year relationship.

"Veronica!" A Irish accent yelled running through the coffee shop door. The bell on top made a 'bring' sound and closed again quickly.

"Niall, Niall, calm down, what's wrong?" Veronica couldn't help but laugh a little at Niall, his cheeks a bright red, his small chest heaving up and under his black 'Ramones' tee and quick shaky breaths leaving his thin pink lips.

"Have you seen Harry? We have a joint essay due tomorrow and I need his help!" Niall flung his hands up in exasperation.

"We have a date tonight, sorry! Looks like you're doing it on your own!" Veronica smirked and went to the back where the coffees were made.

No one was there at the time, so Veronica wrote on a small yellow sticky note that she left for the day and stuck it where it would be noticeable. Grabbing her coat and taking of her neon orange apron, Veronica was out in the chilly winter air of a small city in New York. The snow started falling heavier, the bright white frozen water sprinkled her hair falling at mid-back.

Veronica looked up and smiled, catching the beautiful flakes, one not looking the same as the rest, in her mouth.

The rest of the walk to her dorm was worse, however, the wind picked up and Veronica's long coat whipped around. Cars no longer drove by, and the snow was impossible to see through. Veronica ran into a nearby shop, glad to be out of the snow, and glad that the shop was opened in the first place.

The shop was warm and cozy, smelling of pine needles and ink. Veronica could tell as soon as she walked through the door it was a tattoo parlor. The various posters of beautiful inked and coloured drawings, that if chosen, will belong on the choosers skin forever.

A large man was at the front desk, with a ponytail, wearing a 'Misfits' tee-shirt. His skin showing on his forearms no longer looked like skin, rather as a board of canvas, an artist spilling their heart and brain into it. The arms the size of Veronica herself flexing when he flipped the page of a Rolling Stone magazine.

"Can I help you?" A gruff voice spoke up, and Veronica realized the man was looking up, giving her an emotionless look.

"It's snowing pretty bad out, could I stay here for a while?" Veronica was nervous, not wanting to make this guy angry.