The City (Hed Shyles [Harry Styles + Ed Sheeran] One Shot)

Part 1/1

Harry sighed, pacing back and forth behind the counter of the small bakery, bored out of his mind. His co-workers and he hadn't had but two customers all day, and he was still desperately waiting four more hours until his shift was over. Every day, he would work a single seven-hour shift at Gail's Artisan Bakery with his mum by his side. This way, much to his annoyance, she was able to boss him around most of the day, if not all. 

Everything was so plain; never anything new to look at. The walls were a tasteless light blue, the floor was white tile, and there were some paintings hanging up in different areas of the wall - all of which were created by the owner's grandmother. They portrayed the common scene - the city. This confused Harry when he took the time to pay attention to it. Why would you show humans something so familiar to them? Wouldn't they like something different? If it was Harry's choice, he would want paintings of a country scene. That would be quite nice. Although, if his knowledge was correct, the owner's grandmother had been disabled most of her life due to a bad car accident, meaning she most likely didn't get out much, so the city was probably the only landscape she was aware of. They could buy paintings. But they obviously didn't, so that was that.

In addition, there weren't many social opportunities for him there. There was his mum, who he talked to most, and she was...well...his mum. He wanted an actual friend who he could share secrets with and talk to like he'd known them forever. Then there was Alex, who wasn't very outgoing and mostly kept to himself. Harry had tried to make conversation with him on way more than one occasion, but it never lasted long. It surprised him that Alex was able to talk enough to finish the job interview. And last, there was Courtney. She was nothing like Harry at all. She listened to heavy metal music, had too many piercings to count (Harry was sure he hadn't even seen them all) and at least fifteen tattoos. To top that off, she looked about seventeen. He kept his distance from her. 

He had no comfort at home either, nothing exciting to look forward to when he got there. He lived alone. He had a T.V., a PlayStation 3, and some food. Nothing to envy him for, really.

He wasn't satisfied with his life at all. He had the basic needs, but he was the kind of person who needed fun and excitement to spice everything up. In what form, he still wasn't sure, but there had to be some way to make him feel less empty. He was starting to think he would never find it. 

**********

Meanwhile, Ed was roaming the streets absentmindedly, looking for a good place to sit and start singing. That sounded sad, right? Not to him. He found it to be so normal to sit on the street or in parks to sing his heart out for money. He loved it, actually. The people of London were so much more appreciative than his family or friends had ever been. 

He approached a bakery, not very big, and observed his surroundings carefully, squinting to keep the sun out of his eyes. This looked like a nice place. There was a steady flow of people moving by that would hear him, and it wasn't far from the road. There was a good place to sit and set up his guitar case. So, he plopped down on the concrete and reached over to set up his guitar case and remove his guitar from it. Gently, he began strumming and singing, getting carried away in the first sounds of the song he wrote himself.

**********

Anne, Harry's mum, came strolling out of the back room curiously, using a wet rag to wipe the flour off of her hands. She peered outside, only to see a boy - about her son's age - with a guitar, serenading the passing crowds. She scoffed, thinking of him as no more than city trash, and approached Harry. He was sitting on a stool that was placed on the left side of the bakery, spinning around like a child and picking at his cuticles. 

"Harry, darling," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder to catch his attention. He jumped at the unexpected gesture, and a small smile tugged at her lips. He gazed up at her, awaiting her next words. "Would you stick your head out the door and tell that man to leave? But do it politely."