Yours (Louis Tomlinson)

6

Phoebe's POV

Louis leaves quickly with the keys and the room is frozen. Rebecca has a pair of chopsticks halfway to her mouth, I have my fork frozen above dumplings, and Harry still watching him leave. My eyes roll once he shuts the door. What an ass. I won't forget to tell Harry that either once I hear the door across the hall shut.

"Asshole." I say and earn a laugh from Rebecca at my bluntness.

"Hey he's actually a really awesome guy and he's hilarious." Harry defends and I laugh.

"When?" I ask.

"When he isn't upset." Harry explains.

"He's a real downer." I say and Harry chuckles.

"He's my best friend. He's in a funk. This girl really messed him up." He says sadly and shoves more food in his mouth.

"You two would really get along if you gave him a chance." Harry says.

"No." I say flatly and Harry sighs.

"I'm going to be gone Saturday and I was hoping you two could keep him some company. Maybe order him some food. You could just leave it on the door step. He'll eat whatever it is. I just don't want him to feel alone." Harry says.

"You act like he's a child...or a dog." I point out.

"Please Phoebe." He begs.

"No." I say.

"Rebecca?" He asks and she laughs.

"No way in hell am it dealing with that all week. He drank my beer." She says and I laugh.

"I'm begging you. I'll pay for a new TV in your place if you do this for me." He says and I contemplate.

"TV and you pay for a new pack of beer for me. Good beer too." Rebecca says. Harry chuckles at her, but nods.

"Phoebe?" He asks and I sigh.

"Fine. I'll help out." I say and he comes around the table. He hugs me and I try to push him off.

"Dork." I say and he laughs.

"You better get back to your buzz kill over there." I say when he gets back to his bowl of noodles.

"But I'm not done." He whines.

"Bring him some food. He just bolted without eating." I say and he smiles.

"Thank you Phoebe and Rebecca. It really means a lot." Harry says once he gathers the food.

"That's what neighbors are for." I say just as he closes the door behind him.

*

Harry left here about an hour ago. I was finishing my second bottle of beer. Rebecca went to bed because she can't drink on school nights. She also can't hold her boos that well. She's a light weight. I'm relaxing on the couch and watching the movie Sucker Punch. I'm pretty lonely. I wish Dylan would get on break already. He said he was working nights more now. Our two schedules would be flopped, but we could meet at lunch. I take out my phone and call him.

"Hello?" He sounds tired, almost like he was sleeping.

"Are you sleeping on the job?" I joke.

"What are you-oh okay yeah. You caught me this time. Don't tell my boss though." He says with a chuckle.

"So are we still meeting for coffee?" I ask.

"I'm going to try." He says.

"You should bring mine to the shop tomorrow. We can sit on the chairs by the window. It'll be nice and romantic and sweet." I say and he makes a gag noise.

"Don't be a jerk." I say and laugh.

"Alright. I'll talk to you tomorrow when we have coffee. Bye." He says.

"Bye." I say and toss my phone down.

I get up and put my second bottle in the sink. The wasted beer that Louis left still rests. Rebecca won't drink it and I don't want to. I could waste it or walk it over. I pick the bottle up and just as I'm about to dump it, I walk to the door. I make my way to their door and knock. No one answers. I hear the TV going, so I knock louder. What the hell guys?

"It's Phoebe." I say and immediately hear the furniture move and the TV volume decrease. Louis opens the door and stares at the bottle.

"Take your beer. Don't waste it." I say and turn around.

"Thanks." He says as I open my door.

"Don't mention it." I say and close the door behind me. Then, I'm off to bed.

*

I wait around for Dylan, but he doesn't call me like he says he will. He doesn't bring me coffee like he said he would. I tried calling him, but his phone is off. So I'm standing here, looking like a loser. I'm just waiting for a boy that isn't coming. I head to the right. I'm going to get my coffee without him. I walk into my favorite Starbucks and head to the counter.

"Can I help you?" The girl asks.

"Yeah. I'll have a hot mocha frap to go please. Under the name Phoebe." I say and she nods. I pay for my drink and wait at the other end for it. As soon as it comes, I see a bleak faced Louis and a happy Harry walk in.

"Hey guys." I say and Harry blinks over to me.

"Hi Phoebe. Louis has refused to go to Starbucks for the past year, but I'm making him go this morning." Harry says and Louis rolls his eyes.

"Good morning to you too." I say to Louis, but he seems to be in a mood.

"I thought you had some coffee date this morning." Harry says and I shrug.

"He worked the night shift last night, so he stood me up." I say sadly.

"He shouldn't do that." Harry says and I shrug.

"Oh well. Can't blame him for being tired." I say.

"Can I leave yet?" Louis asks. I laugh at his aggravation.

"No, you have to drink an entire cup of coffee." Harry says and Louis groans.

"Good luck with that." I tell Harry and head to the door.

"You could join us." Harry says and I look at Louis. He rolls his eyes and goes to a booth.

"I better not." I say and he chuckles.

"Fine. We'll come and bother you at the book store in a bit." He says.

"Deal. See you soon." I say and leave.

Outside it's freezing. My hands numb up insanely fast. Even with my coffee, I'm an icicle. I get to the store and Dean is waiting inside. I go up the steps and he smiles at me before opening the door. My cheeks feel like their burning and the newly warm air tried to warm me up. It's working. I take a sip of my coffee and walk behind my desk. I rest my coffee down and toss my coat on the hook.

"Frigid, isn't it?" He asks and I nod.

"It's unbearable. I hate the wind." I say and he shrugs.

"I'm a winter bug, so I love it. You know that by now." He says and I share a laugh.

"Well, I'll let you out at four tonight. I want to hang out in my store for a bit. I miss it." He says. Ever since he had his knee surgery, Dean hasn't been able to work at the store with me. His knees hurt way too much. He still makes the journey opening the shop and closing it every day.

"No problem Dean. See you then. Get some rest and relax." I say and he nods.

"Bye Beep." He says and I laugh. Dean had this weird fascination with calling me Beep whenever our paths parted. I loved it and hated the weird name.