London Boy (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfic)

Tea To Go

Tom instructed the cabdriver where to go. The ride to their final destination was slightly awkward. Tom tried to make small talk, but Lauren was too shy to contribute much. They both kept stealing glances at each other and then would look away embarrassed. Lauren wanted to look out the window at all the cute little shops they were passing, but something about Tom kept drawing her attention and she couldn't stop looking at him whenever he wasn't facing her direction. She tried her best to use her peripheral vision but the curls sticking out of his ball cap were almost begging to be touched. She didn't dare, of course, but that didn't mean she didn't want to.

Suddenly the cabbie pulled over and Tom paid him. Lauren started to open her door but Tom made a noise as if he was offended. She glanced at him and he shook his head and held a finger up, signaling for her to wait. He got out of the cab on his side and made his way over to Lauren's door to open it for her.

"My, my, aren't you a proper gentleman," Lauren smiled as she stepped out onto the curb.

Tom let out a little chuckle and it was so unique and, well, adorable, that Lauren couldn't help but laugh along.

Tom thanked the cabbie and led Lauren into a small coffee shop.

"This is one of my favorite cafés," Tom told her. "I thought we could get some tea to-go and I'd show you this really gorgeous garden not far from here. Or, sorry, would you prefer coffee?"

"When in Rome..." Lauren smiled.

Tom pulled a chair back for Lauren and she thanked him as she took a seat. He stepped over to the front counter to order two hot teas for the both of them.

Lauren watched him interact with the barista. His kindness never faltered. The barista seemed to have a little difficulty getting her words out, as if she was flustered. They were out of earshot, but she could sense the barista somehow knew him. He tried to hand over payment for the teas but the barista wouldn't take it. Instead, she handed him a pen and he scribbled something on a piece of paper for her, thanked her and walked back to Lauren with the teas.

Lauren thanked him as he handed one of them to her and glanced back at the barista, who happened to be staring right at them while putting her cell phone up to her ear.

Tom's facial expression made it look like he was busted for something. Lauren was feeling a bit confused about what exactly went down between the two of them.

"Shall we?" he nodded toward the exit.

Walking down the sidewalk, sipping their teas and having a pleasant conversation about the nearby shops and must-see areas around town, Tom was really enjoying Lauren's company. She was a little quiet, but he could tell she was worth getting to know more. He liked the challenge of getting her to tell him about herself. And when she smiled whenever he would make a joke, even an embarrassingly lame one he wished he never thought of, he could feel his heart swell a little bit. He wanted to keep making her smile.

It would be dusk soon and the sky would lose it's light. They finally strolled into the garden Tom had wanted to show her. He smiled when he saw her face, her eyes wide, taking it all in.

The garden was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen! There was an old church building being beautifully engulfed by plants. Tom told her it was the bombed ruins of a medieval church. The sun was in it's magic hour and was softly peeking through the trees, making the scenery look like something out of a movie. It was too perfect.

Lauren looked at Tom in disbelief and saw he was looking right at her with a little smile. She felt her cheeks begin to flush, embarrassed for her childlike reaction to the place he brought her.