Shade After Shade

Chapter Eight

Six Months Later

Harry began in his first tour, which was only in the US, since he's just started out. His album was -shockingly to him- a big hit worldwide and had high amount of sales globally and a really good feedback on social medias.  He was on a never ending high, and could only reach further up till he touched the skies.

But the more he reached, the further the clouds seemed to be. He can only have his life completed with one more thing, but he'd lost that not long ago.

But he never gave up.

His tour went on for three months, until he reached Florida. He didn't know the address specifically, but he knew which town and he wasn't about to give up the opportunity of hopefully running into the blondie.

He covered up as best as he could in the summer from the public, and went alone to scout the place. Of course, he'd kept his phone with him in case of emergency and he started with the most crowded place.

What are the odds, right?

Far from the hustle, however, it was yet to be the weekend as Taylor worked her way around the café. They were missing two of their staff and today seemed to be extra busy.

She never faltered her plastic smile though, not at her work nor home. She kept smiling no matter what, because what if she doesn't smile one day and her feelings she's been cramping decide to flood all over her?

It was nearly the evening as the sun settled, people were going home already and the café was silent as few customers were still there peacefully having their hot drinks. Taylor had lifted her recently cut hair in a tiny ponytail, just to keep it from sticking to her skin and bothering her in the scorching summer. She'd always disliked summers, especially ones without her friends or a vacation to breathe.

"Have you seen him?"

"Are you sure it's him?"

Taylor couldn't exactly ignore her colleagues' gossiping in the kitchen as she placed the dirty dishes in the dish washer.

"Can you believe he's here without security?"

"Oh no, a superstar is about get the place cramped again. My legs are killing me."

"He's attractive though, look at him."

Taylor peeked in between them through the window of the kitchen to the café, and sure enough there he was, the person she knew a year ago laying his head on his arms.

To say she's happy and about to cry is an understatement, she's over the clouds.

She past by her workmates quickly before they decide to serve him and took out her pad and pen from her apron. She took a deep breath, and approached him calmly, and tried not to focus on the way his now longer hair is covering his eyes as he had a droopy expression.

"Hello sir," she cleared her throat, trying to suppress her radiant smile.

He squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing the tiredness out of them as he had yet to notice who exactly is in front of him. "Hey, I'll just have wa-" He choked once he lifted his gaze to meet her amused one. "Taylor?"

Holy shit, no way! Was his first thought.

"Look who the cat brought." She grinned helplessly. "You look exhausted, don't you want anything other than water?"

He was shocked, startled, repelled that she's so calm about this while his mind was all over the place.

He couldn't form an intelligible sentence without stuttering and choking again.

"Are you just going to just stare? Because trust me, a picture would last longer. I would know." She tapped his forehead with the tip of her pen. "I'll be right back with the water and tea."

But he didn't order tea.

"You look like you need it."

"Okay." Was all he said then.