No Buses - Alex Turner Fanfic

I Suppose, The Bookshop

And stop by bookshop, he did. I could almost count on Alex coming by every day. It was always after a band practice or meeting. He told me all about the band, and how it had slowly come round to it's success in Sheffield. He didn't seem to care much about the building popularity, though. Every once and a while he helped me carry in new books and find places to stack them. He became a regular in Francis' eyes, and they got to know each other. Alex always mentioned how he liked the French crooners that played every day from the back. When rainy days returned, Alex and I would find a nice corner and try to see who could out-fact the other, usually flipping through books on space. He always succeeded at finding the most interesting facts in the end. For instance, did you know the Sun travels once every 100,000 light years around the galaxy?

And I always tried to get Alex to sing something, but he never agreed. I managed to keep most of the talking about him, avoiding my own family issues. I found out about all his favorite things, and all the things he couldn't stand. He told me his worst gig experiences (other than the fight night). One day he even happened to have his guitar with him, and taught me a few chords. We spent a majority of the time laughing to tears, and he told me he hardly ever laughed like that.

It was so nice to have his company at the shop, and we had gotten to be such good friends over just a month. The first day of October was when he asked me the question I had been evading.

I sat behind the front counter while he stood on the opposite side, leaning over on his elbows and fiddling with my fingers.

"So...what about your family?" Alex asked, without warning.

"Oh, I thought you'd never ask," I said with dull sarcasm.

"Touchy subject?"

I sighed. "A bit. But I'd like to tell you."

He nodded with understanding.

"Basically, I haven't seen my dad in quite a while, and I don't speak with my mum anymore."

He frowned, but didn't comment. I told him the backstory; the divorce, the sleepless nights, the stress, the moving. He never once said anything, and just listened. I realized it was the first time I had ever told someone about it. It felt good. But it also gave me a heavy, sinking feeling in my chest.

"You must be angry inside?" he said finally.

I shrugged. "I was. I've given it up a bit. You know, trying to move on from that."

"I think you're pretty fuckin' brave, if you ask me," Alex said, sincerely. After fiddling with my fingers for so long, he must have decided to take hold of my hand. "Coping with all that, then moving out with nothing atall, but Barry." I smiled at his kind words and the mention of my cat by his name.

"Thank you," I told him. He brushed his thumb over the top my hand.

Francis had suddenly barged up to the front with books, making me rip my hand from Alex's and stand up straight. I could see the faint grin on Alex's face.

"Alex," Francis said, with a nod.

"Francis," Alex replied.

Francis continued to put books away in their rightful places.

"Oh, don't mind me. I'm not here at all," I said, jokingly.

Francis looked over at Alex.

"Someone say something?" he said, pretending to look bewildered before giving me a smile. "How are you, Effy, dear."

"I'm fine, Francis, thank you very much."

Alex chuckled and picked up a couple of books I was letting him borrow. He leaned back over the counter.

"Eff, tomorrow I won't be able to be here during the day. But, meet me at the twenty-four hour coffee house at 8pm."

I smiled, questionably. "...Okay."

"Good. It'll be nice to meet each other someplace new."

He winked, before hurrying out the door, and saying a quick goodbye to Francis and I.

After the door shut, Francis glanced at me. "A date, I hear?"

I rolled my eyes, feeling my cheeks get hot as I got up to walk to the back.

"You're wishful thinking, is far from working."