No Buses - Alex Turner Fanfic

I Suppose Midnight Window

I walked down the dimly lit street, looking at the wet sidewalk. The glow of the coffee house reflected in a puddle. It was open 24-hours, and you could always be certain to see someone sitting in a cosy armchair with a cup of something at any time, day or night.

Looking at my watch, the hand ticked to 8 just as I opened the shop's door. Inside it smelled of brewing coffee beans and various pastries. I pushed my hood back, looking about the room. A couple of men who looked about Francis' age played chess in a corner. I noticed a small, crackling fire on the back wall. Cushy couches and chairs filled up every inch of space along with the overlapped oriental rugs covering the floor. It was a lovely place with a wonderful atmosphere.

I suddenly felt a poke in my side, making me jump and turn around to see just who I was here to meet.

"Hey, you," I said, giving him a hug. I never told him about my hugging thing that I had about him when we first met. And I didn't plan to.

"Beat me here," he smiled, pulling his own hood off.

"Only by a second. This place is so great."

He linked his arm around mine, guiding me some place to sit.

"Haven't you ever been here?" he asked, stopping at a plush couch. I flopped down onto it, tucking my feet up.

"Nope. You know me."

I shook my jacket off, as he sat down next to me.

"I've written a couple songs here. It's the perfect place."

I smiled. "I can imagine."

"Would you two care for anything tonight?" someone interrupted. I looked up to see an aproned lady with coffee-stained teeth and a pencil in her hair.

"Uh, cup of regular coffee for me, please," Alex ordered. The lady nodded and then looked at me.

"Oh, I would just like what ever breakfast tea you have, please," I said, not even really sure what they had there. She nodded again, briskly walking away.

"So, how excruciating was the day at the bookshop without me?" Alex said with a funny smirk.

"It was absolute...bliss," I replied, propping my feet up on the table in front of us.

"You're a laugh," he said, sarcastically.

I just nodded. "Fantastic day."

"You're just too embarrassed to admit how terribly lonely you were," he chuckled. The day was indeed lonely without Alex there.

"So, what was so important today that you couldn't come by the bookshop?" I asked with just as much emphasis.

"Oh, I see. Well, apparently it's a bit hushed, but I don't really care...the band might be getting signed rather soon."

My eyes widened. "Oh my god, Alex, that's fucking amazing!"

He smiled bashfully and leaned his head back against the sofa.

"Ah, thanks, Eff. I don't really know how I feel about it, though."

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Well, I don't think it's any big label. We're just kind of going out on a whim."

"Well, I'll be happy for you, whatever happens. But, that really is great."

I thought about this. What would happen if they did get signed? Fame? Fortune? Disappointment? This probably crossed Alex's mind, as well.

Just then the woman came back with our drinks, setting them down on saucers in front of us.

"Anyway,...I can still see today's loneliness in your eyes," he said, picking up his coffee, with a grin.

"You're ridiculous."

I'm not sure how many hours we spent at the coffee house, but it seemed like ages. Each hour getting more drowsy and humorous than the last. And Alex seemed to gradually move closer to me, to the point where his arm was on the back of the couch but it might as well have been around my shoulders. I tried to ignore it, but wondered where we stood. I mean, good friends, yeah. This could be a friendly thing. But anything more?

It was nearly 1am when I realized that if I wanted to survive the next day awake, I had better turn in for the night. Bringing my attention again to his close proximity with me, I attempted at being calm and collected, but couldn't stop the few butterflies in my stomach. I looked at Alex who seemed content as ever with the way things were.

I looked down, picking at a loose thread on my pants. "Um, well, I better..go- get home."

"Oh yeah. I suppose, it's a bit late."

"A bit."

"Yeah."

The thing was happening again. The thing where neither of us said or did anything even though we had both just committed to parting ways. His arm still rested behind me. My heart started to pick up speed because he kept doing the other thing. The thing when someone looks you in the eyes and then glances at your lips and you don't know what to do. The question of friendship kept replaying in my mind. I wasn't sure who was leaning in, but I soon found his face to be extremely close to mine. And then it just happened. My lips pressed against his before I could think about what I was doing and what kind of relationship we were in or what time it was or where we even were. I lost all rational thought. Was there supposed to be a rational thought?

Alex's arm fell around my neck. My hand gently hooked onto his collar, pulling him a little closer. His other hand rested on my thigh. I wasn't completely sure that this wasn't what I had secretly wanted, and I wasn't completely sure that I ever wanted to let go of him in that moment.

This state we were currently in seemed to last forever, and I think I was okay with it. It was finally when I heard someone's throat clearing and glass clinking together that I pulled away, glancing over to see the waitress leaving with our empty cups. I turned back to Alex who just looked at me with low, tired eyes and a little smile.

"That's been on my mind for a while," he said quietly.

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AN:

School is starting in a day which means less time for writing, but I will try my best to keep up with it because I really do enjoy it and I kind of want to find out what happens to Eff and Al. So, as the chapters may take longer to post, the story will still definitely go on!

Thanks for any and all reads, votes, and comments! They mean a lot!!

xxx