Loose Change (Larry Stylinson AU)

Chapter Two

>> Second Chapter <<

 Lying in bed, Louis was listening to the racket next door as he thought about today. He was lucky to be home safe.

 To say that he was scared a while ago would be an understatement; he was absolutely terrified. He tried to be friendly even though the guys from a while ago intimidated him.

 Fortunately, Harry was there to make them go away. Right before he left on his motorcycle, Louis handed him his change. But Harry gave it back to a confused Louis saying "Keep 'em..." right before he left.

 Louis had never received tips before, customers saying it was the lousy service, so he questioned the generous action.

 He was wrapped tightly in his favorite comforter, making him feel warm and cozy. Turning on the nightlight he had beside his nightstand, he shut off the lamp. Louis further burrowed into the sheets.

 Although he was already an adult, Louis had the hugest fear of the dark. Just thinking about it horrified him, he imagined monsters coming out from under his bed to grab him and take him with them to the darkness.

 He instantly hid beneath the mounds of sheets he had with him, thinking of them as a shield from the monsters lurking about. Yeah, childish would be one of the many words to describe Louis.

*The Next Morning*

 Monday went horribly for Louis yesterday, don't they always for everyone else? I mean, Mondays just seem like they're the unholiest of days. They don't seem like they belong in the whole "seven days in a week" thingy, not for Louis that is. 

"Sorry Mondays, I don't mean to offend you..." Louis mumbled in his sleep, trying to apologize to "Monday". What other person would apologize to Monday? No one but Louis Tomlinson.

"Excuse me?" An old woman questioned, she didn't quite catch what the young man, who was sleeping on the counter, said. She's been standing there for a few minutes, trying to wake Louis up. "What lousy service..." she mumbled right before trying to wake Louis up again. "Excuse me, young man. But I'd like to buy some flowers now."

"Shut up old woman, I'm tryna sleep 'ere..." Louis responded sleepily, waving his hand dismissively.

 But that apparently offended the woman. 

"Well... I never!" she gasped holding her heart.

 This caught Louis' attention as he sat up instantly. He didn't wanna go around offending people, especially not respectful old women.

"Oh my-- I'm so sorry!" he apologized. 

 But Louis was stopped from his persistent apologies when another person entered the shop. It was the same guy from yesterday at the shop which he saw again the time Louis was headed home. The-change-guy, Louis thinks to himself.

 As the change-guy, fully entered shop, his eyes widened upon seeing the old woman.

"Margarette?" he said, disbelievingly.

"Oh, Harry!"  She exclaimed as she approached and hugged him, a hug which he reciprocated.

 While this exchange occurred, Louis couldn’t do anything but watch. It appeared that the woman and the-change-guy know each other. Change-guy now known as Harry and old woman now known as Margarette.

“Fancy seeing you here…” she said as she stepped back and stood before him.

“Yeah, I was—“ he tried to come up with an excuse, he didn’t want anybody he knew to learn of his transactions at a flowershop. “What are you doing here?” he asked instead, trying to change the topic; it worked, of course.

“Me... I was just going to buy flowers for my vase at home. You know how I love livening up the place.” She replied.

“Oh yeah….” Harry said.

“Anyways, you wouldn’t like the service here, Harry. It’s terrible, this young man at the counter is being awfully rude,” she said, gesturing to Louis.

 Louis could only look to the floor in shame, he felt like crying at the moment. He hates being mean to people, but he couldn’t help it; he was sleepy, he gets grumpy when he’s tired.

“Oh it’s okay Margarette. I don’t mind the service. Not at all,” Harry replied, but as he glanced at Louis he felt sorry for the lad. He could see the tears which were about to fall. “Why don’t you just go along outside and I’ll get your flowers for you?”

 As the old woman left, Louis sniffled and cried silently. He was thankful that Harry helped him out by making the old woman, Margarette, leave. But he still felt really sorry for being rude.

 Harry ordered for his bouquet of Carnations and Asters and another bouquet of different flowers as well, they were probably the old woman’s order. He still felt really bad for Louis.

 Louis went to the back to wipe his teary eyes and prepare the orders. His boss wasn't here again, too busy with managing orders.

 When he returned to the front with the flowers, he handed them to Harry.

“Don’t mind her…” Harry said to Louis as he took the flowers.

“No, it’s my fault. But thanks for helping me out. It’s Harry right?” Louis said.

“Yeah…”

“And thanks for helping me last night as well.” Louis smiled.

“It’s fine, those guys were being a bunch of pricks,” Harry said as he couldn’t help but smile as well. “It was nice meeting you…” He didn’t know Louis’ name, he wasn’t even wearing his nametag. Louis had forgotten to wear it.

“I’m Louis” he grinned as he waved his hand happily.

“Right... Louis. I'll see you again tomorrow I guess…” Harry said with a wave of his hand just before he left.