Scoutin' You

The Applecake Tales

Harry sat in what had become his regular seat at Roast Me, his back facing the wall of books and his bag residing on the seat across from him for when Y/N was on her break. They had spent the better half of a month in each other's company for up to three hours a day, sitting in the same chairs, with a multitude of different books and coffee just reading. They would chat about their days. She would ask Harry how work was going and Harry would ask her about her baking that he had quickly become obsessed with.

The only time that they hadn't followed their routine of reading and eating together was when Harry was off in New York City co-chairing the MET Gala. Y/N couldn't quite believe it when he had told her, not being able to fathom the fact that he was 25 and co-chairing the Gala, the first time he that he would be in attendance no less. Of course, she was beyond thrilled for him and couldn't wait to hear all about it when he got home which was why before he left, he asked her if he could get her number so that he could send her photos while he was there. That then turned into daily texts when they were both awake where they would discuss their current book just as they would if they were at the coffee shop.

The day that he was due back into the U.K., Y/N hadn't expected to see him. She expected him to head home and rest so she had put two slices of apple cake to the side for them both the day after when it would be good warmed up. What she wasn't expecting, however, was for the door to open at exactly 12:36, and for the man, she had started to grow infatuated with walk through it. His grey trousers loose around his legs and his black tee tucked in. He had sunglasses sitting atop his head despite the lack of sunshine outside, and he wore a pair of loafers that she had seen in a couple of photos since he'd been away. It'd been a few days since he got back, and she had purposely hidden the apple cake that day, wanting to surprise him with a slice when she was on her break.

"So, what are you reading today?" Harry peered up from over his book, the smile he held on his lips just able visible.

"The Canterbury Tales." Y/N nodded in acknowledgement, sitting herself down for five once she'd brought his panini over.

When she had started spending random five-minute stops when there were customers around by Harry's table, Nancy hadn't been the most eager about it, telling Y/N to get back to work more often than not. But as time went on and Nancy got to know Harry and see the two of them interacting with their books and having conversations that she'd never heard 25-year-olds engaging in, she grew more lenient about it. Though, that didn't mean that she didn't have to tell T/N to get back to work sometimes when she was too engrossed in the book she was reading.

"I read that when I was 13 I think. I remember clear as day walking into Year 8 English Literature with it and my teacher thinking I was trying to play a trick on her. She didn't expect me to actually sit and read it, and then answer her questions about it." Harry looked impressed and he put his book on the table in front of him, the bookmark Y/N had given him poking out from the top to keep his page.

"I did something similar. When I was in Year 8 and we were reading Of Mice and Men, I'd already read it and my teacher didn't believe me. That was until I started to say what happened in it, almost spoiling the ending for the kids. She let me bring my own books to read after that." They both chuckled before Y/N took a deep breath and slapped her knee in which could only be described as the British way of getting someone's attention before leaving somewhere.

"Right, I should probably head back to work. If my calculations of time are correct, Rosemary and Todrick will be coming in shortly and if I don't have their pot of tea ready then all hell will break loose and I don't want you seeing that." Harry's head cocked to the side. "This old couple that comes in. They're so lovely and they're like my nannan and grandad. They have a pot of tea made strong but they don't like to be kept waiting so I need to go put it on now."