Writer's Block

Harry Hook - Book Shop

Book Shop – Harry Hook
Words: 1,994

Anyone who knew Harry Hook on even an acquaintance level would claim that he was nothing but bad news, and he would readily agree. He wasn’t overly affectionate. He wasn’t particularly sensitive. He didn’t plan dates or regularly use his phone. He didn’t care hardly at all for good grades or making friends or being socially appropriate.
Yet, for some reason, you were undeniably attracted to him.
When he came to Auradon with his crew, he took an obvious liking to you. You brushed him off at first, learning from Mal and her friends that Harry was a shameless flirt and generally not serious in his advances. Your resistance only encouraged him to try harder, sitting with you at lunch and passing you notes during the classes you shared. Uma and Gil were insistent that something about you was different, that Harry wasn’t just entertaining himself, but Mal didn’t agree. Still, the more the pirate flirted, the deeper into your attraction you fell.
When he finally asked you out on a date, few people were surprised when you said yes.

That was six months ago, and Harry wasn’t much better of a boyfriend than anyone expected. In his defense (because Uma would defend him against the preppy haters that roamed Auradon), you were his first official girlfriend. In addition to being inexperienced, you came from different worlds. Your parents were good – you weren’t a VK from the Isle. The silly pranks and lighthearted pickpocketing that Harry thought was hilarious only made you mad. He didn’t know how to impress you beyond flirting.
Your birthday was fast approaching, as everyone loved to remind you. You were seated at lunch with Jane, Carlos, Evie, and Doug when it was mentioned again.
“What are your plans?” Doug inquired innocently.
Refusing to meet his eyes, you shrugged. “Might take the day for myself. It’s been a while since I’ve had some alone time.”
“Harry isn’t planning something?” Jane, ever the optimist, questioned cheerfully. “Ever since Carlos and I got together, he’s planned the best birthday parties for me. He spends weeks working on them!”
You visibly winced, slumping in your chair and glaring down at your tray of food.
“Did I say something wrong?” Jane wondered, brows furrowed.
Evie sighed softly. “Harry isn’t exactly… the party type.”
Carlos gave his girlfriend a look, and the brunette made a quiet noise of realization.
“(y/n), I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you, I just assumed-“
“People assume a lot of things,” you cut her off bitterly. “It’s fine, guys. You all warned me. Maybe Uma was wrong. Maybe Harry…” You swallowed thickly. “Maybe he’s not really interested. Maybe he’s just passing time. It’s whatever, really.”
“I have an idea,” Evie offered sweetly. “If Harry doesn’t do anything, I’ll take you to that new book shop that just opened up. I heard Belle donated a ton of books from her and Beast’s collection.”
Your head slowly lifted at her words, and you offered her a weak smile. “Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks, Evie.”
“What are friends for?” the blue-haired girl beamed.

A few tables away, Harry sat with a dumbfounded expression. “She thinks… she thinks I don’t care about her?”
Uma’s brow was quirked as she looked between her first mate and your table. “Sounds like it. You haven’t really been acting like you do.”
The brunet’s brow furrowed. “What do yeh mean? I spend time with her, don’t I?”
Uma rolled her eyes. “How often, Harry? Outside of class? Do you hang out with her on weekends? Text her throughout the day? Have you taken her on a single date since you asked her out?”
Harry’s cheeks burned a deep scarlet and he ducked his head, avoiding his captain’s gaze. “I… I didn’t know girls really liked all that. I didn’t have to do any of that to her with her, yeh know?”
The sea queen exhaled a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Most girls like that crap, Harry. Especially Auradon girls. She isn’t some criminal from the Isle ready to raise Hell with you. Girls like (y/n) want to be wooed.”
Harry threw his head back with an uncharacteristic whine. “Alright, alright. I get it. What do I do, then?”
“Steal Evie’s idea,” Uma replied with a shrug.
“What idea?”
She leveled him with a glare. “Weren’t you listening? Evie said that if you didn’t take care of your girl on her birthday, she was gonna take (y/n) to the new book store.”
The brunet tilted his head. “Who actually enjoys going to the book store?”
“Your girlfriend does!”
Harry winced. “Alright, I’ll take her. Yeh don’t have to yell at me.”
“When classes are out, go find her, spend the afternoon with her, and tell her you have a surprise planned for her birthday,” Uma instructed.
“Aye,” the brunet agreed with a nod.

As you sat alone in your room, a knock sounded on your door. Intrigued, you rose from the bed to see who had come searching for you. You couldn’t deny the surprise in your chest when you saw your pirate boyfriend standing on the other side of the doorway.
“Harry?” you greeted slowly.
He offered you a toothy grin. “Hello, love.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Word floating around Auradon is that yer birthday is this Saturday,” the brunet stated nonchalantly.
“Yeah?” you nodded, uncertain as to why your birthday was suddenly an important subject. “What about it?”
Harry frowned at your tone. Guilt crept through his chest knowing that his actions, or lack thereof, had put you in such a bad mood.
“I’ve got a surprise for yeh,” he smirked. “Get dressed up if yeh like. We’re going out.”
Your eyes widened in surprise. “You- We- What?”
He chuckled softly, leaning forward so that his torso crossed the border into your room. He tilted his head, planting a tender kiss on your cheek. “Saturday, love. One o’ clock, alright?”
Your skin heated pleasantly where it had been kissed. “Yeah, sounds good.”
He offered you a wink before he spun on his heel and sauntered away, leaving you stunned and standing in your doorway.

Saturday arrived, and there was nothing you could do to calm your nerves. You dressed simply in a fitting t-shirt, denim shorts, plain leggings, and high-top sneakers. Unlike your friends, you didn’t dress similarly to your parents. You preferred to display your own style. A nagging voice in the back of your mind told you that it was too preppy, too good to impress Harry, that he’d take one look at you and swim back to the Isle. You firmly told said voice to back the hell out of your date. Harry had asked you out, after all, and he knew you were a good person.
At one o’ clock, knuckles rapped on the other side of your door. Glancing at the time on your phone, you were surprised to see that the pirate was perfectly on time. Inhaling deeply, you opened the door to find a rather well-groomed Harry Hook. His black jeans were still torn, but more stylishly and in fewer places. His shredded shirt and leather trench coat had been replaced by a grey button-up and a deep maroon leather blazer. His signature hook had been left in his room, his eyeshadow was thinner and less messy, his deep brown waves had actually been brushed (Uma must have helped, you were certain), and his lips quirked in a confident smirk. Though, as you gazed into his icy blue eyes, you found a hint of uncertainty.
“Wow,” you exhaled. “I had no idea you could clean up so nicely.”
He cleared his throat, heat rising to his tan cheeks. “Uh, yeah, well..” He stood up straighter from where he’d been leaning against the door frame. “A beautiful lass like you deserves a quality date with a gentleman, not minimal effort from a withered pirate.”
You frowned, stepping forward and resting your hands on his chest. “What are you talking about, Harry?”
He met your worried gaze and exhaled a sigh. There was no way he could pretend everything was fine now. “People have been telling me that I haven’t exactly been a proper boyfriend to yeh.”
Guilt pooled in your chest. “What people, Harry?”
He shrugged. “Uma, Evie, Mal… all of yer friends, really.”
“Harry…” Your hands dropped to take hold of his, and you gazed softly into his eyes. “You’re not a bad boyfriend. Okay, maybe you’re not really affectionate like Ben. You don’t plan a lot of dates like Carlos. But you’re a different person. I love that you’re a pirate. I love that you’re cocky and sneaky and dangerous. I don’t need a prince, Harry. I chose a pirate.”
Afyer a moment’s hesitation, Harry leaned forward, tilting his head and pressing his lips to yours. You gasped at the sudden gesture, snaking your arms around his neck. It wasn’t the first kiss you’d shared- kissing, for certain, Harry was comfortable with and talented at- but it was unexpected, and you could feel the emotions behind it.
“Come on, lass,” he murmured against your mouth. “We’ve got a date to get to.”
You beamed at him, closing and locking the door behind you. He took your hand in his, lacing your fingers as he led you down the hallway. Students passing by sneered at your choice in partners, but you simply flipped them off and snuggled close to Harry’s side. He laughed loudly at your response, pressing a kiss to your head every time.
“We’re here,” he announced, and you took in the sights. A gasp fled from your mouth as you realized that the building in front of you was the brand new book store.
“Harry, this is amazing! But how did you-“
He scratched at the back of his neck. “I may have overheard Evie talking to yeh about it. I remembered that yeh like to read and thought maybe yeh’d enjoy coming here with me.”
You threw your arms around his neck, squeezing him tightly. “I love it.”
He laughed as he returned the hug. “Let’s go in, then.”
You led him inside, soft noises of awe and wonder sounding in your throat at every turn. Harry couldn’t help but grin as he watched you file through every row, explaining the plot lines of the ones that you’d read, and holding a collection of books you yearned to experience. Harry insisted on taking the growing pile from you, carrying it around like a gentleman should.
Belle, who’d arrived to donate more of her own collection, found the two of you wandering around. She smiled fondly at the sight of a softer Harry Hook, and she stepped up beside him while you lost yourself in a new genre.
“I’ll give you a discount,” she informed him, chuckling softly when he jumped in surprise.
He turned to face her with a confused expression.
Belle simply nodded towards you. “She’s never been this excited about anything. This is the sweetest thing you could have done for her.”
She sauntered away, leaving Harry blushing and staring off into nothing.
“Hey,” came your voice in front of him. He turned his attention back to you, chuckling at the size of your stack.
“I’m not getting all of these,” you explained sheepishly. “I just need your help deciding.”
“Yer getting as many as yeh want,” he countered. He led you to a nearby table and sat down. “I’ll still help yeh, though.”
The light in your eyes was worth every cent that he possessed. You spent the afternoon reading summaries and reviews of every book, until your collection had been significantly reduced. When you were content with your selections, Harry paid for them, at a promised discount, and assisted you in carrying them back to your room.
Harry ended up falling asleep on your bed, in your arms, as you read books aloud to him.