Beau

remembering is pain.

Friday afternoons at 4:30 sharp, is Beau's time to go to Mr. Darcy's Bookstore. Beau has been going to the store since her mother allowed her to walk from their apartment a few blocks up the street. She was around nine. Beau loved the smell of old books, waiting for a curious reader to explore its contents. She was fond of every genre, but mostly read romance. It intrigued her, and she found it mesmerizing to experience a great love through a few tattered pages.

Beau's mother shared the love with books also. They would mark their books together, and even have their own small book club. Beau's mother was seemingly the only person who understood her daughter. Growing up Beau wanted to read, do homework, watch 50's black and white movies with her mother, and continue to read. She didn't like to go outside, only if it was up Elm street to Mr. Darcy's bookstore.

Beau grabbed her black taper coat putting the long soft material over her shoulders. She began digging around the pocket of her jeans pulling the keys out. After locking the door, she tossed the keys into her coat pocket, heading down the stairs, towards Elm street.

Immediately after opening the door, the crisp wind blew Beau's deep chestnut hair into her face. She quickly grabbed a hair tie from her wrist and slid it into her hair.

Beau smiles and waves at Mrs. Yelvington, the baker. She usually went into the shop once a week to get a blueberry scone. That was her mother's all time favorite. Beau could remember going to the bakery with her mother when she was a small girl. Beau would order a scone, just like her mother, but cinnamon sugar. They would scurry off to the bookstore and read for hours. Every single weekend Beau's mother would treat her to it.

"Good afternoon, Beau. You look lovely today!" Mr. Darcy says to Beau, opening the door for her, and grabbing a seat next to Beau's usual. "Looks like you've got no scone." he continues, "You've always got one of 'em. Are you sick?"

Beau looks away and shakes her head slowly. "No, I'm feeling just fine. I just wasn't in the mood for a scone. Ever since..." she props her arm up and rests her head into her hand. "Since mom" she finally admits.

Mr. Darcy takes his old wrinkled hand and places it on top of Beau's. "Look sweetheart, don't you go being sad now. Your momma wouldn't have it!" Beau nods her head. "You're such an extraordinary girl. I've known you since you were this tall." He raises his hand to around his knee. "You have always been so happy. We all miss her, Beau" he gives her hand a light squeeze and picks up a hard back that looks brand new. "The last one she checked out. I know you haven't read it. Try it out, and tell me what you think."

Beau is left alone to her thoughts. All she wants to do is cry. It seems that's the only thing that she can feel. At once, she reaches across the table to pick up the book. She flips through the first few pages, scanning the print. She becomes involved into her reading, drowning out everything around her.

Beau looks up at the grandfather clock adorning the wall. She's shocked to see it is 10:21. She glances around seeing no one left in the store except a note and a key in front of her. "Lock up" is written on the yellow piece of paper. This is nothing new to her. Beau mostly locks up every Friday night anyways.

"Fabulous choice, mom" she whispers to herself and holds the book tightly to her chest. She then grabs the piece of paper, balls it up, and throws it in the trash can. After locking the door, she picks up the flower pot by the stairs leading to the entrance and sticks the key under it.

The air has gotten thinner and cooler since Beau was last outside. Her coat is practically a tank top compared to the freezing Long Island weather. The luminous street lights provide the perfect amount of light for her to see.

"Why is it so damn cold?" Beau mutters under her breath. When she looks up, she can see her breath, which causes her to shiver even more.

"Beau!" Mrs. Yelvington's high pitched voice rings through the empty street. Beau turns herself to the voice where she is greeted by Mrs. Yelvington, a scone, and hot chocolate. "I put whipped cream and cinnamon on top of the hot chocolate just the way you like it, and a blueberry scone, because I knew how much you and your mother loved these" she gives Beau a warm smile, handing her her things.

Beau takes a gulp of the sweet drink and can't help but be happy. It brings back all the wonderful memories of her and her mother.

"Why-" Beau begins, but Mrs. Yelvington cuts her off.

"Stop it with those questions and eat!".

A/N : Hi! This is the very first chapter of Beau. (Duh)! Anyways, if you didn't know this is a Harry Styles' Fanfiction. Even though my username is "clichexx" this story will be nothing close to that. (Hint hint). I am a sucker when it comes to surprises, so this book will be FULL of them. Thank you to those of you who are reading this, and hopefully you will come along with me in the process of writing Beau.