Pretty in Plastic (l.s)

xxix

Harry hears the familiar chime of the entrance door, and he looks up from his restocking. There, in the door way, stood a bundled up Louis. How he got to the shop is beyond Harry, but he soon figures it out when Uncle Jo steps out from behind him. It's snowing real bad today, almost like a blizzard, and Harry isn't quite sure why the store's opened but it is so he's working.

"Uncle Jo?" He calls from the hair product isle, and Louis turns to look at him. His eyes widen slightly, and he gives a shy and awkward wave. Harry's uncle takes his coat off, and turns to Harry.

"Harold! This is Louis. I found him sitting on some bench, and he was crying because he was lost." Harry frowns. "He said he was looking for someone."

"Yeah," Harry stands from his squat position, "probably me. Everything okay, Lou?"

Jo raises an eyebrow, and the doll walks over to Harry. He lays into Harry's chest, and Harry holds him. "It just suddenly started snowing so hard. I forgot where I was going. I must've been close though."

"How did you know where the shop was?"

"You left your pay stub on the kitchen counter, and the address was in the corner." Harry hums. "I wanted to visit you for once."

"Well, is it everything you wanted?" Harry says teasingly, and Louis giggles. "Am I doing you proud?"

"You aren't doing me at all." The doll whispers so softly that Harry barely catches it, but he does. The man blushes, cheeks rosy, and he coughs a little.

"Harry," Jo says and the two look at him, "how do you know this boy?"

"Childhood friends. We go way back." Jo nods, but he doesn't seem too convinced. He eyes Harry's hands, both of which lay too close to Louis' butt. Harry moves them up subconsciously, and Louis hums at the short rub it gave him.

"Friends." Jo finally chuckles, a smirk dancing on his lips, and he makes his way to the back room. "Sure, nephew. Make sure you finish that project."

"No problem, Uncle." Harry calls back, and he moves away from Louis to start stocking again. Louis' nose twitches, and he bends down to help. Harry chuckles, grabs the doll's hands, and shakes his head. "You can't help unless you're hired here or volunteering. It's against the law."

"No one's going to know." Louis says innocently. "I want to help. These containers are such pretty colors, and they smell nice. I would love to help."

Harry can't find it in him to tell Louis no so he motions for the doll to sit on the floor with him. Louis does as requested, and watches Harry organize. "It's by brand. See?"

Harry shows him the names on the bottles, and tells Louis to sort on the floor first. Louis takes a crate, and does as told. He's humming some random melody to himself as he organizes, and he doesn't notice how quiet the shop is at first. There's no bustling of people like there was outside, and Louis silently wonders why. The place is clean, smells nice, and has the best worker (Harry) ever. There's no reason not to stop by.

"The snow's coming down pretty hard." He hears Uncle Jo say as he walks in from the backroom. "You sure you want to stay here, Harry? I'm used to being snowed in, but you aren't."

"I'll be alright. I need the pay." Harry says nonchalantly. Louis looks up from his little pile, setting the last jar down and tugging on Harry's sleeve. The man looks at his work, smiles, and nods. "Good. Now, see how these two are the same brand, but one is for dry hair and the other for detangling?"

Louis can guess where this is going. He purses his lips, and divides the items into their subcategories. "Harry, can I come with you every day? Sorting is pretty fun."

"What's that?" Jo says from the register. He's stocking bags and last-minute buy items. "Did I hear a chance to hire a new employee?"

"No, you didn't." harry says quickly. "You can hardly pay the guys, and I. You have no business hiring new staff."

"You don't know my finances, young'n." Jo points a stubby finger at him. "I was going to make you a supervisor if I got a few more hires. That'd be a bugger check on your part."

"Can I work?" Louis asks Harry, and Jo raises an eyebrow. "I'd like to get out the house at some point, you know."

Harry feels like his arm is being twisted. Between the offer of a better paying job, and Louis almost begging to work with him, he can't imagine saying no. "Do you even have applications, Uncle?"

"Nonsense!" Jo laughs, and heads towards the office. "You just keep your smart arse right there. I've got them up the wazoo!"

That's how Louis got his first job.

—————

"So, Uncle's made sure to schedule us together." Harry says as he stirs the curry. Louis is sitting on the counter, making a mess with chocolate as he stuffs his face. "I think you'll still need a key to the house, though. Good thing I had a third made."

"Where is it?" Louis mumbles behind the bar of chocolate he's stuffing into his mouth. Harry peaks over his shoulder at the doll, and bursts with giggles. Louis blinks at him innocently, and Harry grabs a wet cloth to wipe his face.

"One of your boxes." Harry says between his laughter, and Louis silently chews his candy. He sits still for Harry, perking his lips so Harry can wipe them as well. The man does, but he's also quick to kiss Louis and leave the doll a little stunned.

"You like kissing me." Louis says, and tosses the little bit of chocolate out in the garbage next to him.

Harry goes back to stirring, and tastes the curry. "Do you like it?" Louis blushes, and nods. Harry doesn't see it, though, because his back is turned. "Lou?"

"Yeah." Louis vocalizes, and touches his bottom lip gently. "I do."

"Then what's the problem?" Harry holds out the little tasting spoon out to him. Louis accepts it, and hums. "More salt, right?"

"It's already salty." Louis disagrees so Harry doesn't add anymore salt. "Are we still friends, Harry?"

"Of course, Lou."

"No," Louis says, and frowns, "are we more than friends?"

Harry tenses a little, and contemplates the question. He opens his mouth, but closes it again. "I assume you want to be?"

"You already know how I feel." Louis says, and Harry turns the stove off. He puts the lid on the curry, and faces Louis. The doll looks emotionally drained now. "I'm not some outlet, Harry. That's what I was when you were young, and I wasn't a person. Now, I'm like you. I can feel things, and I feel used."

Harry walks over to Louis with a guilty expression on his face. He gently places his hands on the doll's shoulders, and Louis looks away. "I never meant to make you feel that way. I just— I've got a lot to work on, Lou. To ask you to stick by my side, as my lover, would be doing you wrong because I wouldn't be what you wanted."

"You are what I want."

"Not like this, doll." Louis looks up, and sniffles. Harry wipes a tear. "I'm hurt from past experiences, personal thoughts, and life in general. I have so much work to do on myself, and I can't ask you to put up with that. You're too good to put up with me as your boyfriend."

"That's not your choice to make. I decide who deserves me, and who doesn't."

Harry grins, and cups Louis' face. "I won't ask you to wait, and I'll do my best not to be upset if you find someone. You're in love with the potential that you see, not with who I am right now. Until I'm at a place where I can be what you need, I have to say no to dating you. I'm sorry."

They're close, their lips are brushing even, and Harry wants to move closer to kiss him. Louis, however, places his hands on Harry's chest, and nudges him back. Harry sees Louis' expression: hurt, but understanding. "Then we can't cross that line. Not until you're willing to be mine."

I think I know the ending now xx