tom holland oneshots

sweetest

warnings : none !

summary : tom and reader flirt, but both are nervous to initiate the first move

word count : 1000

note : the '***' indicates that some time has passed (3-5 weeks) 

There was something special about her. Maybe it was the way she walked with shy confidence, or when she talked in a soft whisper almost all of the time. It could've been her unmistakable trademark; her style. Her room felt like a safe haven for everyone, and it was so obviously her. The unique features that adorned her face, or her hair, which always smelt of flowers. Or her gentle touches and easy stares, which could switch to dangerous glares in less than the blink of an eye. Her soft side and her defensive side, both equally her... but different perspectives and insights depending on who she was with. 

"Tom?" Harrison said, pulling him out of his thoughts. 

That was the thing about her: she was so in-tune with herself that she was practically oblivious to the admirers she had, the gazes that lingered on her when she turned away. Though, that could've been the case with everyone else but Tom. She seemed to notice him, and it made Tom smile more often, and think in a different way. Does she have this affect on everyone? 

Maybe it was Tom who was special to her, or maybe subtle flirting was her way of being friendly. They met practically everyday; in a cafe or a coffee place, sometimes the bakery or the park, and even the city library. Regardless, he always saw her, and she always stopped to say 'hello.' 

***

Tom had almost missed his bus, even though he was sitting on the bench at the bus stop. She had just taken his breath away, occupied his mind and his thoughts. She was walking across the street and heading into a little boutique, perhaps for some flowers. 

It wouldn't have been the first time Tom had almost missed the bus, but by this point, the bus driver had grown accustomed to the young boy smitten for the sweet girl.  

***

It was a Thursday, an ordinary one and a regular day for Tom. He was sitting in the coffee shop, drinking out of his mug while reading through his phone. Harrison had just gone to get a refill when she had sat down in the seat across from Tom. One hand held her purse, and the other had a bouquet of flowers. She placed them in front of him before offering a smile and walking out. 

When Harrison returned to his seat, the flowers were placed next to Tom's mug, and a small pink card was open in his hand. From what he could tell, the card had came with the flowers. 

Tom wasn't sure if this was a first move; an effort to get them together. The answer? he didn't know, but he did know that the butterflies in his stomach were already growing. 

***

Walking in the bakery, Tom smelt the fresh bread and the sweet smell of chocolate, perhaps from the fresh batch of cupcakes that had just been put in the display case. He heard the familiar sound of the vintage cash register opening, and change being exchanged. He saw baked goods being carefully wrapped and handed to customers, and the freshly waxed floor that shined in the warm glow of the recess lights. 

"Can I get a slice of banana bread, to-go?" Tom asked. 

"It's Tom, right?" The cashier asked.

"Uh," Tom hadn't exchanged names with the coworkers here, even though they were all the sweetest. "Yeah. How'd you know?"

"Oh, someone knew you were coming today. A girl with a small purse and white shoes. She paid for your order ten minutes ago." 

Tom turned around to look at the customers who were seated in the shop at the retro tables. When he looked towards the door, he saw the girl. A wink and a smile away from opening the door and leaving. Tom smiled, his cheeks heating up as he grew flustered. When he turned back to the cashier, she was grinning sweetly, knowingly. When Tom turned to look back at the door, she was gone, the color of her outfit flashing by and out of his view. 

***

The subtle flirting had gone on for about a year now. It was fun, and almost like a school-crush. Harrison and the rest of Tom's family would disagree, though, because they had heard countless things about this girl, but had never connected the name to the face, or the personality to the actions. They weren't exactly pressuring Tom to ask her out, but they were encouraging and supporting as best they could. 

When Harrison and the Holland boys had gone to a little cafe around the corner, they were seated at a table, sitting on stools and goofing off, laughing about jokes and some memories they recalled from times on set or at the park or a party. 

When Tom had stopped talking, and stopped laughing all together, Harrison had turned towards the direction his eyes were pointed. The twins had done the same, even Paddy turning towards what seemed to be a big deal.

Harrison looked back to Tom before speaking. "Why don't you go say 'hi'?" 

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "You don't have to ask her out right now, or anything. Just be nice." 

Tom was still staring, his mouth slightly parted as he licked his lips and mindlessly drank his tea. The girl had turned around, noticing Tom and the boys before shyly waving, a blush present on her cheeks as well. 

Tom looked away, a bit embarrassed about being caught staring. 

She had just gotten her order, and turned to make her way towards the door. On impulse, as if it were natural, Tom had gotten up and rushed his way over to the girl. His palms were sweaty and his heart was pounding in his ears, so loud he thought he might not be able to hear himself. The butterflies were fluttering rapidly, and his fingertips were tingling with anticipation and excitement. 

"Hi, I'm Tom. Do you wanna hang out sometime?"