I Knead You (Narry)

Chapter Five: Scones and Cinnamon Rolls

"Bit slow today, innit?" Harry asks Zayn after coming out of the kitchen.

It had been a week since Zayn had started working at the bakery. He had been doing amazing, better than Harry thought he would do, and he really seemed to be enjoying his time here as well, which Harry was thankful for. Zayn didn't even mind waking up early anymore, knowing he got to come to this wonderful place with what he considered his favorite boss ever.

Harry and Zayn were quite the duo, taking orders, ringing people up, and getting things out to fulfill the morning customers as quickly and happily as possible.

Since Zayn had caught on quickly to the job, Harry decided today would be the day where he'd let Zayn take over the shop fully. Not for the whole day, but maybe part of the morning so Harry could get some things done. He would peek in every so often to see how Zayn was doing up in the front, helping wherever he needed it.

But, this morning had been a little different. It's Friday morning, one of his busier days due to folks being excited for the weekend. Harry thought he'd tackle making extra bagels today while Zayn ran the front. He realized now that there was no need for the extra bagels because there were still plenty left in the case.

Harry frowned, checking the time on his phone once more to make sure it had the correct time. It was 9:30am, usually he'd have sold out of his famous bagels by now.

"Yeah," Zayn sighs, aimlessly wiping down the counter. He'd done it three times in the past hour.

"Come to think of it," Harry ponders, "It hasn't been very busy this week at all."

Monday had been his busiest day this week. It seemed like as the days went on, less and less people would come in and Harry had no idea why.

"Maybe it's because of the new place next door," Zayn commented, remembering having seen a line of people out the door to the newly opened shop occupying next door.

"New place next door?" Harry questioned. He hadn't known the shop had even been rented out by someone, let alone a new place opening up where Georgia had her old hair salon.

It would make sense that Harry didn't notice the new cafe next door. He'd lived the opposite way of the store, so he didn't have to walk past it everyday on his way to work. When he usually arrived at his own shop it was still quite dark out, so he didn't notice the change of color outside either.

"Yeah, I think it's some sort of cafe," Zayn explains, "It's called The Mix Up or something. The line was insane."

"Really?" he questions with furrowed eyebrows. He had thought back to the time when he had first opened up his shop. No one even came in the first day he opened but he hadn't given up. It took a while to get the following he had now; he'd made fliers to put up all over town, entered in local cooking competitions, and even offered discounts on his breads even though he hadn't sold one.

And now this new place opens up and there's already a line out the door the first week? It doesn't seem fair.

Zayn nods, confirming his statement. The two think for a moment before an idea pops into Zayn's head, "You should totally go over there and check it out! See what they're offering and stuff."

"What?" Harry shakes his head quickly, "No way. You go."

"Why me?"

"Because I'm a respectable business owner," Harry crosses his arms over his chest.

"And shouldn't a respectable business owner go and greet his neighboring business?" Zayn counters with a smirk and crosses his arms to mock Harry.

Harry rolls his eyes at his employee, "Dammit Zayn," he mutters.