We fell in love in October.

Chapter 4

Pov. Louis

Yesterday when I left the little flower on the counter, I was nervous.
And not by much.
Because what if he thought it was too big a step.
Anyway, it was a now or never situation.

I now sit at home on the couch waiting for him to text me.
After all, I don't have his number, so I can't reach him.

I have to leave for work in half an hour.
Right now at this moment I am emptying my cup of tea.
I work at an antique book shop and Grace is the owner of the shop.
She is a sweet old lady, somewhere in her 70s but doesn't want to stop working yet.
There are four of us working there, Grace, Grace's husband called William , Hazel and me.

William and I get along well because we have the same name.
Or yes, my middle name is William.
Anyway, back to the point.
I have now emptied my cup of tea and am going upstairs to brush my teeth and spray some more perfume.
I always put on little perfume because I want to smell natural.
Fortunately, I don't have a strong body odour of my own so I can do that.

When I have freshened up a bit in the bathroom, I quickly grab my tote bag and quickly put my wallet and keys in it.
I got this bag for my birthday.
It has built-in pockets in it so you can still find your stuff.
Which is very handy.

I put on my headphones and play music by the Arctic Monkeys.
I quickly close the door behind me and start my walk.
It takes about ten minutes, but that's long enough to enjoy the beautiful October weather.

The leaves slowly falling off those trees.
And regaining their beautiful orange and red colours.
The days where a hot chocolate can be drunk again.
Where you have to wear multiple layers of clothes to stay warm.
The blankets that come out again.
The candles that are lit in abundance again as it gets dark faster.
But also not forgetting the rainy days.
The days when it rains so hard that you actually just want to run outside and dance with a loved one.
Or just want to just lie on the ground with the saddest music playing in the background while you just lie there on the ground in the rain.

The days when a hug is desired.
The season of romance.
And smell of freshly baked pastries as you enter your mother's house.
The warm cups of tea already waiting for you because they want you warmed up as soon as possible.
The season of affection.
Where everyone acts a little sweeter towards each other.
Where reading a book under a warm blanket is possible again.
And the heating actually needs to be a degree higher because otherwise you'll freeze to death.

Yes, that season.
My favourite.
As you could tell.
Anyway, we're almost back to the bookstore already.

I walk into the shop and greet Grace and Hazel.
William I can't find.
Quickly I go to the storage room where we also have to put down our things and there is a table to have coffee or tea.

I take off my headphones and put it away in my bag.
I check my phone to see if Harry has sent a message, but no luck.
He hasn't sent anything yet.

I put my phone in my pocket and walk back towards the shopping area.

"Hey, Louis." Says Hazel.
"Hi, Hazel. How are you?" I ask her as I check to see if any new orders have been placed.
"Good, good. Jack and I went on a date yesterday."
"Oeh nice, what did you guys do?" I ask.
She tells about her day while I just hope Harry sends me a message.

1.30 hours later.

It is now coffee break.
Although I don't drink coffee but tea, the rest drink coffee as usual.
I pick up my phone and check to see if I have already received a message.
Luckily for me, I see that he has sent a message.

Harry 🧁💚:
-Hi, it's Harry by the way. If you hadn't realised yet.
-I was wondering if maybe we could meet up today. Just a walk around the park or something.
-I could always bring a free tea or chocolate milk. If that convinces you.

Me:
-Hi, Harry.
-For me it's fine if we take a walk later today.
-I would have said yes anyway without the tea or chocolate milk. But free drinks are always good.

Harry 🧁💚:
-Haha, I'll see you at 15 then

~read

Time skip.

It is now two-thirty and Grace has given me permission to leave work earlier.
I grab my bag and put in my earphones after saying a quick hello to Grace and William.

I'm so into the music.
That the walk to the bakery is over in no time.

When I get ahead of the last corner, I see Harry already standing outside the doorway.

"Hi, Harry" I say.
"Hey, Louis." Says he back
"Everything okay?"
He hums a yes in reply.

"I have a tea here for you. I hope you like it." He says as he extends his arm and hands me the tea.
"Thank you." I say now with a slight blush.
"No problem." Says he before he already starts walking.

"Hey, wait for me. I didn't just come here for the free tea." Says I before making a dash to keep up with him.
"No? I was only thinking because of that actually." Says he then chuckles.

"You wouldn't believe it, but yes. I'm not just here for the free tea."
"No, you're here for the free tea and muffin." Says he as he pulls out a muffin.
"Yes, that's true. Bye, see you never again." I say as I turn half a corner.
I pretend to walk away, but turn my head back and see Harry standing there with his mouth open.

"I was only joking silly." I say as I turn back and give him a kiss on the cheek.
Now it's his turn to blush.
"Um, yes. I knew that." Says he at the same time as he scratches behind his ear.

We arrive at the park and engage in a pleasant conversation about books.
I noticed that he also likes books a lot. Just like me.
Maybe one day I can give him one of my favourite books.

After an hour, Harry complains that he is cold.
We come to an agreement that Harry will go home and put on slightly warmer clothes. And then go to my house.
That was only because I didn't want to leave him yet. And that seemed like the only good option.

Pov. Harry

Louis.
Louis is so much fun.
I don't know what makes him so special or what's different about him from all the other boys.
But oh, he's funny, sweet and good-looking too.

Actually, I had to go home to put on something warmer.
But I went to the shop to buy evening food.
I thought it would be fun to cook together.
Hope he likes that too.

I'm also buying another blanket, because I'm still cold.
And maybe that can become our blanket.

Okay, stop.
Harry that was about it.
You don't even know if he likes you.

I pack all my things and leave for his house.
Soon I'm at his door.
I knock three times, hoping to hear that inside.
It takes only a moment before I see the door open.

"Hi, Harry. Come in." Says he
"Hi, um I brought food because I thought it would be fun to cook together." Says I blushing as I look at my shoes.

"That's fine though, just know that I am very bad at cooking."
"That can't be so bad." I say then.

OK, so apparently it can.
We are now cutting the vegetables and he has already made the mistake of trying to cut the vegetables with the blunt side of the knife.

"Um, Louis dear. You're cutting with the wrong side of the knife." I say gently, not realising that I called him darling.
"Oh, um. No way, look I'm just doing it right." Says he as he quickly turns the knife over.

I laugh softly and nod.
"Sure Lou. Sure. Now cut that onion further. And I hope you don't mind. But I'm a vegetarian and I bought meat substitutes and no meat."
I say softly, hoping he doesn't mind.
"Oh no way, day I don't mind. I really like meat better, but one of my sisters is also a vegetarian. So I do eat meat substitutes quite often." Says he.
"Thank goodness for that."

We have almost finished cooking when I put my hands inside my jumper because I am cold.
Louis notices and asks if that's me being cold to which I nod.

He takes the blanket out of the bag and unfolds it.
He walks over to me and wraps the blanket around me.
He also quickly grabs his phone to take a picture.

Not long after, dinner is ready.
We talk until late in the evening.
This day was definitely successful.