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dawnrider · 3 years

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Dunno if I'm making this a thing or if it's just the mood I'm in today.

Either way, here it is!

Another tree, another field, some more cows, a couple horses... more trees! Hitomi sighed again. This had to be the most boring drive she'd ever done. There were no buildings, aside from a few farm houses here and there, and all the other drivers on the road were clearly not from around there, simply passing through. “Now where is that turn?” she mumbled aloud, squinting at the road signs, trying to find the right county road. Finding it wasn't easy, but as soon as she turned there was a sign that directed her farther west to reach the town she was looking for. “Thirty more miles? This place really is in the middle of nowhere.” A faint sound of discomfort from the kennel next to her made her look over. “I know Jasper. We're almost there. Then you can get out.” The feline whined, turning around again and laying down. He meowed pathetically. Poor thing, that sedative really helped, but it's starting to wear off. Hitomi tried not to speed too much despite her eagerness to get to her new house. A ticket was the last thing she needed in a new place.

When she finally pulled up in front of the small house that was designated as hers, the first thing she did was pull Jasper out. She fumbled with the keys to unlock the front door, struggling with the lock a minute. Jasper yowled a little more loudly until she opened the door to his carrier. In spite of his desire to get out, the cat sat and stared out of the carrier for a long time, sniffing and peeking out of the door. Hitomi shook her head, leaving her pet to get used to the space. She went into the kitchen, fighting her way past boxes, to set out a water dish for Jasper, knowing he would be thirsty after the long trip and the effects of the sedative. “Here Jasper, come get a drink.” Unsurprisingly, she didn't hear him budge. With a sigh, Hitomi looked around the space. There was a lot to do before she could relax. Before unpacking... she needed food.

The grocery store was tiny. Hitomi wondered how it fed a few hundred people, but there wasn't anyone else in it. With the majority of the community making their living by farming, they probably mostly fed themselves, she realized. The older woman behind the counter kept eying her suspiciously. Hitomi had been eyed like that before, but it was when she was fifteen and in a convenience store where stuff got stolen all the time. She'd never stolen anything in her life, but that didn't mean the shopkeeper didn't suspect her. This was a more confused suspicion. Her first day in town and she hadn't been able to introduce herself to anyone yet. It was natural for the woman to be a little wary.

Walking up and down the aisles, she found the essentials she needed. Milk, eggs, cereal, bread. The produce didn't look the best, at least, the things not grown in that area looked a little iffy. She got what she could from the frozen aisle and then decided she was going to have to start a garden. She looked everywhere for cat food and couldn't find anything. She frowned. How could they not have cat food at the store? “Something you need help finding?” Hitomi fought the urge to jump, turning slowly to find the woman standing just behind her. Quiet old bat! She stared a moment before nodding.

“Uh, cat food.”

“Ah. Well you won't be finding that here, darlin'. You'll have to go over to the feed store. He carries all we need for our pets.” The woman's face was a little less threatening now that she was smiling. Hitomi tentatively smiled back. “You're new here.”

Hitomi's smile faltered a moment. Was it really necessary to state the obvious? “Yes. My name is Hitomi. Hitomi Kanzaki. I'm the new fifth grade teacher.” Sticking out her hand, Hitomi was surprised by the strength of the woman's hold.

“Oh! Pleasure to meet you! We've been wondering when you would get here. I'm Gladys Larson. How's the house?” Her enthusiasm was infectious and Hitomi's smile returned. The house was fine, a little old-fashioned when it came to the decorating, but she'd fix that with time. “Well I'm glad you like it. What was it you were looking for again?”

“Cat food? And I think I want to start a vegetable garden out back so...”

“Now don't you worry dear, I'll just take you right on over. Van's not used to strangers coming in and he needs someone familiar to introduce them.” Hitomi stared at the woman a moment before following her up to the counter. She paid for her things and Gladys had her put them in the big refrigerator so they wouldn't spoil while they were gone. “He's a sweet boy, a little rough around the edges though,” Gladys told her in a conspiratorial whisper as they crossed the main street and walked a few store fronts down. Hitomi glanced back at the grocery, surprised that the old woman had no problem leaving it unattended. “Here we are,” she laughed, opening a door into one of the larger stores on the street. A bell tinkled as they entered. “Van, Honey! I've brought in the new teacher. She needs cat food,” she called. Hitomi heard some shuffling and a head poked out from behind the cash register. Her eyes widened and she took a slight step back.

He was gorgeous. Hearing Gladys call him a sweet boy who was a bit rough, Hitomi had anticipated a teenager who was afraid of people and possibly had an acne problem. This man was nothing like that at all. He was tall, as she saw when he stood up, with dark shaggy hair, a strong chin and intensely brown eyes. She was startled when he frowned in her direction. “Gladys, you know where the cat stuff's at.” And that was it. He didn't try to introduce himself or ask her name. The grocer didn't seem fazed at all, leading Hitomi back toward the food. Apparently this was also the hardware store, the opposite side filled with shovels, mulch, hammers, wheelbarrows and planters.

“Don't mind him dear. It will take him a while to get used to you.”

“I can hear you...” the store owner grumbled loudly, sitting back down behind the counter.

Gladys grinned and shook her head. “Yes I know Honey. Best set of ears in town.” Hitomi bit her lip, glancing back at the counter. She found the food she needed, but she wasn't sure what to do about her gardening idea. Maybe it would be best to come back another time... like never. “That all you need dear? What about your garden?”

“I-I'll come back later once I'm more settled in. I really should get home and feed Jasper. He'll be mad. I'm sure he's freaked out in the new house by himself,” she explained.

“Oh! Poor dear. Well you just run along to my store and grab your things. There's the town social tonight, you should come to meet everyone! Seven o'clock at the hall. It's just down the street from here. Can't miss it,” she pointed down the road the way Hitomi had come in from. She nodded, thanking Gladys for her help.

Stepping up to the counter she set the bag of food down and waited. The man behind the counter seemed to be ignoring her, listening to some soft music from a radio on the floor. “Um...”

“Just take it. It's a welcome gift.” Hitomi bit her lip. He still wasn't looking up at her and she was a little offended. There was no need to be rude to her!

“Thank you. It's... it's Van right?”

He snorted impolitely. “Yea.” Waiting a moment to see if he would say anything more, she sighed when nothing else came. Taking the food and turning away from the counter, Hitomi scowled, leaving the store and marching over to the grocery store to get her things and go home. Once the two heard the sound of her car pulling away, Gladys approached the counter. “What?”

Gladys sighed, leaning on the countertop. “That's no way to treat a young lady. She was simply trying to be nice.”

“I don't need nice,” he huffed in response.

“Hitomi is very pretty. And she can't be any older than twenty-five. You're just about the only person her age.” She shifted, drawing Van's attention. “I saw the way she looked at you the moment she saw you. She thinks you're good looking, and she'd be right.”

“Knock it off Gladys,” he growled, but he couldn't hide his faint blush.

“You planning on staying single your whole life? Has to be awfully lonely...”

“You need something else?” he interrupted. The old grocer smiled slightly, taking the hint. She said her goodbyes and wandered back over to her own store. Van sagged, sighing heavily. She'd sounded young, so Gladys telling him she wasn't more than twenty-five hadn't come as a surprise. She had a nice voice, a bit unsure, but that was likely from being new in a new place. “Hitomi, huh?” He turned the radio up a little and relaxed. There wasn't going to be much of anyone else in for the rest of the afternoon. He took out a book, his fingertip smoothing across the page as he read.

#Dawnrider Fanfiction #Fuck it Friday #Escaflowne #Modern AU #Posting whatever I want

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ificouldhelpyouforget · 3 years

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Subtle Things Like – Part Twelve (Lee Felix x OFC)

MASTERLIST | STL MASTERLIST

A/N: First I must address the number of times I have died this week because of Felix. All of those photos and how incredible he looks in all of them 😍 I am going to combust honestly. Second, enjoy this part because from here on out, it's gonna get fluffy.

Summary: It's time Felix tells Mia what he couldn't say when she ran.

Warnings: Some minor (super minor) angst that turns into fluff

Words: 2.2k

Tags: @maybedeja

If you want to be tagged, let me know!

It's the sounds of someone moving about the kitchen that stir Mia in the morning. Her first thought is someone broke into Chan's apartment and hasn't made it to the room. As soon as she smells food, Mia wonders why Chan is cooking breakfast there when Hyunjin has a kitchen he can use. And then Mia remembers yesterday and what she asked of Chan. Suddenly, Mia is anxious to get out of bed and see who's cooking, knowing exactly who is out there. When she hears the sound of dishes being placed on the table, Mia chickens out completely, pulling the covers over her head to hide. She can't do it. Maybe he'll go away if she never comes out of the bedroom... It's a shame she doesn't close the door at night.

Mia catches the soft scuffle of slippers on the carpet and knows he's looking at the mound that is her under Chan's bed covers. She holds her breath as if she's being hunted by some terrifying beast.

"Mia." His voice is so gentle like he doesn't want to frighten her, but she flinches anyway.

She clenches her eyes shut, inwardly begging him to go. Luck isn't on her side.

Instead, he gets closer to the bed, sitting on the floor on the side of the bed she chose to sleep on. "I made pancakes for you. I remember they make you feel better when you're having a hard time."

Mia begins to chew on her bottom lip feeling that sting behind her eyes at the kindness she doesn't deserve. And for him to make her favorite comfort food all because he remembered... How can she say sorry enough?

"I know you're awake," he says. Mia can hear the smile on his face. "If you don't get up, I'll eat all of the pancakes by myself."

She makes a little sound of protest but doesn't uncover her head to look at Felix.

"You have about five seconds to get out of that bed before I do something drastic, Mia."

"I don't want to..."

"It's too bad that I don't care. Your breakfast is getting cold."

Mia pulls the covers tighter around her head.

Felix stands and sighs audibly. "You asked for it."

There's a beat of anxious silence from Mia's safe place before she's smothered by Felix's weight. The beginnings of a scream shift into a belly laugh when his fingers dig into her ticklish sides, distracting her and making her squirm enough to reveal her flushed cheeks. Mia's heart is in her throat when he stops tickling her just to give her the warmest smile she's ever been given. Felix doesn't make it any better as he brushes her messy hair away from her face, his eyes lighting up.

"Come on. Breakfast is getting cold." And just like that, Felix leaves the room as if nothing happened.

Mia can't catch her breath.

A couple of minutes later, Mia manages to find enough courage to leave Chan's room in one of his oversized hoodies that completely covers the shorts she wore to bed. It makes her feel comforted like Chan is hugging her through it all. At the sight of Felix grinning at her from the table, all that comfort seems to slip away to be replaced by her nerves. But the smiley face on her pancakes made from bananas and strawberries is too sweet for her to let her nervousness overpower her stomach.

Mia sits and once again ignores the stinging at the back of her eyes. "Thank you. It's cute... the smiley face."

"I remembered how your mom would make faces in your food and how you'd cheer up no matter what." Felix meets her gaze firmly. "Does it help?"

"Yeah. A little." It's just another reminder of how silly she acted yesterday... how she shouldn't be treated this kindly by him. But that's Felix. Kind to his core no matter what. "Thank you, Lix."

The sound of his nickname brings Felix more comfort than Mia realizes. "You're welcome. Go ahead and eat now before they get much colder. I think all the syrup soaked in already."

Mia watches her fork cut through the smiley face. "That's okay. They'll still be good because you made them." It's hard for her not to cringe at her words. It's a sentence that is natural for her to say, but her overthinking makes it sound too serious.

"I hope so," Felix says, cutting into his own breakfast. "I don't make pancakes very often."

"As long as you didn't cook them with too much butter..."

The little jab makes Felix chuckle. "I used an appropriate amount of butter. Don't worry."

A couple of bites into her breakfast and Mia can't take the awkwardness she believes is between them. The silence is too much. Felix notices instantly, setting his fork aside to wait for whatever Mia has to say to him. He'll give her all the time she needs because he cares for her... because he likes her.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," she finally says, her eyes not meeting his. "I... I shouldn't have run away and made you worry. It was selfish. I was just embarrassed about what I said that I never should've... I spoke without thinking and ruined a good day."

"You didn't ruin anything, Mia. I swear you didn't. I was scared something was going to happen to you if I couldn't find you. I made you feel like running away was your only option."

"It's not your fault."

"Don't make me the good guy in this," Felix frowns. "I haven't been the kindest to you in the past and that's why you ran. I didn't understand you back then, how you were so... dedicated even after I hurt your feelings and I'm sorry for that. It's why I'm not upset you ran away."

Mia manages to meet his soft gaze. "You shouldn't be sorry for the past. I come on too strong and I had no regard over how you would feel being thrown into a situation like that without any warning. And in front of your friends. That wasn't kind of me to do."

"But if you hadn't done that, we wouldn't be where we are now."

"With me almost ruining our friendship?"

Felix chuckles. "It's going to take a lot more than that to ruin our friendship, Mia."

"You're really not upset?"

"Not really. I mean, I'm sad you didn't give me a chance to say anything."

Mia's fidgeting starts, her fingers twisting with each other. "Oh. What... What did you want to say?"

Now it's Felix's turn to be nervous. His gaze drops to his plate and he starts twisting the ring on his pointer finger. "Well, um..." He takes a deep breath. "I... I like you, Mia."

The fork Mia had picked up to grab another bite of her food tumbles onto her plate. "Y-You do? Really?"

"Yeah. I've been trying to find a way to talk to you about it and then you gave me the perfect chance to say something, but you ran away." Felix glances at her shocked face. "I started feeling this way when I saw you two years ago back home when you still treated me like I never left... You still treat me the same, like I'm not an idol."

"You're just Felix to me. You being in Stray Kids is an added perk because I still get to see you even when I can't see you. I have no reason to treat you differently."

"And that's–" Felix takes a second to calm himself a little, "That's why I like you. It just took me a little longer to see that."

Mia's eyes well up the longer she stares at the sincerity in his features; the longer he stares back at her with his warm smile bursting through any anxiety showing on his face. "This is real? You like me? Like... for real?"

He hums as he nods, dark eyes shining like they do when he's performing.

Before any sobs can spill from her lips, Mia pulls the hood of Chan's sweatshirt over her head and pulls the ties as she turns her back to Felix to cry into her sleeves. All of those years of dreaming, hoping, yearning, to hear him say something like that to her come forth in her tears. The sounds trapped in her throat don't come forward until Mia feels Felix stand in front of her and touch her shoulder. As quick as lightning, her arms go around his waist and she cries into his stomach. It's nearly impossible for her to catch her breath the louder her sobs get despite being muffled against Felix. He does his best to cradle her head close and comfort her while trying to keep his tears from falling, but he can't stop them. Instead, Felix silently cries with her, his heart breaking a little understanding the magnitude of his confession.

A few minutes go by, Mia's cries slowly becoming sniffles that no longer mask Felix's. She pulls her head away, the hood no longer hiding her frizzy hair and puffy eyes, and looks up at Felix in surprise. Without hesitation, she's on her feet using the sleeves of Chan's hoodie to wipe away his tears, making him give a weak laugh.

"I think this is backward," he says. "I'm supposed to comfort you."

"I'll be okay. Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm sorry I took so long."

Mia blinks as Felix attempts to rid her cheeks of tears. "Please, don't be sorry. Better late than never, right?"

A gentle smile. "Sure... but you wouldn't have cried like that had I never hurt you."

"There's just a lot of emotions going on in here right now," Mia says as she taps her head before pulling the hood back up. "Ew... I cried all over this hoodie. I was hoping to wear it even though it's hot out."

Felix runs his hands down the front of his. "You didn't cry too much on this one. You can wear it if you want."

"You'll let me wear your hoodie?"

"Sure. I don't mind." He grabs the collar and starts pulling it over his head.

Mia giggles when his arms get stuck for a second, pulling up the white t-shirt he's wearing a bit. She calmly tugs the hem down and takes hold of the hood for him to slip the rest of the way out of it.

Felix's face is a little pink as he straightens his t-shirt. "Thanks."

"Yeah. Thank you." Mia is far more graceful taking off Chan's hoodie and replacing it with Felix's. She can't resist hugging it around her. "I like your hoodie. It's warm and smells good."

"You can have it," he says in a rush, blushing more. "I, uh, I can get another just like it if I want."

She stuffs her hands in the pocket. "You've just given me the piece of clothing I'm going to wear 24/7."

"You'll have to wash it eventually."

"Only when it stops smelling like you."

Felix's stomach flips. "That's... so cute."

That stalls Mia's brain long enough to make awkward silence.

"Are you okay?"

She blinks. "You think I'm cute?"

"Wait. That made you go quiet?"

"Lix, my whole brain shut down."

Felix laughs. "Yes, I do think you're cute. Is your brain still working properly?"

"Ha. Don't let it go to your head, Felix Lee."

"I'll try." Still smiling, Felix glances at their food. "I don't know if those pancakes are any good anymore, but we can still eat the fruit."

"I can put mine in the microwave and they'll be fine with a little more syrup on top. I'm not letting this breakfast go to waste when you worked so hard on it to make me feel better. I don't deserve it."

He shakes his head, his eyes sending her a bigger smile than his lips. "You deserve a lot more than this."

Once more, Mia malfunctions. "Felix!" she whines, hiding her face behind her hands. "I don't have the brain capacity to handle this so early in the day."

"Sorry. It's the truth though." Felix sits at the table again and nods toward her food. "Finish what you want and go get ready. Chan wants you to come with us to the studio today since we all have to be there. He doesn't want you to be lonely."

"I wouldn't be, but I'll go. Is thirty minutes an okay time for me to get ready? I need to shower."

"Yeah. I can clean up out here while you do."

"Okay." Mia can't help grinning at Felix as he takes a big bite of cold pancakes.

He looks at her. "What?"

"You like me."

All Felix does is laugh, covering his mouth with his hand. "Eat your food, Mia."

She kicks his foot under the table but begins shoveling what's left of her food in her mouth before rushing to the bedroom with a little skip in her step. The door closes behind her.

Felix can't help staring at the bedroom door and replaying the morning a couple of times with a soft smile. Even though he made Mia cry – again – he's glad he finally had the chance to talk to her. If the morning is already eventful, he's not sure how the rest of the day will play out, especially with his confession now on the table. But one thing he is one hundred percent sure of? His clothes look adorably perfect on Mia.

#stray kids #stray kids fanfic #skz #skz fanfic #lee felix #Lee Felix fanfic #felix #Felix fanfic #stray kids felix #skz felix #ofc #original female character #oc #original character #Lee Felix x oc #Lee Felix x ofc #fluff #mild angst

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bumbershots · 3 years

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A CERTAIN ROMANCE

CHAPTER FOUR: SILENCE COMES AND GOES

Author’s note: Hello! We continue with this, I would like to thank everyone once again for all the likes and reblogs the story has gotten so far, couldn’t be happier! Enjoy (:

Story masterlist ** Word count: 2.9K **

It is possible that Harry is ignoring the big elephant in the room, as he spreads some jam in his crumpet, well aware of Fernando and Jack exchanging knowing looks. He takes a bite of the savoury treat and hopes none of them dare to confront him, at the same time he wants to be questioned about why he hasn't called Alma yet.

Harry spent the last two weeks grumpy and frustrated.

He's called his therapist way too many times. He has no idea where he went wrong in his healing process. They were back to square one, whispered his tired heart.

Jack is surprised too, his friend got on so well with Alma at the party and apparently even went the extra mile asking for her number then he spent the following fourteen days acting as if she didn’t exist. Didn't even text her like Gemma suggested. He sips his coffee and sighs for the millionth time that day.

The musician is infuriated at himself and desperate that he wants to have Fernando demand an explanation for his behaviour towards his sister. Harry's not a confrontational guy, but he's going mad. Might be losing it. He wanted to scream at the two men before him that he did plan on calling Alma, but then he got so sad. Now he's afraid it's too late.

"Do you want another one?" Fernando holds the plate with crumpets in front of Harry who takes one more and thanks him before grabbing the jam. "Do you reckon you'll be man enough to call my sister within the next couple of days?" Harry chokes on his food while Jack's laughter booms through their home.

Nobody has ever called him out like that. Harry's still unsure whether to be grateful or scared. Maybe a bit of both he thinks after composing himself again from the fit of coughs, he knows Fernando is still waiting for an answer.

"Is she upset about it?" A hint of relief and pride linger on Harry's voice. Jack shakes his head, knowing that he's avoiding the question. Something he's very good at.

"That's not what I asked." Fernando's clipped tone leaves no room for the musician to beat around the bush anymore.

"I was really nervous about calling her, kept putting it off until days turned into weeks... I'm not sure how to go about it," he plays with his rings and looks away from the inquisitive gaze of his companions.

"How did you get Taylor to go out with you?"

"What?" Harry and Jack ask at the same time.

"You must've asked her I guess," Fernando shrugs. "What is so scary about Alma that puts you off? Are you interested in just a shag and you're worried she'll decline or tell the media about it?" Harry is shaking his head vigorously and the dark haired architect leans a bit closer towards him, "you're so full of sh-”

"Alright let's take a break," Jack's soothing tone brings his house mate back from the rage path he was following. But Harry knew that he was right.

It had been a year already, he moved to a new house, one where his ex never set foot into and still her ghost was everywhere. He has this crazy need to destroy everything that can relate to her. Her favourite cardigan is kept away in a box full of Polaroids and books that are all her.

The real reason why he didn't dare to call Alma is because whatever he felt at the beginning of his previous relationship, or any other one, was at least ten times less intense, than what he was feeling now. Seeing the menace before them, his heart and mind decided to leave him courage-less towards the situation. It's less painful to think what could've been than to know it and see it being taken away from you. Again.

But he deserves to be happy, that's what Gemma reminded him the other day.

"I gotta go," Fernando announces before rising from his seat, walking inside the house and upstairs to his room. Jack tries to tidy up the table a bit, not daring to look at his apparently mute friend. When Fernando comes back down he steps outside to the patio where they had brunch, one last glance to a very ashamed Harry and he sighs. "Brigit's Bakery Classic Afternoon Tea Bus. Alma’s been dying to get tickets but never has the time to actually book it," he explains adjusting his jacket's collar. "It's not too late." With that he turns on his heel and leaves the house.

Harry takes their mugs and places them in the sink, he notices Jack is going around the kitchen putting away the butter and milk in the fridge.

"What are you waiting for Romeo?" The blue eyed man asks, stopping in front of a blushing Harry.

They're both quiet for a minute. Harry's heart is racing and can feel his hands get clammy. He hasn't felt someone's faith in a long time, and he's not sure if he's happy or pressured that Fernando and Jack are pushing him to call Alma, he doesn’t even know if she will give him a chance. Harry's wishing to be the kind of guy to take out his mobile and make the call, maybe even crack a witty joke that will have Alma laughing in that loud way he remembers and not be awkward with asking her out on a date. As if he wasn't completely mortified by being rejected.

Harry was sure he would ruin it, not just the call but the date and everything else that was actually going to happen between them without even trying first.

"Hello?" She answers after the third ring, confused at the unknown number calling her.

"Yeah it's me," Harry nods to Jack who urges him to finish whatever sentence he's trying to form, "I believe I owe you some coffee."

"Harry?" Alma tries to fight back a laugh. A wide smile splitting her face after recognising who is the mystery caller.

"Yes! Sorry I forgot you didn't have my number." Jack is red with second hand embarrassment for his friend and decides to start the dishwasher just to keep his eyes from the train wreck happening in his kitchen. "I'm sorry for not calling sooner."

"You're calling now, 's all that matters... I'd love to get that coffee. Next Thursday works for you?" He nods feverishly and remembers he's on the phone.

"Of course, I'll pick you up at five if that's alright."

"Make it half past five please, that's when my shift ends. I'll text you the address." She throws the latter smoothly as an excuse to initiate conversation until they meet again and Harry is oblivious about it.

"Sure great, perfect I'm... really looking forward to seeing you," he plays with the tea towel on the counter, his back turned to Jack, a million butterflies fluttering in his stomach when he hears the coy chuckle his confession got out of her. "Have a good day, see you later."

"See you later, Harry" Alma's goodbye is full of hope and endearment, just like the one he got before she walked away from him that morning after Freddie’s birthday party.

After ending the call, he mentally scolds himself for dreading it so much. It went so much better than expected, even got a laugh out of her. Perhaps Harry needed to stop making decisions based upon his fears and more taking in consideration the other person. He always thought he knew best, it's what he's been told for so many years and although he needs to be making big choices most of the time, perhaps now he could share that responsibility. Felt dead nice for a change.

"That wasn't so bad." He admits to Jack before drying the now clean dishes with a towel.

"I'm proud of you, now tell me, where are you guys going for that coffee?" Jack's eyes are full of curiosity and excitement, it's impossible for Harry not to feel a chill go down his spine at the prospect of planning the date. He thinks about what Fernando suggested, but it would be too obvious that it wasn't his idea entirely.

Alma deserves something exclusively planned by him.

"Don't know yet, perhaps somewhere nice and quiet" he ponders and his friend agrees.

Last time Harry had a proper first date was about two years ago or so. He cooked aubergine parmigiana following Jamie Oliver's recipe and baked some biscuits for dessert that he enjoyed with his companion overlooking the Pacific Ocean from his home's balcony. Back then it seemed to be the right choice to keep it low-key, a simple dinner at his, no risk at all to be bothered or watched. But Harry knew that at some point it got old, being overly discreet was easily mistaken for being ashamed of the relationship. That kind of thing can do a lot to someone's confidence, little by little until it's all too much to bear.

If he could only learn not to care about the world's prying eyes.

Harry doesn't want to drag anyone into the scrutiny of the media until he knows it's an incorruptible bond. The inevitable thought of forever, something he believes might not exist for him, at times. He did think Taylor was it, even Kendall for a while, which is why he dated more publicly back then, until she came along and the love Harry felt was so grand it made him overly protective of them. Countless times he tried to explain that this was the first time something was working in spite of all the circumstances that came with his life and he was trying to cherish it, keep it to himself. Nurture it until it was as tough as old boots.

That night was spent writing down ideas for that first date. Number one was The river café, near Putney Bridge, a place free of paparazzi. Number two, Rail house café, lovely spot to share dinner. Number three The sanctuary café, located in a beautiful building with a quirky environment. Number four and his personal favourite Lola's bakery, their service was so warm and intimate, he remembers the cinnamon Chelsea bun and his mouth waters instantly. So, drawing a big circle around the fourth option he smiles before going to bed that night.

Saturday morning finds Harry at his grandparents’ old home, carrying a bag full of ingredients for a vegetarian lasagna he is planning to cook for his grandfather and his mum. He immediately banishes Anne from helping in the kitchen. She observed him follow the recipe, cooking for no longer than ten minutes the garlic, thyme and aubergine, and then crumble over the chilli carefully. He lets her grate the Parmesan when the sauce isn’t thickening and reducing like it was supposed to. With a bump of her hip, she nodded towards a couple of tomatoes, Harry smiled before tipping them in, breaking them with a spoon and five minutes later, the sauce was ready.

His mother is a marvellous woman, like the good son he is, Harry doesn't want to make her sad, ever. The last time he visited her, recently broken hearted, they spent it baking, cooking, eating sweets and drinking hot chocolate at the rear terrace. Once he had enough of moping around, he decided to make it up to her and create good memories from that visit. They explored the local parklands as if it was the first time, shared ice cream, got tipsy on cheap red wine and chatted from dusk till dawn.

A few hours later, after eating the delicious meal and tidying up the kitchen afterwards, Harry watches his mum talking to his grandad, holding his shaky hand in hers and caressing it in a soothing way. The elder man’s Parkinson is getting worse with time, he feels so useless, specially because it affects his favourite people. He wants to know what his mother is thinking when she joins him back in the kitchen. There is some anguish dancing in her kind eyes, but Harry knows better than to push her to share something she is not ready to.

"I have a date next Thursday," he chokes out, in hopes of distracting her, and it works. Anne's head whips towards her youngest child, evidently shocked and yet proud. It's been years since Harry shared that kind of information with her.

"A proper date?"

"Yes," he wants to add how nervous it makes him. "I dunno how serious it'll get... just met her once, properly I mean, we saw each other on the tube's carriage three times prior to it. Coincidentally of course, Gem said it is something straight out of a film."

"Who is she?" His mother is giving him that look, the one that says how giddy she is to know absolutely everything about the person that got her son so skittish, that he started to rearrange the containing of the cupboards entirely.

"Her name is Alma," he doesn't know where to start, if he spills all the ways in which he thinks she is wonderful, they'll end up pulling an all-nighter.

"And she's a...?"

"Cashier during the week, Spanish teacher on the weekends and occasional interviewer for her Youtube channel." Anne raises her eyebrows, impressed and wondering why such a busy girl agreed to go on a date. Must like him a lot of course, she thinks watching her son pour hot water on a mug, and dunking a tea bag in it afterwards.

"Where did you meet her if not on the tube?'' She is curious and weary. This wouldn't be the first time her youngest spawn overlooked certain things from strangers. Very little things in Harry's life were coincidences nowadays.

"Remember Jack Robinson?" his mum nodded, how could she forget the cheeky chap that helped Harry escape almost every night from his dad's house in the summer, just to go skate in Southbank's center until midnight. Anne admitted to not liking the bloke for a while, but gave him another chance after watching him grow into a responsible adult. "He's in charge of my home renovation, extension whatever it is called. Invited me to Freddie's birthday party and she was there." The dreamy look on his eyes when reminiscing the moment brought out a wide smile on his mum's face followed by her loud laughter.

"Oh Harry, you've got that look." it was the truth. He looked completely gobsmacked by his mother's reaction, but he couldn’t deny the peace he felt when knowing that she was already fond of the girl that he couldn’t get out of his mind.

"It’s too soon to tell!” He doesn’t want to dive into it, not yet.

"How did you really meet? I want all the details." Anne asked, taking a seat at the coffee table and Harry told her everything.

From the first glance he stole her way to the last phone call he had yesterday at Jack and Fernando's house, his hands flew several times to tussle his hair and the dimple on his left cheek was exquisite, when telling his mother, how she asked him to dance with her. He spared no detail, from her intoxicating Moschino perfume to her raspy accented voice. By the time he finished, his mum's mug was empty but her heart was full. For so long she wondered if she would ever witness the beauty of Harry in love again and enjoy first-hand the way he spoke about that person in the sweetest manner, the high-pitched tone of his voice when finally admitting how nervous he actually was about this first date.

"Right, well in that case, stop thinking about how everything is going to go wrong." Easier said than done, Harry thinks but nods. "I'm sure whatever you planned will sweep her off her feet." Anne knew how much of a romantic her boy was, he went all out in that department. His best quality and Achilles heel.

"If the cupcakes from that place don't... I could literally do it." Harry plucks a banana from the fruit bowl before them and narrows his eyes when his mum rolls her eyes at him playfully.

His mother's reassurance made him feel less hopeless, the next day when they went to Sheffield's city center, she even picked out a couple of new mugs. 'Just in case we have new visitors at home.' Harry groaned but failed to hide the dreamy look in his eyes, he even crossed his fingers behind his back as he watched her pay for the cups. The thought of Alma meeting his mother in the near future —and the rest of his loved ones— excited him to an unfamiliar degree, like the first time he saw the seaside with his own eyes at a very young age, like that time he sang in front of a considerable amount of people, like a warm hug of his late grandmother. The idea that she may like him enough to agree to a second date is stuck on his brain, despite that they haven't even survived the first one.

Anne saw him enjoy himself the rest of that afternoon and the next morning before he had to go back to London. She sighed and watched him drive away, standing in her front door for a few more minutes, rejoicing on the memory of Harry's toothy grin. Usually she was careful and waiting for the other shoe to drop, but not this time. There was a bit of certainty in the unfamiliar situation, something she couldn't quite put her finger on, she decided to patiently wait and see. She hummed a familiar tune while putting away the new additions to her crockery. The same song her son decided to play on his journey back home.

Qué será, será. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Qué será, será.

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