Closer

"You can go now Harry, your sister's car is out front." Harry let out a sigh of relief, going to the back to hang up his apron.

Today was warmer than it had been which meant that more people were out to do errands or were getting a breath of fresh air. It also meant that the cafe was insanely busy and crowded. He did get a decent amount of tips so it was worth it in the end.

Harry waved goodbye to Meg as he walked out the door. He got into Gemma's car, letting out a sigh of relief.

"You sound like you had fun today." Gemma chuckled, waiting for Harry to buckle his seat belt before she pulled out into traffic.

"It was busier than usual, I didn't even have time for a break today," Harry explained with his head thrown back on the headrest and his eyes closed.

"Did you see your little stalker today?" Gemma laughed while Harry mentally rolled his eyes. He told Gemma about Louis after the first visit the man made, as well as every other time he visited.

Gemma's his best friend so it wasn't a surprise that he told her about the man who visited him every day with a smirk on his lips and a flirty comment.

"Don't call him that," Harry snapped but there was no bite behind it so Gemma knew he wasn't mad. "But, yes, he came in at the exact same time as usual." Harry watched as cars and buildings flew by as they made their way to the closest shopping center. People walked blissfully unaware of everything going on around them as they laughed with their loved ones. Half of them not understanding the troubles that less fortunate people face every day.

Harry hoped that one day he would be one of those people.

"What did he say to you today?" Gemma asked as she turned into the parking lot, her eyes sharply looking for an empty spot in the crowded lot.

"I didn't have time to say anything to him today because it was so hectic. I got his order and hurried him along. He left earlier than usual, though." Gemma hummed as she hurried to a spot before another car could, earning a honk from the white Lamborghini with tinted windows. Harry laughed at Gemma's proud smile.

She loved to mess with rich people.

"He left because you didn't let him flirt with you, obviously. Now, let's go find me something hot to wear." Harry chuckled at how excited Gemma was. She had been crushing on a regular customer who always sat in her section. He was there one time when Harry was and Harry saw from a mile away that the boy fancied his sister.

He finally asked her out yesterday which led to Gemma having a freak out over having nothing date-worthy to wear. Considering she hadn't gone shopping for over two years and she never went out other than work, she wasn't wrong. All she owned was t-shirts, jeans, and leggings.

"Where are you guys going?" Harry asked as they left the car, walking through the entrance doors.

"Just a dinner and a movie, but he told me to dress up a bit because the restaurant is fancy," Gemma explained, heading to the escalators.

"Well, let's find something that makes you look so good he won't be able to take his eyes away from you."

******

"I would have slapped her, honestly," Harry snipped as he sipped his drink.

Gemma laughed before taking a bite of her food. After finding a black, long sleeve dress that Gemma looked absolutely stunning in, they decided to head to the food court considering they actually had extra money for once that didn't need to go to bills.

"I was close, if her boyfriend hadn't apologized for her, I totally would have. He was completely embarrassed, it was hilarious." Gemma snickered. Harry smiled at her until he saw her attention focusing on something behind him.

"Are you okay?" Gemma hesitated before answering Harry, her eyes still trained on behind him.

"Do you know him?" Harry's eyebrow furrowed in confusion and suddenly he felt a presence behind him and a shadow looming over him.

"Hello, love, glad you found some free time after how busy you were today." Hands rested on his shoulders as the familiar voice talked in his ear. Harry turned with a small smile, his eyes meeting blue ones.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked. The shopping center they were at wasn't a very expensive one which is why Gemma and he went there.

Louis, however, was incredibly rich (Harry could tell by the tips the man leaves) so the question of why he was here instead of the more expensive one down the street with stores like Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent was a very good one.

"I was visiting my friend here, he works over at the vintage clothing store." Gemma's eyes shoot up in surprise.

"You're friends with Zayn?" Gemma asked in shock. Louis sent her one of his charming smiles and nodded.

"Been best friends since we were children. Do you know him?" Gemma nodded at Louis.

"He comes into the restaurant that I work at and we chat whenever we see each other. He's a nice lad." Louis hummed, tightening his hands on Harry's shoulders a tiny bit.

"He usually doesn't talk much. He must like you if he actually chats with you." Gemma laughed.

"I can't say that were more of acquaintances, but he seems like he'd be a good lad to be friends with." Louis smiled.

"He is, why don't you say 'hi' to him before you leave?" Louis suggested, rubbing his thumbs on Harry's shoulders lightly. Harry shivered as Louis' thumbs go under his shirt.

"I will, thanks. Who are you, if you don't mind me asking." Harry laughed at Gemma's words.

"Sorry, this is Louis, Louis, this is my sister."

"Ah, so you're Gemma, I've heard a lot about you," Louis said, removing a hand from Harry's shoulder to shake her hand. Gemma smirked at Harry as she shook Louis' hand. Harry blushed, already knowing that Gemma would make this embarrassing for him.

"I've heard quite a bit about you as well, Louis. I assume you came over to talk to Harry since he was too busy to talk today?" Louis nodded. Harry looked up to see him smiling smugly at his smirking sister.

"Oh, god, you two are so alike it's irritating. You both are so sassy and sarcastic and try to expose me any chance you get," Harry grumbled causing them both to cackle. Gemma took a sip of her drink and stood up, grabbing her purse.

"Well, I'll go say hi to Zayn and you can have my seat and flirt with my baby brother. I'll be back in a minute," Gemma teased, walking away with her trash before either man could reply. Louis squeezed Harry's shoulder before taking Gemma's seat.

"You told her that I flirt with you?" Louis questioned, sitting in his usual position with his hands laced together on the table. He sat with such an aura of confidence and dominance that Harry felt like the man could get him to do whatever he pleased with one command and Harry would have no choice but to obey. It made him nervous, but a good type of nervous.

"I didn't, she came up with that conclusion on her own. I don't know why, but she did," Harry muttered sheepishly, sipping his drink with his curls covering his face. Louis smirked when he saw the blush appear on the younger lad's cheeks.

"Beautiful," Louis muttered under his breath so Harry wouldn't hear. "Well, she's not oblivious like you are." Harry's head snapped up, his mouth slightly parted in shock.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked in confusion with his eyebrows furrowed adorably. Louis reached over the table and took Harry's hand, holding it softly.

"I have been flirting with you and I wasn't trying to be subtle. You didn't notice, did you?" Harry's blush deepens as he shook his head, his curls flying in different directions.

"No, I thought you were being polite," He admits, holding Louis' hand back lightly. Louis smiled brightly at that.

"I don't stay an hour at a cafe just to talk to someone when I'm being nice love. Usually, I would get everything to go, but I wanted to talk to such a beautiful and kind creature such as yourself." Harry giggles softly, sending a smile to the older man.

"I'm sorry I was so busy that I couldn't talk today." Harry changed the subject, but Louis didn't mind. Harry was obviously flustered and it made Louis extremely pleased to see him like that.

"I understand love, that's why I'm talking to you now." Harry nodded, taking the last fry out of the container and pulled his hand away from Louis to clean his trash up.

"I'm glad you are, I missed talking to you today, as much as I hate to admit it," Harry teased, smiling at Louis who smirked at him.

"Look who decided to be a jokester," Louis teased back, his smile fading once he sees Gemma walking towards them.

She was barely gone five minutes, Zayn should have been able to keep her for longer than that.

"Sorry to cut this little date short, but mum needs us to come home. She needs the car." Harry frowned but nodded, turning back to Louis with a sad smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked as he stood up. Louis stood up as well, pulling an unexpecting Harry into a hug.

"12 o'clock sharp," he whispered in his ear, pulling back with a smile. "It was nice to meet you, Gemma." Gemma smiled warily and nodded.

"You too, Louis, let's go, Hazza." Harry flushed at the childhood nickname, hoping Louis would forget about it by tomorrow and not make fun of him for it.

But Harry knew that he wouldn't.

"Bye, darling," Louis said, waving before turning the other way and walked away. Harry throws his trash away and followed his sister outside in a hurry. They get in the car and pull out of the parking space quickly.

"He seemed nice. How old is he?" Gemma asked, pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road.

"Twenty-six." Gemma hummed in distaste.

"That's a bit old for you, isn't it?" Harry rolled his eyes.

"You just said he was nice."

"No, I said he seemed nice. He was a bit touchy wasn't he?" Harry looked over to see his sister staring at the road with a cross look on her face.

"What's with you? You were the one who left us alone so he could 'flirt' with me," he pointed out, watching as her expression softened.

"I know, I just..." She sighed. "He's a lot older than you and you tend to be oblivious to people's intentions. Zayn told me how old he was and that the guy is a bit of a player. I just don't want him to hurt you." Harry sighed, leaning his head against the headrest.

"I'll be fine, but if you knew his age, why did you ask me?" He questioned. She shrugged.

"I wanted to make sure you knew without seeming like an overprotective big sister."

"Too late," Harry muttered under his breath, but Gemma still heard him.

"Oh, shut up. I'm allowed to be protective." She looked into her rearview mirror and let out a groan. "What the fuck, it's that stupid lambo again. Are they following us or something?" Harry looked out the side view mirror to see the same white Lamborghini with the same tinted windows behind them. He rolled his eyes, pulling out his phone that he was finally able to buy after a year of saving money.

"Just ignore it, I'm sure they'll turn soon."

******

"Mum! We're home!" Gemma yelled as she and Harry entered the house.

As Harry turned to shut the door, his eyes widened when he saw that same white Lamborghini pull up on the other side of the road. With his heart picking up speed and his mouth hanging slightly open, Harry blinked harshly and shook his head.

He tried to see inside the car, but the tinted windows made it hard to see inside. As soon as he made his way back outside, the car sped off. A chilling shiver traveled down his spine and his eyebrows were deeply furrowed when he caught a glimpse of the driver from the side view mirror.

A glimpse of Louis.