It was the mid-afternoon and Lori was exhausted, but she knew the night before was worth it. No one was around and Lori didn't mind the silence. Harry was the only thing on her mind and she wondered what was going on with her. She hated how he affected her, she hated how he made opening up so easy, she hated how much she wanted to trust him. Lori still couldn't believe she had showed him her book and told him about Martha. In that moment Lori made a promise to herself; she was going to control herself and not let anything else like that slip out again. His name must've been in Lori's head too much because he walked right into the candy shop, making Lori's heart beats multiply by the second.
“Nice uniform,” Harry scoffed at her.
“Shut up,” Lori shot at him. “What are you doing here?”
“Why is it you're never happy when I show up unexpectedly?” Harry asked with a sarcastic, pained tone. “You just always ask why I'm there. Most people say hi, ask how the other person is doing. Some people even smile.”
Lori smirked at his cheekiness. “Alright, alright sorry. Hi, how are you?” Lori plastered on a quick, fake grin to go with her rhetorical question. “What are you doing here?”
“I'm here to tell you that I'm going home soon so I won't be around for about two weeks. Tonight is my last night in America for a little while.”
“What time does your flight leave?”
“Eight o'clock.”
“Do you want to hang out for a little bit before you go?”
“What about your work?” Harry asked with a confused look on his face.
Lori shrugged and leaned her elbows on the counter that stood between her and Harry. She put all her weight on her elbows and looked up at Harry who was towering over her. He was leaving in a few hours and Lori just wanted him to stay for as long as her could.
“Hardly anyone has been around all day. It's been pretty empty and if you need to hide there's the back room.”
“Oh, I remember the back room,” Harry said flirtausiously.
Lori blushed and looked down at the counter, examining every little speck of the granite. Harry leaned his elbows down on the counter so his eyes were parrellel to Lori's. When Lori looked up she saw Harry's green eyes burning into her and as he leaned in her eyes began to flutter until they were shut the moment Harry's lips touched hers. The kiss was sweet and short, but Lori didn't want it to end. It took more will power than she expected not to show her disappointment when Harry pulled away.
“I'll stay,” he said.
If Lori's phone hadn't gone off there wasn't a doubt in Harry's mind that they would've kept staring at each other. Reluctantly, Lori broke the gaze and looked at her phone. Harry continued to watch her as her eyes scanned over the screen.
“Who's that?” Harry asked curiously.
Lori looked up from her phone. “Christine. She's going to college soon and was asking if I could help her pack tomorrow.”
“Are you going to miss her?”
“She's going to community college so she won't be far and she's not staying in a dorm. Her parents are trying to teach her to be independent so they're making her move out into an apartment they helped her buy. She told me that I could move in with her one day, but I don't know if I would.”
“Why not?”
Lori shrugged. “Oh, I dunno,” Lori lied. She knew, she knew if she left her parents the house would fall apart. Half of her, the resentful half, encouraged her to move out, but the other half always kept her with her parents. Despite the things they had done to her, Lori loved her parents and she didn't exactly know why.
“Are you sure?” Harry pressed, knowing she was lying to him.
To Lori's relief a customer came in and began scanning the products. Both Harry and Lori fell silent as they watched the man who looked to be im his early thirties. Finally he settled on a huge Hershy kiss and as he was buying it Lori noticed he seemed extremely nervous.
“Hey, I need you advice,” the man said to Lori.
“On what?” Lori asked as she handed him his huge kiss.
“Would it be too cheesy to go up to someone, give them this, and say 'I want to be the only one who ever gets to kiss you,'?”
Lori chuckled and understood why the guy was so nervous. “No, I think it's sweet. You should definitely say it.”
“Thanks,” he said to Lori and then headed out the door.
Lori smiled uncontrolably which irked Harry a little.
“Why so smiley?” Harry asked with a hint of jealousy. “Is it because that guy was flirting with you?”
Lori laughed at how easily Harry had gotten jealous. “Harry, he was not flirting with me.” Harry's face didn't look very convinced so Lori pointed out the window. “Look.”
Harry watched the guy get down on one knee and give the giant kiss to another man who looked around the same age. The guy pulled out a ring and his partner nodded rapidly. Lori held back her laughs as Harry observed the scene and quickly faced Lori.
“Oh,” was all he could say as he tried to hide how embarrassed he was.
The two talked for a few hours, saying whatever came to mind. A few people came in the store, but none of them recognized Harry. If there wasn't anyone around the two would kiss every now and again, making their last few hours live to their full potential. After about ninety minutes a little girl with caramel hair came in followed by a little boy who Lori assumed was her older brother. The little girl looked around five and the boy looked to be about seven. They cam up to the front of the counter and gazed at the delicious sweets on display. Everything chocolatey you could imagine was there in that case and the children's mouth watered as they stared.
“Two chocolate pretles please,” the little boy said as he handed Lori four dollars.
Her heart filled with sadness. “I'm sorry, sweetheart, but if you want two you'll need five dollars.”
The kids' faces dropped with disappointment and Lori saw the tears in the little girl's eyes.
“Here, take this,” Harry gently said as he handed the little boy a dollar. “Now you can buy your sweets.”
“Thank you, sir!” the little boy said excitedly as he handed Lori the money. She gave them each a pretzel and saw their faces brighten.
“My older sister loves you,” the little girl said to Harry.
“Excuse me?” Harry laughed.
“She has a billion posters of you in her room.”
“What's your name?” Harry asked as he bent down so he was eye level with the little girl.
“Hayden. Geoff is my brother.”
“Hayden, could you do me a favor and pretty please get your sister for me?”
“Okay,” Hayden said. She ran out of the shop only to return a moment later, this time with an older girl trailing behind her. The older girl froze in the doorway as she saw Harry stand up. He smiled and began to walk towards her.
“Hi! You alright? What's your name?”
“You're Harry Styles,” the girl said quietly, “Harry Styles is in Pennsylvania. Ohmygod!” her volume increased tremendously. “Can I have a picture please? Can I have an autograph too, please? Follow me on Twitter please! I love you so much!”
The girl began freaking out and Lori tried to stifle her laughs. Harry nodded, took a picture with her, signed a map for her, and followed her on Twitter. By then the teenager was crying.
“You best thank your little brother and sister eitherwise I wouldn't have been able to meet you.”
Each sibling got a life threatening hug and Harry suggested all four of them take a picture. Once the picture was over the siblings left, leaving Harry and Lori alone in the shop. Lori looked at Harry who was absolutely beaming.
“That was really sweet, Harry.”
“I love my fans. I have to go though, my flight leaves in three hours and I need to go to my hotel and get everything ready.” Harry walked over to Lori and backed her up against a wall of the store. Her breathing hitched as Harry's face became rediciously close to her. His green eyes scanned her entire face, trying to remember every perfect detail before he had to go. “I'll miss you,” he whispered.
“I'll miss you too,” Lori whispered back.
Harry gave her a longing kiss, one he hoped that it told her how much he was going to miss her. Lori wrapped her arms around his neck, never wanting to let go. She pulled him closer and slowly felt the pressure of his lips go away. Their eyes met and both of their hearts sank. Harry pulled Lori into a protective hug and she rested her head on Harry's hard chest while she wrapped her arms around his torso. Neither of them knew how long they stayed like that, but when Lori tried to escape their embrace Harry just held her closer making her giggle. She tried fighting her way out, but Harry was too strong.
“Harry, you're going to miss your flight,” Lori giggled.
“But I don't want to go!” Harry whined.
Finally Lori seperated herself from Harry. “Go,” she urged, “I'll be here when you get back.”
Harry gave her one last kiss and then walked out the door.