Peppermint Kisses

Harry’s pov
I’m not quite sure why, but each time I go to make something from one of the books I bought I just keep thinking about her. Her warm smile, soft voice, the nicely decorated store. It’s amazing how she was taking her time putting up lights and that no one was in there. Despite how small the place is it had just about everything; comfy chairs, a café, magazines, an area for kids and even times when Santa was going to come in and read.
“Harry! Watch what you’re doing”
I was stirring a pot of soup lazily while my mum was adding everything. My hand must have almost made contact with her knife as she added the carrots. I mumbled an apology and continued to stir.
“Honey why don’t you go sit I’ll finish up”
I let go of the ladle and walk into my room. It’s so hard to forget someone who just brightened your day so much. She’s all I’ve been thinking about and I don’t even know her name.
“Harry?”
“Yes Gemma”
“Did you wanna walk with me to that bookstore again?”
“Did you finish the book already?”
She nodded and threw my coat at me running out of my room to get hers I assume. I slipped my coat on and followed her to the door to put my shoes on.”Where do you two think you’re going right before dinner?”
“To this cute little bookshop Harry and I stumbled upon a few days back”
“Well hurry up and if you can find the next book in the series I’m reading that’d be nice while you’re at it”
“Will do mum, bye”
“Bye, mum”
We had escaped mother hens nest. Part one of plan ‘See the Girl at the Bookstore Again’ is complete.
~
When we walked in someone was at the counter, but I’m not too sure it was her. This someone had a recent magazine in front of her face and it had my picture on the front. Oh? The woman paused and stood up-it’s definitely not her- and opened a door behind her saying, “Ari come here there’s that Styles kid you were talking about” I don’t believe she had noticed me and when Gemma snorted from laughing I ducked down and from my guesses she noticed. “Oh, hello dear, what can I help you with?”
“I just wanted to get the next book in this series”
“Oh that is right over here”
Suddenly Gemma is walking away and I’m crawling towards the magazine rack. I stood up and plucked the pink covered magazine with my picture on it and flipped to the section she must have been reading.
“Do you always check bookstores for magazines that feature you?” a voice that came out of nowhere scared me.
“N-noI-I was um just finding out some good gifts for my sister” then I pointed to the make-up pouches on the page. “Nice cover-up, but what were you really doing over here?” I started to stutter again and pointed at the counter where the same magazine was placed, she knew immediately what I was talking about and said, “Oh, ok yeah my mom is a wack-o”
“You were talking about me since I came in here a few days ago?”
She looked at me confused and as if she was trying to remember. “No, I actually never realized it was you. I honestly wasn’t going to say anything today until I compared your face to the cover” The first teenage girl to be normal around me, and not scream and cry begging for a selfie, hug, or twitter follow.
I tried looking around the store to find Gemma, but she wasn’t anywhere. “Boo” I jumped once again and dropped the magazine. “Aww Hawwy has a girlfwiend”
“Go away Gemma”
“I’m ready to leave whenever you are”
From there she started toward the door and stopped to look at the kids books near the window. I looked up and noticed she was blushing a little. I cleared my throat and said, “I never did get your name”
“Arizona”
“Arizona, that’s different, but I like it”
“And you are?”
“Harry Styles, one fifth of One Direction”
“You say that like it’s supposed to be impressive” I frowned at that.
Next thing I knew she was digging a pad of sticky notes out of her pocket and a pen. As she wrote I was crossing my fingers hoping it was her number she was writing. “Week days are a good time to stop by” she said ripping off the sticky note and instead of handing it to me she placed it on my forehead. With about ten dozen different things running through my mind I watched as she left to disappear behind the counter. I placed the magazine on the shelf and headed towards the exit where Gemma was still looking over the kids books. “I don’t know why you read so many novels when those are more your level”
“Says the one who dropped school”
I meant to say more, but she noticed the sticky note too fast. “Aww Harry is that how you pick up girls these days?” I tore the sticky note from my head and shoved it in my pocket, opening the door for Gemma and following after. “You will never hear the end of this. Just wait till mom finds out. Or just wait till the boys find out. You’ll have to get an earful from everyone now”
~
An earful was what I got. Over dinner mum asked Gemma about our trip to the bookshop. Of course Gemma told her everything, and I mean all about the bookstore times so I can go back. I think she failed to see her number written on the back. “Tell us about this girl then Harry”
“I don’t really know much about her, but her name is Arizona. She works at a bookstore and doesn’t particularly know about my fame which I am ok with”
“May I see the note?”
“Um s-sure”
I handed over the post it note with the store times facing up so hopefully she wouldn’t realize her number on the back. As I hoped that she wouldn’t turn it over Gemma whispered to her probably telling her to flip it over. My life is over.
“Harry’s got a girlfriend” Gemma teased.
“That’s beautiful Harry”
Yeah, she’ll think it’s beautiful until she realizes I’ve been texting her from underneath the table.

Notes