tintedglasses

I just started a new job, so I have like zero time to write, but here's a snippet from Niall's first day working at Liam's grocery store. (Also, contrary to my original plan, Louis and Niall are not roommates. Instead, Niall moves in with Harry.)

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Ellie is about ten years older than Niall and, true to Liam’s word, is much better with the register than Liam. She’s also less chatty, which Niall appreciates. Once she goes over how to open the cash drawer, scan receipts, and process food vouchers, she flicks open her phone and goes on Facebook while they wait for customers. Niall isn’t sure if that’s allowed, but Liam isn’t around to see it, so he guesses it doesn’t really matter.

He’s just about to give into the temptation to pull out his own phone when the bell above the front door rings. It’s a boy wearing a Payne’s Grocery nametag on his black t-shirt and a blue beanie over his hair. He yells out a “Hey, Ellie,” as he passes the registers and she raises a hand in response, not looking up from her phone.

Niall watches as he makes his way back towards the staff room Liam had shown him earlier, right by the deli counter. The boy stops to wrap his arm around a blonde girl---Bebe, Niall thinks---glancing a kiss off her temple. She laughs at something he says and swats at his arm as he releases her and ducks into the staff room, presumably to go punch in.

“Is that...?” Niall mumbles, a flicker of recognition tugging at his gut.

“Hmm?” Ellie says, tapping away at her screen, before looking up at Niall, whose gaze is still on the staff room door. “Oh, that's Louis. He works back in the deli.”

Well, shit.

***

Niall makes it all the way until the last hour of his shift before his stomach starts grumbling uncomfortably and his knees start to really ache from standing for so long. He powers through though, ignoring the way his stomach lurches every time a cart full of food approaches.

Aside from the food part, the job doesn’t actually seem all that bad. It’s nice even, the mind-numbing certainty that comes with the job: scan each item, enter the method of payment, return the change. No surprises, no rushing around. He’s not as charming as Ellie surprisingly is with the customers, but he does okay.

He’s back in the staffroom clocking out when Louis comes in, now wearing a stained maroon apron over his t-shirt. Niall hasn’t seen him since he disappeared behind the deli counter an hour and a half ago.

“Hey, man. You new here?” Louis asks, cocking his head to the side. “You look kind of familiar.”

Niall’s face flushes as fiddles with his hoodie strings. He’s not surprised that Louis doesn’t recognize him, but he’s disproportionately disappointed anyways. “Just started today,” he says, pulling one of the strings too hard, leaving them uneven.

“You live around here before?” Louis says, before squinting slightly. He snaps his fingers, eyebrow quirking. “Horan, right?”

Niall nods, trying to ignore the way his chest feels a little brighter. It doesn't mean anything; they went to a small school, it's not like there are that many people to remember.

“Can’t believe I almost didn’t recognize you. Although, you look quite different now, huh, Blondie?”

He stiffens at the familiar nickname. “I guess so.”

“Well, it's nice to see you back in town, Horan. Didn’t think you’d ever come back, honestly,” Louis says before snatching his cigarettes out of the pocket of the jacket hanging up in his cubby. He winks at Niall, holding up the packet, “Don’t tell Liam about this, yeah? He’s been on my ass about quitting.”

Niall nods his head, too busy trying to ignore the way his stomach rumbles again to care about Louis’s bad habits. Fuck, he’s gonna have to eat something. He tucks his time-card back in its slot before shoving his hands in the pocket of his hoodie to press down against his middle, hoping to stifle the sounds.

“I gotta go before Liam realizes I’m gone,” Louis says, shoving the cigarettes in his back pocket before heading towards the door. As he opens it, he says over his shoulder, “I’ll see you around, okay?”

“Yeah, sure,” Niall answers, but Louis's already gone.

TBC

Here's a little snippet from my eating disorder Nouis fic. This is just the beginning of the fic, right after Niall leaves London. My inner-voice was yelling at me to make this Niall-centric and @saysthemagpie agreed, so that's what I'm going with because I feel like being self-indulgent.

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“This is me,” Louis gestures to the second door on the left, as they reach the third floor of the apartment building. Niall’s bags feel heavy on his shoulders after the climb, the straps cutting into his skin, no fat on his bones to cushion them.

Louis unlocks the deadbolt, turns the handle, and leans his body against the door, muttering, “She sticks a little sometimes...ah, there we go.” The door bursts open to reveal a small entryway leading into the living room.

“Y’can go ahead and put your shoes by the door here.” Louis toes off his own shoes to demonstrate and Niall follows suit.

Once they're both in their socks, he leads Niall through the entryway, chattering the whole time, “This’ll lead you right into the living room. Straight through the living room takes you to the kitchen. And to the right is the bedrooms and the toilets. Sorry it’s a bit of a tip.”( Read more... )