Invisible string

"And what was your name?" The boy spoke with a pleasant accent, looking back up to meet Harry's eyes. Harry had to take a moment to realise what he was being asked, before answering hurriedly.

"Uh, it's Harry." He said, feeling flustered which tinted his cheeks pink. The boy wrote his name down next to his order and opened the register.

"That will be $4.50." He said with a tempting, crooked smile.

Harry fished out a crumpled $10 note from his pocket and handed it over, not taking his eyes off the wondrous Teal Shirt Boy. Harry had never seen him around before, and he had lived in this small town his whole life. He must be new in here because it was most unlikely that Harry could've missed him throughout the years.

The boy also looked similar to Harry's age, which only made him more intrigued. Perhaps he was only staying for the summer? And if so, how long would he be staying for? Surely long enough to apply for a job here at least. There were so many questions that Harry wanted to ask him.

The boy was busying himself with the yogurt machines as Harry's thoughts buzzed around in his head. He came to the conclusion that the only way to find answers to these questions would be to ask. The thought alone sent a shiver down his spine.

Finally, the Teal Shirt Boy finished making Harry's frozen yogurt and was walking back over to the front of the counter.

His curiosity took over him, and he built up the courage to ask the question.

"Are you new here? I haven't seen you around before." Harry asked, trying to keep the eagerness and curiosity from expressing in his voice.

"I just moved here actually. My names' Louis, nice to meet you." The blue-eyed boy smiled and handed over the frozen yogurt cup.

"You too," Harry replied, taking the cup in his hands. He grinned back, dimples showing. "I guess I'll be seeing you around then?"

"It seems so."

And that was the final exchange of words before Harry walked back out of the shop into the summer heat. His whole body was floating with giddiness, eyes brighter and cheeks pinker. He took a spoonful of the yogurt and started the slow walk home, his thoughts never wandering from the Teal Shirt Boy. Louis.
———

Were there clues I didn't see?

-
Harry

The following weeks of summer continued as Harry would've expected in his ongoing routine of reading, dreaming and frozen yogurt. However, this time his daydreams were consumed of feathery hair and teal shirts.

He also spent the days with an occasional visit down to the lake, which was like a safe haven to Harry since it was mostly deserted, even though it was the most beautiful place he knew of. Other days he would wander the town or on particularly hot days, just stay home.

But more often than not, he found himself back at the park underneath the elm tree, book in his left hand, frozen yogurt in his right. It had become a habit for his green eyes to peer across the road, desperate for a glimpse of a particular boy who happened to work there. Sometimes Harry would even see him coming and going from his shifts. He slowly became infatuated with the boy.

Whenever Harry walked into the shop, which had become almost a daily occurrence, Louis was always there. Same blue eyes and same crooked smile that made Harry's heart flutter. He would always greet him with a smirk, and since by now he already knew Harry's order by heart he barely had to ask.

In a way, this allowed room for conversations, which out of politeness they always held. But this was frustrating since the painfully casual small talk left him only wanting more.