Supine 'til Aurora • Dan Howell

• Chapter 2 •

All of a sudden I was pushed straight into the stall causing half the fruit to roll off the stall and onto the floor, a bowl of cherries shattering as it fell from the wobbling table, and a vase of flowers on the next stall toppling over onto the pavement and shattering into hundreds of pieces.

A string of colourful words followed, as a man, who was obviously much taller than me and most people around, had hurridly begun to pick up the fruit that had rolled away.
Then he suddenly turned around with a handful aubergines, grapefruits and bananas and looked up at me from his crouched position, a deep blush of embarrassment rouging his cheeks; I felt it too, embarrassment skittering around in my chest, my cheeks burning as much as his were.

"I am so sorry." He said to me, standing up, he looked to be over six foot - even though I was 5'9, which was considered above average for women, he towered over me. Not only did I feel slightly intimidated, but embarrassment was still gnawing at my stomach. He turned back around and I suddenly made the connection - it took longer than it should have for me to do so, but when it hit me, it hit hard: He was Dan Howell. What on earth was he doing in Finland? Much less this market at 7am?

"Shit. Shit. Shit... Jesus CHRIST."

Oh yes. Definitely Dan Howell.

I ran over to pick up a watermelon that had managed to roll several feet away, picking it up and tucking it under my arm. My side was still throbbing from the impact at which I hit the table. I quickly got back over to the fruit stall, avoiding a large puddle building in the middle of the bridge.

"God I am so sorry." He said to the man behind the stall, and then turned to me, "I - I am so so sorry, are you okay? Did I hurt you...?" He looked at me with what looked to be genuine concern. "I feel so guilty." He confessed, looking at me as I placed the melon on the table, trying to angle it so the seller wouldn't see the slightly bruised part of it, Dan smiling as I did do.
His hair was flattened against his head, and his face was dripping with water.
"I'm okay, don't worry." I said, grinning up at him. I felt ridiculously tiny standing next to him. I didn't realise how tall he actually was.
"I honestly feel so bad." He apologised again to me, before turning to the vendor and trying to apologise to him too, slight desperation hanging in his voice.

The rain was still bucketing down, my teeth chattered in the bitter wind that batted my raw cheeks in the stilling mist. I glanced at my watch: 15 minutes; I could make it to work now if I ran. Yet, my feet stayed glued to the flooded floor, by the stand, watching for a second as the vendor yelled at Dan in Finnish - and I didn't like it.

"Hey hey." I interrupted the vendor, and he glared down his nose at me, "Se oli onnettomuus kummassakin tapauksessa ja olisin mielelläni maksamaan vahingoista, jotka olemme aiheuttaneet hedelmillesi."
Dan looked at me.

"What's happening?" He looked down at me, frowning slightly.

"I told him I'll pay for any damages to his.. uh - his fruit..." I bit back a giggle as I reached for my purse, not happy about having to pay, but finding the situation awkwardly hilarious.

"No." Dan said, holding his hand out so I couldn't hand over any money, "It was totally my fault, I'm paying, not you."

He pulled his wallet out, and looked at the vendor, seeming to forget about the language barrier. "How much do I owe you...? -...You know what?" He tipped one of the open pockets of his wallet upside down, emptying out the contents.

I stared at him, not really knowing what to do in this situation as he turned around and smiled at me; dimple and all.

My insides fluttered

"Are you sure you're okay?" He questioned.

"Yeah, I'm okay, just really wet." I looked down at myself, my shoes filled with water and my hair wet despite the hood, "Are you okay?"
"Yes; I just - I feel awful, let me do something in return for you."

"Honestly it's okay, it was accidental."
"I'll treat you to lunch." He beamed at me, his eyes scrunching.

"Lunch?" I smiled, the fluttering returning.

"Yes. I did kind of throw you into a table and get you in trouble with a grouchy old man."

I let out a little laugh, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I'll buy my lunch, though I'll happily accompany you... you could by me a drink, instead?"

"Can we make that a set deal?"
"Yes, you have yourself a deal, Howell."

Dan raised an eyebrow at my comment, registering that I obviously knew who he was.

"Well, my smooth run lasted," I checked my watch, "11 minutes." I said sorrily, now avoiding his gaze to repent any other possible embarrassment.

He laughed, "Boy, can I relate to that."
I looked up sheepishly, studdying his face for a second before realising, "Oh shit." I almost yelled, checking my watch.

"Is everything okay?"

"I'm so late to work."

"Fuck. I am so sorry, again. When do you get off?" He asked me, another drop of water making its way down his forehead, his ears bright red, I assumed from the cold.

"4." I replied, suddenly extremely aware of the fact we were standing in the pouring rain, both drenched and freezing.

"Oh. I guess lunch is off then?" A flash of sadness washed over his face, then it lit up again.

"Early dinner?" He suggested.
Smiling at his sudden innocence, I agreed.

"Where are you going until then?" I asked him, assuming he'd have a big fancy hotel to go back to and that we'd have to meet somewhere.

"Uhm" Dan looked up at the sky; his eyes fluttering in the fine rain as he thought, "literally no where. I was going to do some market-shopping but the rain kind of ruined that plan... Phil has the room key, and we agreed we'd meet at the hotel at 6... so that's-" He paused, for a second, clearly doing some adding in his head, "11 hours of literally nothing." Pausing again, he looked back at me, his full, brown eyes making my stomach lurch.

"Well... you can't stay out in the rain. Once Finland starts it doesn't stop." Dan chuckled watching me think as we both stood stiff, as the rain seemed to become so heavy it was a veil infront of us.

"You could come to work with me?"
He looked taken aback at my suggestion, but then looked to genuinely be considering it.

"My boss won't mind if you hang around, I'm sure. It's a 20 minute walk or so, 10 minute run because the tram lines are closed."

Eyes lit up, Dan exclaimed, "We should so run."

I laughed at his childish demeanour, watching as he started to do high knees.

"I just realised," He said, continuing to jog on the spot, "I didn't ask your name."

"Ava." I replied. "Ava Virtanen."

"Alright, Virtanen. What way are we headed?"

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What are you guys thinking about Ava's first run in with Dan? What do you think OF Dan?

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, I am currently working on Chapter 3 as we speak, or rather as we type.

Any questions you guys would like to ask, feel free to! Xx