Shy | librarian!harry -patreon teaser
2 part story only on Patreon!
Summary: Harry's a painfully shy librarian and he finds Y/n very sweet so when she gets the nerve up to ask him to join her to see her friend's band play he gets nervous about going but figures it'll be his only shot.
1,122 word teaser
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As more of her friends arrived everyone pulled tables together and Y/n made sure she kept Harry with her, next to her the whole time. She kept checking in but he was becoming withdrawn bit by bit as her friends were stealing her attention. She tried keeping him in the conversation, asking him his opinion, touching his arm but it was difficult when he would hardly make a peep or look anyone in the eyes.
But the breaking point was when the band was on their second song and Harry had to use the bathroom. He hadn’t been gone long but when he came back a guy was sitting where he had been who had his arm along the back of Y/n’s chair and Y/n was grinning at him the way he wished she’d do to him. And it was probably nothing. But who could know? Harry didn’t know why she invited him. She’d been perfectly nice to him the whole time. And he could tell she was trying to babysit a little. Trying to keep him in the conversation and pulling him along with her but Harry didn’t want any of that.
He hated situations like the one he was in. Meeting new people wasn’t his thing. He wasn’t good at it. So, with a sigh, he pulled his cell phone out of his back pocket and called for an Uber. He’d leave and make it easier for Y/n to enjoy her friends. He didn’t want to feel like a burden and that’s how he felt. And he certainly wouldn’t walk up to the guy sitting in his place and tell him that was where he’d been sitting.
Y/n realized Harry had been gone for quite a while. The band was starting their third song and she looked around the buzzing café and didn’t spot his lavender sweater and dark curls anywhere. She got up and went toward where the bathrooms were and noted both the men’s bathroom doors were open and no one was inside.
Her heart dropped when she thought about what he might have seen as he left the bathroom and Paul was sitting where Harry had been. And now she figured it was possible he just left. She could tell he’d gotten progressively more uncomfortable as more of her friends arrived.
When she didn’t spot him outside either she felt a pang of sadness and hurt. She knew he wasn’t trying to be mean by leaving without saying anything but still… She’d taken a chance and invited him out. Her first attempt at making a move with him and he just left.
Sure she understood that he was painfully shy but not even a heads up that he was leaving? She wished she’d gotten his number but of course, she’d have to wait until Monday to visit him at the library to find out what had happened.
. . .
Harry regretted leaving like he did. After he got dropped off at his car he realized it would have been much kinder to say goodbye. But it was too late and now he’d gone and blown it with the girl of his dreams because he couldn’t get his act together. He was destined to be alone for the rest of his life. He wasn’t built for relationships and pursuing a lover.
Hell, he was still a virgin 28. Which was another issue he hated to think about. To tell someone that? Anyone? Social suicide. And certainly, Y/n would think he was some kind of freak.
He couldn’t even bring himself to eat that night. He felt awful for being awful. Y/n had been nothing but kind to him and he just left like an idiot. Surely that would be the end of that. He’d probably never see her again.
Except he did see her again. First thing Monday after opening up the library and starting the pot of coffee for Lin and Priscilla. He walked out when he heard the door chime with the idea that it was one of his co-workers but instead, it was Y/n with a frown on her face and a stack of books in her arms. The ones she had only checked on Saturday. There was no way she’d read them all so quickly.
She placed the books on the counter and Harry readied himself for a terrible interaction with her as his heart pounded in his chest.
“Why did you leave like that the other night?”
Harry dropped his gaze to his feet, “Um… I’m sorry. I felt really bad for that. I wasn’t thinking… I got nervous and just left. I’m sorry, Y/n.”
“Why?” She kept her eyes on him, his face downcast toward the floor.
“I’m too shy. I can’t talk to people. I saw someone sitting next to you and thought maybe it was better if I just left.”
“Well, that was kind of a jerk move. You really hurt my feelings. At first, I even felt bad about it. Like it was my fault.”
Harry’s eyes shot up to hers as he shook his head. He hadn’t wanted her to feel bad.
She continued, “But then the more I thought about it I realized… you probably just don’t even like me to begin with. So… I’m sorry I invited you to something that you hated and that spending time with me was so awful you had to sneak out. But I won’t bother you ever again. I’ll find a new library to go to so you don’t have to ever see me after this. I just wanted to drop the books off and tell you that you hurt my feelings.”
Harry could have cried. He even felt the smallest bit of liquid forming in his eyes as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and shook his head, “No. Please. Y/n… I’m really sorry. I’m awful at this. I do like you… I’m socially awkward and I didn’t mean to do anything that made you feel bad.”
He rushed his words out as he watched her dig into her purse to pull out her library card and place it on the stack of books with finality.
“I’m sure you’re sorry. All I can say is that I put myself out there and invited you so I could get to know you. I thought maybe you wanted to get to know me too. That was probably presumptuous of me. And now I just feel embarrassed.”
Y/n turned but Harry followed. He was desperate and felt like he was about to fall through the earth… that he’d be swallowed by gravelly dirt and sticks and worms and would never be able to claw his way out again.
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