Take Control

Malorie tapped her pen on the counter as she stared aimlessly out the window of her aunt's shop. Of course that meant she was watching Oli's store. She was intriqued by the boy, by his store, what kind of mystery he held. Of course her mom always told her too much curiosity wasn't a good thing, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of man the tattooed boy was. He seemed to have such a different attitude then how he looked that it took her off guard when he offered to help. His dark eyes gave his soft interior away though. They seemed gentle, a bit misconstrued from the tattoos.

She let out a sigh before glancing at the clock. She perked up a bit realizing it was lunch time. Maybe a quick scan of his shop wouldn't do any harm. She made a mental note to make sure she bought something so she didn't look like a stalker. She confidently walked across the street after telling her co-worker she was going for lunch. The door chimed as she opened it and she was a bit surprised to see as many people there as she did.

Her eyes landed on the first rack of colorful t-shirts and she made an effort to look through them although her eyes occasionally wondered to see if the tattooed boy was here.

She picked up a sweater she actually found herself liking and as she examined it she didn't notice the boy stepping closer to her. He had spotted her several seconds ago from the counter and the words coming out of Sam, the managers mouth, went in one ear out the other.

"Hold that fought." He said holding up his hand as he headed towards the blonde girl.

"I see yeh true ta yeh word. A good quality to have. Hard ta find in a yank." He said with a smirk as the girl spun around to face him.

"Yes, because you are around a lot of yanks and all." She said tilting her head to the side with a smirk of her own.

He smiled at the cute gesture, "Occasionally, when I'm on tour and all."

"Right. Metal band right?" She asked turning back around to change the size of the sweater. Of course she had did her homework the night before. By homework she meant googling the owner of Drop Dead. That wasn't stalkerish in her defense. If anything she would call it getting to know her neighbors.

"Oh. So yeh know who I am?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. Well, it wouldn't be the first time a girl pretended not to know him just to get attention.

"Nope. Googled you out of curiosity." She said flipping through the shirts on the next rack.

He let out a laugh, "Googled meh, huh?"

"Yep. You know, to see if you owning this was legit."

"Oh and?"

"Yep, but you shouldn't take all your brother's credit either."

"Yeh right. It's mine and Tom's shop." He said with a smile as he leaned against the wall.

"Right. Now you say that." She joked and he spoke, "Didn't fink I needed to go inta the whole background juss ta help yeh lock yeh door."

She let out a laugh at that, breaking her serious exterior.

"Next time I'll rememba ta do that while helpin' a yank."

She laughed and threw the sweater at him lightly, "So, are you going to ring me up or what?"

He stifled a laugh, "I own this, I don't work tha regista."

"Oh god forbid you work for once."

He couldn't help but laugh at the girl's bold behavior. Although he knew her words were playful, he had never had a girl banter with him like this and he was fond of it.

She watched the boy as he held on to the sweater before stepping over to the counter where he grabbed a bag and placed the sweater inside.

"On tha house." He said holding it out to her with a wink.

"Just because you don't want to mess with the register?" She questioned as he slid the handle onto her wrist.

"Exactly. Plus, yeh meh favorite customa." He said with a smile and she laughed, "Well, I'm flattered, but your favorite customer has to get back to work. She was on lunch."

"And did my favorite customa have lunch?" He asked in amusement as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Nope. She was too busy getting free shit from the cute guy across the street." She said backing up to the door.

"See you around." She added with a grin before leaving his store. He just stood in place watching her sprint to her job. Where in the hell did this girl come from and why hadn't he met her before?

"Fought yeh didn't have time for birds?" He heard his brother's voice and he quickly turned around, a serious look on his face, "I don't." He responded with a shrug before heading back to his office. He was glad Tom had said what he did because it was in fact true. He didn't have time to flirt with the girl across the street. Even if she was cute and witty. He leaned back in his chair with a sigh, but what would happen if this one time he did? What would it hurt?

"What do you have in the bag?" Malorie's co-worker, Vanessa asked as she reached the counter.

"A sweater from that shop across the street."

"Oh, the one with the hot brothers?"

Malorie laughed, "I assume so. I've only seen the tattooed one."

"Yeah, well wait until you see the other. He has the brightest blue eyes you've ever seen. He's hot."

Malorie chuckled once more, "I'll keep an eye out for him."
She would simply because she would have an eye out for that boy she now knew as Oli.

Forunately she didn't have to close the store again so once 6 hit she grabbed her things and said goodbye to Vanessa on her way out. She looked down at the drop dead bag in her hand and before she could even turn the corner she ran straight into someone. She groaned from the ground and the boy in front of her dropped to his knees, "Bloody hell. I'm propa sorrah! I didn't see yeh. Are yeh ok?" The boy asked helping her up and she nodded as she brushed off her pants.

"I'm fine. Really." She said and once her eyes reached his blue ones she knew he had to be Oli's brother.

"Yeh sure?" He asked concern filling his baby face.

"Yeah. No problem. I should watch where I am going." She said with a grin and he picked up her bag for her, "yeh are tha bird Oli was talkin' to in tha store earlier."

She chuckled, "Yeah, I'm Malorie."

"Tom." He responded holding his hand out which she took with a smile. He had to give it to his brother, the girl was attractive there was no way around it.

"Nice to meet you. You seem complete opposite of Oli."

He laughed, "Yeah, we get that a lot. Are yeh gettin' off work?" He asked and she nodded studying the boy quietly. Vanessa was right, his eyes were the bluer than she thought possible. Water like almost. It was fascinating.

"Wanna go back to Drop Dead wif meh? Tryin' ta get Oli out of his office for any sort of time is difficult, but I feel like wif yeh there he might change his mind."

She laughed, "I don't know, but we can see." She responded walking with him across the street. She didn't mind having to see Oli again.

"Oye, Olleh. Funny fing. I literally ran inta yeh friend." Tom said as they walked into the office Oli was in, reclined in his chair. He sat up quickly as Malorie walked in behind Tom.

"Yeah, apparently the Sykes brothers can't get enough of me." She said falling onto the couch in front of his desk. Tom couldn't help but laugh as Oli fought back a grin, "Yeh fink that's tha case?"

"Yeah. I also think you need to stop being a douche bag workaholic and go eat with your brother." She added and he chuckled at that, "Are yeh comin'?"

"Yeahh why not. Tom owes me for almost killing me."

"I apologized!" Tom said defensively and the girl shrugged with a grin. The younger brother shook his head with a smile and Oli crossed his arms, "I really can't."

"Yes you can." She said as if she really knew if he could or no. She got up from the couch with a sigh and grabbed his arm tugging on it to pull him from the chair.

He chuckled at the small girl and finally uncrossed his arms, "Fine. Yeh violent."

"Yeah! She almost killed meh!" Tom mocked and she elbowed him lightly as they left the store.

"Gonna have ta keep yeh 'round." Tom said giving the girl a smile.

"And why is that?"

"Cause, yeh got Olleh out!"

Oli rolled his eyes at his brother's comment, "I go out."

"Not reallah."

"Sorrah, work is more important."

"It shouldn't be. What if you died tomorrow? I mean, then you would be mad because all you did was work and you never really lived." She said thowing her arms up dramatically and Tom laughed from beside her, "Bird makes a point."

Oli looked at the girl as she opened the door to the diner they had arrived at. She shrugged at him with a grin and he chuckled grabbing the door behind her allowing her in first. He wasn't completely dead on the inside. He still found it appropriate to be a gentleman. She thanked him and slid in next to Tom at the booth they picked out.

"My co-worker thinks you're hot." She said picking up the menu.

Tom chuckled as Oli looked up at her.

"I'm talking to you." She responded looking over at Tom and he quickly shut up.

"What?"

"Yeah. She thinks you're hot. You've probably seen her. Dark hair, the only not pale girl here besides me."

"Oh, uh, yeah, I have." He fumbled out and Oli laughed a bit louder, "Oh yeah he has! He stares out the window in hopes of seein' her cause he finks she is fit!" Oli spat out and Tom groaned covering his burning cheeks with his hands.

"Awe, really? Well you should talk to her because she thinks the same about you!" She said excitedly and Oli rolled his eyes, "Tom's a bit shy. Not everyone is like yeh love."

"Like me how?" She asked with a raised eyebrow as she crossed her arms.

"I dunno, out spoken, sarcastic..."

"Hot?" She chimed in and Tom laughed from beside her. Oli had to admit that the way she carried herself made him find her even more attractive.

"Yeah, I assume so. For a yank." He teased with a grin of his own. He watched the girl curiously as she placed her order to the waitress. Everything about her he found hard to understand which led to him wanting to find out which he didn't have time for. He sighed before giving the woman his order and to his surprise the dinner went smoothly, conversation between the three went better than he assumed seeing as how they barely knew the girl. She could talk to anyone though and he liked how she didn't even attempt to hide what she was thinking. It was very gutsy to him and he was intriqued by what she would say next.

"Well, nice meeting you Tom." She said as they reached Drop Dead. He flashed her a smile, "Pleasure. Yeh gonna hang wif us again so don't worry."

She laughed, "Oh I bet. Goodnight." She said elbowing Oli lightly and he grinned, "Night, love."

She nodded with a grin before leaving the two boys alone.

"Yeh aren't goin' ta walk her home?! Hope she doesn't get mugged." Tom said shoving his brother lightly. Oli rolled his eyes and looked at the girl who he could easily catch up with if he left now.

"Go. Seriously." Tom responded not wanting anything to happen to the girl. He tended to worry a lot as it was.

Oli groaned and sprinted off until he reached the girls side.

"Oh hello Oliver." She said not even looking surprised which caused him to chuckle, "I don't want yeh ta get kidnapped. Yeh know, wif yeh jacket on yeh look so sweet and innocent."

"Oh and without it?"

"The tattoo gives off a little bad ass-ness."

She laughed as she looked at the boy, "Oh, I see. Enough to ward off robbers?"

"Definitely." He said shoving his pockets in his hands. He didn't even know how far the girl lived, but he knew he wouldn't leave her on her own now. If he did he would be stressed until he saw her tomorrow. It was one reason he avoided being close with other people. He tended to care too much. Which was a big problem when there were other things he needed to spend his time on. If anything it was just a distraction so why bother with it?