Work Text:
You moved to Wisconsin for a better future. There was nothing tying you down to your home state and you were suffocating being around such a familiar scene your whole life. So you packed your bags and bought a nice house.
It was a nice place away from the busy part of the neighborhood and you only had a few neighbors. Karin, Gus, and Lars. You didn't talk to Lars much since every time you tried he'd run in the opposite direction. You just wrote it off as him not liking you—which hurt since everyone claimed he is an angel. You don't doubt it you just haven't gotten to see that side.
It was a warmer day today luckily so you had a dress on as you worked. You had acquired a job at the local library since you worked at one at your hometown. it's was smaller but it had more of a cozy vibe which you adored.
The familiar ring of the bell that alerted you of customers lifted your head up from the book in your hands. It was Lars. He froze up when he noticed you at the counter and immediately scurried off to hide behind a shelf. You giggled softly at that but went back to your book. Lars was not like the people you noticed that right away but if anything it pulled you in. You could tell how sweet he was just by the way he looked. He was an attractive man he just didn't realize it.
About fifteen minutes later he ended up right back at your counter but with a book in his hands. You smiled sweetly up at him as you placed your book down to focus on him. He was tall, you never noticed since he never allowed you to get close.
"Hi! what can I help you with?" You asked in that sweet tone you always used to customers. He blinked a few times before answering, "just checking out this." His voice was soft and quiet, calming almost. You nodded and took the book, scanning it before handing it back to him. He was out the door quicker than he hid behind the shelf leaving you there to ponder. It was hard to figure out whether or not he liked you.
The next time you see him is when he's leaving for work early in the morning. You so happened to just be awake sipping on a cup of tea. You waved with a smile and he waved back instead of rushing to get in his car like he usually does when you say hello.
It was the same routine until a few weeks later when Karin invited you over for dinner. She always would occasionally ask and you didn't have the heart to say no even if it's little awkward. So you got dressed in the nicest outfit you had and walked over to their house.
You knocked on the door straightening your dress before it opened. "Hi sweetheart! Come on in, Gus and Lars are already sitting at the table." Karin greeted with that soft smile of hers. You paused slightly hearing that Lars was here before you wiped away those thoughts and smiled before walking in.
Lars' eyes immediately met you—well your face and he looked down when he recognized you. He seemed to be so nervous around you that it made you feel a little bad for constantly being around him. "You know Lars, yes?" She asked as he moved around you to get to the food. "Uh kinda. We just run into each other sometimes." You answered as you sat beside Lars, the only open seat.
"It's a small town you're bound to." She replied as he passed out everyone's plates. You nodded in agreement as you thanked her.
It was an awkward dinner with Karin asking questions and Lars being quiet. Gus was…well Gus.
You left with leftovers in your hand, waving goodbye. You had at least hoped Lars would talk a little, you were curious about him. Everyone told you how sweet he was but you only got the version of Lars that would run away from the littlest of contact. You believed he was sweet, you could tell by his interactions with others but why did he act differently with you? He doesn't even allow you to get to know him. It's confusing.
You wanted answers but you couldn't just ask him, 'Hey why don't you talk to me? do you hate me?' So you tried to talk to him more, without overwhelming him. It was always when he came and checked out a book. You'd ask him questions that would start at least a small conversations. Lars was finally opening up instead of running the other way whenever he laid his eyes on you.
Although it was a surprise when one day instead of coming up to check out a book, he had a flower in his hand. He looked visibly nervous, not looking into your eyes as he tried to speak. "Um…I-I got these for you.." He managed to get out as he held out the pink carnation. "Oh Thank you Lars! That's very sweet!" You replied as you took it. He smiled at you with that smile that filled his whole face and made him look adorable.
"Would you like to…" He started before pausing, blinking a few times to steady himself. "Go on a date…with me?" He finished, not meeting your eyes obviously preparing for rejection. "Yes of course I would!" You answered with a smile which brought another smile to his once nervous face. "A-Awesome..!"