pink shoelaces
-Dodie Stevens

[part 2 of 2]

"Leonardo's Shoe Emporium, near Broadway." Harley spoke loudly into the phone, speed walking toward the shop with Milo in tow. They maneuvered their way through crowds, not caring to stop when people called Harley's name.

"But why?" Rami, Harley's personal driver, spoke from the other line, sounding utterly confused.

"Because I'm an idiot, Ram, that's why!" Harley exclaimed in frustration, "I'll explain everything in detail once you meet us there." He hung up and walked on, looking around the streets lined up with endless stores. He turned his gaze back down to the card and checked the address again; he was definitely in the right street, at least.

After a few more minutes of walking, he spotted the big, glittery sign and sighed in relief, pulling himself and Milo out of the terribly busy New York sidewalks. When he entered the store, he was immediately greeted by a woman behind the counter in the middle of the store, "Excuse me, no dogs allowed in 'ere." She said in a heavy Brooklyn accent.

"Sorry, we'll just take a minute of your time, I swear."

The woman had long, curly black hair and dark skin. She was wearing a white T-shirt with a black apron over it, on which a tag simply read 'J'. She squinted her eyes at him for a second before gasping, eyes widening in realization, "You that millionaire I saw on the news!"

"Yeah, Harley Keener, it's very nice to meet you. Listen, I need your help." Harley rushed through an introduction as he walked toward the counter.

"What can I help you with, doll?"

"Okay, this might be a long shot, but I met someone today and-"

"Oh! How exciting!" She smiled, "You wanna buy some shoes for 'em? We just got these real sparkly boots in. They're real classy."

Harley blinked, "Uh, no, actually, I was just wondering if he'd come in here before. He's real pretty: curly brown hair, big brown eyes, about yay-tall. Goes by the name Peter?" J looked like she was thinking really hard about that description, so Harley held the comic book up hopefully, "Maybe he was carrying this around?"

That seemed to do it. J snapped her manicured fingers and smiled, "Pink shoe laces guy."

"Sorry?"

"He's a cutie, alright," she giggled, "Sweet thing came in 'ere yesterday all smiley, looking for some new shoe laces for his busted-ass shoes. I told 'im he could buy a brand new pair and get the laces free but he said they too special or whatever. So he bought pink laces. I was like 'you do know we have white ones to match your shoes' but he said he liked the pink ones, so," J shrugged, chuckling at the memory.

Harley smiled. He'd only gotten to talk with Peter for about an hour and a half, but that definitely sounded like something he would go. "Great. Okay, uh, this is gonna sound real creepy, but did he happen to use a credit card to buy those?" Seeing J's smile slipping off her face, he was quick to reassure, "I just need a last name and I'll be out of your hair... I'm also willing to pay, if that makes things easier."

J snorted and leaned closer to Harley, "You're a millionaire who happened to meet someone today and somehow didn't get his number? Or last name? Ain't you supposed to be a genius or something?"

Harley chuckled dryly, "You'd think."

"Well," J started, reaching behind the counter for something just as Harley's phone began ringing, "He paid cash but, lucky for you, he left this," she placed another business card in front of him, "Said it was his best friend's shop and asked me to put it up on the bulletin board. But I think these are more pressing matters."

"Thank you so much, this really helps," Harley nodded, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his wallet, "You are amazing. Thank you!" He slammed a hundred dollar bill on the counter and grabbed the card before rushing back outside. A sleek black car was parked in front of the store, which Harley knew would be there even though he hadn't reached the confirmation call. "Rami!" He greeted as he opened the back door and buckled Milo into his doggy seatbelt.

"Harley, what the hell is going on?!" Rami demanded, sliding the sunglasses off his face as he turned his body from the driver's seat.

"Ram, I met such a beautiful boy." Harley started before stepping back and shutting the door. Moving into the passenger's seat, he continued, "He was smart and sweet and did I say beautiful? Fuck, it's like he fell from heaven."

"But?" Rami inquired, pulling out of the parking space.

"But I, like the complete fucking moron I am, forgot to ask for his number."

"Why don't you just google him?"

Harley gave him a look, "His name is Peter, alright? Do you know how many people are named Peter? And before you ask, smartass, no, I didn't get a last name."

Rami snorted and began laughing, "For a genius, you're not very smart."

"Yeah, yeah, I got that." Harley scowled, looking down at the business card in his hand, "I need to go to Leeds Flower Shop, a couple of blocks down."

"Did you get another clue?" Rami teased, earning another glare from his boss.

"I don't know why I don't fire your annoying ass."

"No one could ever replace Rami, alright?"

Harley rolled his eyes but stayed quiet, opting to bounce his leg up and down anxiously. Every once in a while he would check on Milo, who was always great in the car, but Harley had convinced himself he was just as anxious.

They pulled up the small flower shop in no time and Harley basically threw himself out of the car. He didn't know why he was in such a rush to find the boy. Logically, he could always find him any other time. But Harley wanted that insurance of having at least the boy's name. He'd found his Cinderella and, damn it, he wasn't going to let him go that easily.

When he walked up the counter, a plump young man was staring at him in awe, having completely frozen in his spot. Harley smiled awkwardly and waved,

"Uh, hello."

"Y-you're Harley Keener."

"I am."

"Y-you're in my shop! But- but how-?" He gasped dramatically, tripping slightly as he took a step back. "Oh my god— Peter!"

Harley's eyes lit up, "You know him?"

"Know him? He's- he's my best friend! I'm Ned, by I the way. Anyway, we have a secret handshake and everything— oh my god, he told me about you, and your dog and the sandwiches!" He rambled, looking as excited as Harley felt.

"He told you? Is, is he here?"

"Wha— oh, no. He's at work. He called me on the way over there, though, he told me all about you— oh, man he has a really big crush on you."

Harley could've cried, "He- he does? He told you that?"

"He's been drooling over you since your first TIME magazine cover." Ned said, chuckling slightly, "You're like his biggest celebrity crush."

"Oh..." Harley trailed off. He couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed about the fact that Peter knew who he was. He hadn't mentioned it, or even seemed to recognize him when they first introduced themselves. Then again, Peter had referred to him as "Mr. Keener" when saying goodbye, even though Harley had purposefully not provided his last name.

"Yeah. Hey, is that Peter's comic?"

Harley looked down at his hand, where he was still clutching on to the graphic novel for dear life. "It is, yeah. I wanted to return it to him, but I stupidly didn't get his number... actually, I was wondering if you could help me with that."

Ned smiled brightly and Harley couldn't help but return it.

In the end, Harley got Peter's number—and last name (Parker)— and invited him to a gala he was hosting a few nights later. Peter accepted excitedly and Harley promised to return his comic book.

When Peter showed up, Harley couldn't help but feel the millions of butterflies in his stomach. He looked gorgeous in a black suit and blush pink tie, which matched the laces in the beat up sneakers he had paired the outfit with. His curls bounced as he made his way toward Harley, "Hey, stranger." He smiled, eyes twinkling in the starlight.

"Hey back. I believe this is yours." Harley replied, hanging him the wrinkled graphic novel. "I should've probably taken better care of it. Sorry."

Peter giggled and shook his head, "That's alright. It has more memories now."

They ended up dancing the night away, getting stares from every corner of the room. But all Harley could care about was the beautiful boy in his arms. Peter felt like the luckiest boy in the world and still does, years later. People seem very shocked to find out that Peter is dating one of the richest men in New York, but to him, Harley is the man that went great lengths to find him after a simple encounter, and that means more to him than anything.

—
K this is actual shit I clearly got lazy at the end oops... I'll fix it later.