"And they didn't just use Alohomora?"
You giggle as you momentarily lean on your mop to turn to your phone, "that's what I'm saying!"
Your friend snorts from the other side of the line.
"But," you continue mopping, "to be fair, even I didn't think of it in the moment. I was just glad they helped me get back in my shop when it felt like I'd be locked in forever."
Your friend groans, "you can be so dramatic. Why would you be locked forever from your shop?"
"Stop it. I was seriously debating throwing rocks at my window to get in."
"Wow," your friend laughs, just as the bell on your front door rings, "you're just as stupid as your neighbor."
You look over your shoulder mid-mopping, "sorry, shop's not..."
You grip your mop tightly as the tall man raises a hand, "mornin'."
"... open yet."
His smirk is lopsided as he raises a brow, "not even for your stupid neighbor?"
Your stomach drops and blood rushes up your neck.
"Bloody hell," your friend's voice on loud speaker reverberates in your empty bake shop, "did your fit neighbor walk in?"
The said man chuckles and you nearly whack your phone with your mop. You quickly end the call and grit your teeth in embarrassment, unable to turn back to the red haired man that was laughing yet again.
"Fit neighbor, huh?"
You clear your throat as you decide to put a brave face on and feign ignorance. You turn to him with a dramatic hair flip and shrug.
Fred or George Weasely smiles then hums, crossing his arms. Which one he was, you couldn't tell, "glad to know you find me fit, love."
"I-" you clear your throat, "that wasn't about you."
His brows quirk and his lips part. He scoffs in offence but his smile is still visible, "don't tell me you think I'm stupid and brother's fit." He walks over, shaking his head, clicking his tongue, "you have terrible taste in men."
You snort to mask the feel of your face burning, then pretend mopping is more exciting you really think it is, "I-" you clear your throat as you clean the tiles in front of your cake display, "don't even know which one you are."
The sheer dramatics of his gasp forces you to look back at him. The Weasley has a fist on his chest, pretending he was stabbed. He grunts in faux pain, "you're telling me I look exactly like Fred?" He rests the back of his hand on his forehead and turns away, "the horrors."
The laugh he pulls out from you is dangerous. It's full and giddy. It's more than amusement, it's full blown endearment that makes your belly roll. You stifle your laughter with your sleeve, feeling warmth linger on your cheeks. Your heart races as he, as George, saunters in front of you, hands smoothly sliding into his pockets. He tilts his head with a sigh, "might have to get even for that terrible remark, my..." he looks around the shop, "sweet neighbor."
You look up at him, pursing your lips to withhold your smile. You shrug, "I doubt a boy named Georgie can do so much damage."
He snorts and shakes his head, "cheeky bugger."
You tense when he leans forward.
"Did you just dare me to do you some damage, sweetheart?"
You open your mouth, but a strangled gasp is all that leaves you because he places his hands atop yours as he takes your mop from you.
"I feel like you don't need anymore damage, considering you did just break a mug."
You stare at him as he haphazardly starts mopping around. Your belly reacts to how he circles around the mop and shoots you a grin. You gulp, "how did you know I broke a mug?"
"Pfft," he scoffs, straightening up, resting his elbow on the top of the mop. Damn, he was tall. "I heard it break. Why do you think I came over here? To check on you!"
Your brows furrow as he puts the mop aside, "how'd you know it was a mug though?"
Georgie shrugs, "well, cause I'm a genius."
You give him a look.
He mirrors your look, then slowly begins to lean forward again, "d'ya want me to prove it?"
Your heart races as you slowly lean back, "w-what? No?"
"Wicked," he grins, straightening up, "you think I'm a genius, do ya?"
"W-What?"
"I just called myself a genius and you agreed," he puts his hands in his pockets and moves towards your cake display. He points, "that looks really good."
You compose yourself by brushing your hair back, "shop's not open yet, genius."
Georgie turns to you with a grin. He breaks into a chuckle, "why not?"
"I'm still cleaning."
He looks around the room and pulls out his wand from his pocket, "I-"
"No!" you raise your hands, "I like cleaning!"
He lowers his wand.
"I don't have anything to do before opening, and cleaning, you know..." you trail off and look away.
"No, I don't actually," he tilts his head in interest, "cleaning what?"
You shrug as you look back at him, "it gives me something to do."
He purses his lips and raises his brows, "wouldn't you rather do something fun?"
You chuckle and shake your head, "that's easy for you to say. You own Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."
Georgie shakes his head and raises his hands, "That's ex-"
"And you have your twin brother."
"... so?"
"You have someone to have fun with. I bet you never get homesick at all."
"Oh," he lowers his hands, "distraction for the loneliness, is it?"
You purse your lips and shrug, "yeah."
He offers you a soft smile, "I'm not a genius actually," he points his thumb over his shoulder, "your broken mug pieces are on your counter."
You turn to said object and counter, feeling bashful that you forgot about it, "oh, that's-"
"And I didn't come here because I heard you break it," he buzzes his lips then rubs his ear, "I don't think my ears are good enough for that."
You raise your brows, "I mean, I figured. I don't think anyone's ears are good enough for that."
"I did come here because I wanted to spend time with you."
You freeze.
"Want," he corrects, "I want to."
You feel blood rush up your face.
"That is," he motions vaguely and shrugs, "only if you want to take back what you said about me being the stupid one and Fred being the fit one."
"You think I'm fit?"
You both turn to the front door, only realizing now the bell had rung. Your face was burning, "I-"
"This isn't about you!"
Fred walks in, "oh, ho, ho, I do beg to differ."
Overwhelmed by the two Weasley men who begin to bicker in front of you, you step back unable to do anything but watch for a moment. That is until George says:
"No, I told you I think she's cute."
Fred scoffs, "I totally said she was cute first!"
"Keep lying, you liar."
"I literally told you the moment she w—"
"SHOP'S STILL CLOSED!" you blurt, making them turn to you. You gulp as they turn to you, and exaggeratedly clear your throat, "though I appreciate you both," cough,"think I'm cute, I have to prepare things."
"What things?" they ask in unison.
You stutter, "t-things!"
"I can help," they say at once, turning to each other, "Jinx. Double jinx. TRIPLE J-"
"GET OUT!" you point to the door, "respectfully."
The twins visibly deflate. George smacks Fred on the chest, "this is all your fault."
"Mine?" Fred scoffs, "you're the one that-"
You cut their bickering off short by pushing them towards the door. They begin to protest but do not try to overpower you to stay inside. You huff once you manage to kick them out and wave them goodbye.
"I thought we could drop by at any time for a cuppa?!" George calls out.
Fred huffs and cups the sides of his mouth, "liar!"
You chuckle softly under your breath, face warm as ever as you give them a look, "later! Once I open!"
They both huff and turn to each other. Fred says, "that's not any time, now is it."
"No, it isn't," George agrees.