As Fate Would Have It | ✓

chapter two

I walk down the town square till I see the library. I walk up the paved steps towards the enormous wooden doors, pushing gently. I walked in, entering the familiar sanctuary.

I gave the receptionist a quick, friendly smile before I walked towards all of the books.

My mom used to read to us growing up; countless of fairy tales, no matter what it'd be, she'd read them to me. Even when Jo was young, and I was in my preteen years, I'd still climb into bed with her and listen to the stories I'd heard growing up, just because I loved to hear the way she told them.

Once Upon a Marigold was my absolute favorite story growing up; this guy named Christian lived in a cave with a troll, but was totally in love with the princess Marigold. But he heard about Queen Olympia's plan to take over the kingdom, who had no problem taking out her own daughter in the process. Of course, he couldn't let the girl of his dreams be hurt. So he set out to help Marigold and take down the Queen.

The story was, and always will be, my favorite. My mom just told it in such a manner that made me feel like when I closed my eyes, I could picture it as a movie in my head. I was five when the story first came out, so I had grown up always begging her to reread me that story. When the sequel to the book came out, and my sister was almost five, I begged beyond belief for mom to read it, then read us the second part.

Then the third book came out, the year before my mom's death. I'd heard about it, but I hadn't been able to read it, or ask my mom to get it yet. I wanted to hear her read it to us, even though I was sixteen and my sister was eight...you're never too old for a good story.

But, she died. She never got to tell us the ending of the story for Christian and Marigold and their baby. And I haven't built up the courage enough to bring myself to do it myself yet.

I walk around the fiction section, my eyes scanning the authors, searching for Jean Ferris. My fingers lightly skim over the books as I come across the F's, tilting my head to get a better look.

"Psst, hey loser."

I turn my body, my eyes landing on my sister. My sister and I looked completely different; I had gotten my mother's features, while she had gotten hers from her father. Her green eyes, brown hair, wider nose. But still stunning. We both had the face shape of our mother, high set cheeks and slim jaw. Our eyebrows were similar, too, but that was about it. Her dad was Italian, I believe, which is where she gets her beautifully tanned skin, whereas I got fair, pale skin.

Her brown hair came past her chest, straight, and her straight teeth bared a beautiful smile. Of course, Jo was always skinny. She never had to battle weight gain like I did; she was active in sports and modeling on social media. She had the features and body for it, so I always support her on it, just always warn her to be careful.

"Hey." I smile back at her.

She walks towards me, wrapping her long arms around me. I chuckle against her shoulder, hugging her back.

"I missed you."

"And me, you." I pull back to look at her. "How'd you get away?"

"Told them that I'm doing a summer project about the stars," she looks up, putting her hand over her chest. "How fascinating they are, yadda yadda. I know how you're obsessed with that kinda stuff, figured you'd help me fake a quick project, need be."

I sit in a chair, shaking my head at her. "You're insane. But I love it."

"Yeah, but I scored us some time together this summer. Before softball camp and all that."

I smile at her encouragingly; Josephine loved her softball.

"That sounds great to me."

She pushes her hair behind her ear, her smile faltering a bit.