Clandestine

✨ Chapter 1 ✨

8am. The loud alarm from Kennedy's phone went off. It sounded almost as if it was beeping, but vibrated against the hard wood of her bedside table.
It stopped. Kennedy stood up and stretched for a few minutes before moving any further.

She yawned. "Time to get ready for work," she mumbled to herself.

Kennedy worked at a bookshop along with this other girl, Katrina, who she didn't really know properly but knew that she was the owners daughter, and Nick. They were understaffed, so Kennedy had to work long shifts, which was a pain, but also a blessing because she got more pay than some of the staff at other book stores.

After she'd had a shower, she picked out what she would wear (what she was allowed to based on company dress code). She'd picked out a plain knitted white jumper, black jeans, and then her black trainers - she'd have to wear one of those brown aprons along with her name tag badge on, which she thought spoilt the outfit, but there was nothing she could do about it, and she didn't want to cause a fuss or quit because of an apron. Her golden hair was plaited into two French braids with the shorter pieces of hair laying there freely as they couldn't stay in the form of the braid. Once she'd put makeup on, eaten something and then locked up her flat, she left for work.

She would always walk or ride her bike to work because she used to like this guy Nick (her ex) who was there, but then thought of the owners daughter as pretty, but brushed it off.
Soon she was at work, right on time, as per usual, but Nick wasn't there.

"Hey Katrina, where's Nick?" Kennedy asked, with a hint of concern in her voice.

"I dunno, maybe he quit or he's late? Either way I don't care, just do your job so I can get out of here early."

"Ok, thanks." Kennedy replied although Katrina wasn't a help in the slightest. Anyway, Kennedy got on with restacking the book shelves and tending to customers, and by then a couple hours had passed.

"Still no sign of Nick." she wondered to herself, "That's strange."

Just like before, she carried on working despite being concerned about where her colleague was, as he never usually showed up late or not at all to work.
Soon enough, the shop was filled with people, although one customer stood out to Kennedy.

She was tall, had black hair, the most luscious caramel skin, and wore clothes with a dark academia aesthetic, which were similar to Kennedy's.

"Hi, miss?" The lady said.

"Yes."

"Could you get that book from up there please?"

"Sure, this one?"

"Yeah that's it."

Kennedy passed down the book Love, Simon

"Thanks."

"It's a really good book, I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the end."

"So I've heard, just don't spoil it."

"Don't worry I won't, I hate it when people spoil things for others, it's so annoying."

"I know right, like keep it to yourself if others haven't read it."

"Exactly!"

At that exact point Kennedy managed to pull of half the books off the book shelf, as she was leaning on it after getting the book for the woman.

"Oh god, let me help you pick those up."

"Thanks, I'm so clumsy it's ridiculous."

The woman laughed while helping Kennedy restack the shelves that she'd already sorted out once.