Brown pages

Chapter one

It was quiet and cold in the Marley Public Library. You were looking for a new book to read after you've already finished the ones you had just got last week. You had told yourself to take your time and read them slowly but you ended up reading all three books within four days.

As you were looking for the next book to immerse yourself in you hear a quiet "excuse me" behind you stood a tall man with short fuzzy brown hair and circular glasses the laid on the bridge of his nose. "Umm I need to get a book of you don't mind moving," he says with a polite smile. "Oh I'm sorry," you say as you move out of his way.

You watch as he searches for the book. He had a brown sweater with beige pants on, a brown bag across his body, and his eyes were pale green different from the green of another boy you once had liked. His eyes were different though. He finds the book he had been looking so carefully for. "The Body by Stephen King," you say out loud "Have you read it?" the man asks in excitement. "No, I haven't, I don't read much horror but I was considering starting to read more," you tell him.

"I can give you some recommendations if you like" he offers. You take a minute to respond questioning if you even want to converse with the stranger any longer but you didn't want to see him leave just yet. You wonder why your even interested him in the first place, "oh sure that's great" you smile.

You watch as he picked up books to give to you. With every move, he makes you couldn't stop staring at him the way he carefully chose what to give you, and the fact that he's taking the time to do something for you was somewhat shocking. Most people don't try to be as kind to you so it was weird having someone go out of their way for you.

"Here" he hands you a pile of 6 books "oh this might be too heavy I'll carry it for you" he grabs the books and heads towards the desk as you follow. He sets the books on the desk the receptionist scans his books then checks him out. He places them in his messenger bag. They scan your books next when finish you trying to stuff them in your bag but then you realize there isn't enough room.

"I can carry them for you if you'd like?" he asks you while holding his large hand out waiting for you to accept his offer. Even though you wanted to avoid any more interaction you accepted his offer.

It was a quiet walk back to your apartment. You hoping it stays that way because you hated awkward conversations it made you uncomfortable and panicked trying to figure out how to respond to such unnecessary questions. "My name is Bertholt by the way, I've seen you around before well at the library I haven't seen you out of the library before so I don't know why I said that sorry" he smiles awkwardly after regretting the words that came out his mouth.

"It's okay" you laugh "my name is y/n, and yeah I'm at the library at least twice a week so I'm not surprised that you've seen me before," you tell him "y/n huh" he whispers "what's wrong with my name?" you question. "On nothing, it's just it's fitting for you" he giggles "what do you mean by that," you ask defensively but in a joking way. "Oh well I don't know it's just a pretty name so it's fitting that's all," he says staring alway from you to avoid awkwardness.

You stare at him not knowing what to say in response. It's not someone hasn't called you pretty before but they never did it in such a way before. It didn't make you uncomfortable but it was stranger, and you were flattered of course.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean for that to come off weird I just-" he says before you interrupt "No, it's okay thank you" you smile at him. "So what kinds of books do you usually read," he asks you "I like more drama and mystery novels. How about you?" you respond "well I like horror no matter the kind, and I also kinda like romance," he tells you.

"What kind of romance?" you ask "What kind," he says back to you "Yeah, like a slow burn or...?" "oh well I don't I just read whatever ones it doesn't matter the kind," he answers but it leaves you wondering more.

After another five minutes of small talk and walking, you arrive at the front of your apartment. "Thank you for walking me here but I think I can carry them the rest of the way," you tell him while grabbing the books out of his hands. "Oh um well I was wondering" he goes silent "Wondering..." you question. "I'd like to take you to lunch sometimes, but only if you're comfortable," he says awkwardly. You take your time thinking about how to respond. You didn't want to say no but you also didn't want to say yes either. "Yes, I'd like to go to lunch with you too, how about once I'm done reading these we can go out and talk about them," you tell him.

He smiles "oh okay here" takes out a little notebook and a pen to write with "what's your number?" He asks.

A few hours had passed Since you met the talk awkward boy. You find yourself in your bed thinking about him the way he smiled, the way he talked, and the way he carried your books for you. You wished you were as kind as he was and thought about how you could've been more social and less awkward. It was too late though but you were still able to go on a date. A date? Is it even a date? You questioned. You couldn't sleep with all the thinking you were doing so instead you decide to read one of the books he gave you to read.

Even while reading you were still thinking about him you've never been so interested in someone before so why now?

Author notes: hii this is my first time writing a fic so I hope you enjoy and pls leave advice and tips