like lightning: jack harries

three

JACK: pov

I saw her to come out with The Prisoner of Azkaban the next morning, this time with a glass of orange juice instead of coffee. Her hair was up in her usual bun, complemented by a grey tank top and blue skirt which was, actually, an advancement to her normal pajama outfit.

I leaned up against me hand as watched the angelic Book girl slowly turn the pages to the book I had handed her, sipping her orange juice in between turns and occasionally pushing her hair behind her ears. God, everything she did looked so elegant. She didn't belong in London at all, really, maybe Paris or a goddamm runway for all I can see.

I sat up straighter when I saw her mother walk out the back porch door, looking like she was talking to the Book Girl. I pulled my window open just enough to hear the conversation.

"The store down the road is the cheapest, ok?" Her mother told Book girl as Book girl got up from the swing and took the wad of money from her mothers hand. "Remember-- bread, eggs, and more orange juice."

"Bread, eggs, and more orange juice." Book girl repeated in her American accent.

"That should be enough cash, but come back home if you don't have enough, alright, Laura?"

Laura. Her name was Laura.

"Alright." Laura replied as her mother walked back in the house.

I sighed as Laura walked out the back gate and onto the sidewalk. She checked her phone, slid it back in her pocket, and started walking. I sadly got up from the window, realizing the wasn't any Book Girl to watch now.

"Mum?" I called to my mother who was doing laundry in her bedroom.

"Yes dear?"

"Do we need anything from the store?"

"Well I- I suppose we could use some more tea but-" My mother replied, walking into my room as I sprang up from my seat at the window.

"Great, I'll be back in a momen-"

My mother chuckled as I practically ran out the door, stopping me with her with a light touch of hand.

"Why the sudden urge to get tea at the store for your mother?" She raised her eyebrows. "What are you up to?"

"I dunno, just... bored?" I nervously replied.

My mums eyes narrowed and I fidgeted with my wallet in my hands.

"Right... have fun at the store, I suppose." She smiled.

I sprinted down stairs and, before flying out the front door, grabbed my pennyboard. I flipped it down and coasted down the sidewalk, seeing Laura about 4 houses down in front of me. I slowly drifted down the sidewalk, not wanting to pass the fast walking Laura.

I saw her walk into the small convenience store owned by a (usually irritated) Chinese man who typically yelled at me for bringing my pennyboard in the store (saying I was causing an unnecessary 'ruckus') but nonetheless owned a cheap store.

I walked into the store with the ring of the bell on the door and scanned the small store for Laura. I saw her in the back, carefully picking out eggs in the produce section, her hand nervously on her chin.

"Pennyboard boy, ah." An accented voice said next to me.

I turned my head to The Irritated Chinese man and smiled a charming grin.

"Sorry sir, I'm just getting some tea for my mother." I explained.

"Right, right." The Irritated Chinese man replied, eying my pennyboard with narrowed eyes.

I nodded and casually walked toward the tea, watching Laura finally grab a carton of eggs and stand up. I watched her scan the store in my peripheral vision, slowly walking her way.

Her eyes continued to search the store, causing a confused expression to take over her face.

"The bread is over there." I cleared my throat, pointing to a shelf by the counter.

"Oh, right, thanks, thanks." She smiled, relieved, then began to walk forward, then paused and turned around. "Wait- aren't you psychic boy?"

"I mean, I'm actually Jack, but I dunno, you could call me--"

"But you did it again, didn't you? The psychic thing?" She said, raising her eyebrows. "Where you knew what items I need?"

I began to blush once I realized I had, again, done the 'psychic thing'. Shit.

"No, no, I -" I groaned, putting my hand on my forehead. "I- I saw your list, it had bread on it."

I pointed to her hand, which didn't have a list. Double shit.

"I don't even have a list." She laughed.

My eyes immediately lit up at the sound of her laugh. It was exactly what you'd expect her laugh to sound like-- light, bubbly, not even mentioning how ungodly cute she looked while doing it. Her dimples popped out in and her eyes crinkled in the most wonderful way, her wide smile topping off. I felt like I was melting.

"Fine then, I guess I do have psychic abilities."

"I think you do too ... psychic boy." She smiled, almost a fully genuine one, causing a full blown inferno everywhere.

"It's Jack, actually. Jack Harries." I smiled. "And it's Laura, right?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Alright, how the hell did you know my name?"

"Oh, shit, I-" I groaned, putting my hands on my temples. "Ok, you see, we're actually neighbors -"

"No, now it's getting... seriously weird." She breathed. "Ok, I'm going to get my bread and orange juice and leave before ... you blow me up or something with your head."

She walked towards the bread shelf, glancing back once at me with a confused smile.

"Laura, wait, I know your grandma, Mrs. Edwards, right? Wait, I --" I called out, but she had already gotten lost by the bread.

I put the tea on the counter heavy-heartedly and sighed.

"Just this?" The Irritated Chinese Man asked as I dug my hand into my back pocket to retrieve my wallet.

"Yeah, just this." I grumbled as I put at a wad of cash on the counter.

I glanced over at Laura, who's eyes were set suspiciously on me, but quickly drawn away. I looked down at my shoes as The Irritated Chinese Man handed me a plastic bag with the tea in it.

"Have a nice day."

I nodded in return and dinged out the door, slamming down my pennyboard and clenching the plastic bag with a tight grip.

Why do I ruin any chances I have by being a psychic creep? I slammed my foot harder against the concrete, pushing myself along the sidewalk at dangerous speeds.

I could've introduced myself like a normal person instead acting like I knew her entire fricken life story, I mean we're just neighbors, right? That's all I could've said. But who can think when they're around God Sent Book Girls? No one. Absolutely no one.

I slammed my pennyboard up when I got to my house and huffed up the steps, clenching my plastic bag with a death grip.

"Fricken psychic boy."