It was a rany sunday. Not quite as poetic as I wished and more depressing. The streets were emty, and dark. Shimmery light came through foggy windows and street lights allowed me to see just enough to let me wander through Mason Avenue without feeling lost. I was on my way to Gatsbys Libary, my favorite part of the weekend. The smell of old books lingered through every corner of the store. I made my way to my favorite section: historical romance books. The moody settings of rainy scottland or france at night always makes me feel a warmth I have never found in anything else... or anyone. I decide on a book and let myself sink into one of the horendosly huge chairs at the window front. Nothing could stop me from completly discociationg into the world of a britsh timetraveller falling in love with a midevil scottish red head for the next hours. I turned to the first page and as I start reading the words start to form into a clear scenario in my head and continue to pull me into their world, word for word. A little bell rings as the front door opens and a cool whiff of air rushes past my shoulder. I wasn't going to take my eyes of this book nor listen to any conversations forming with the sweet librarian Susan, as she kindly welcomes every customer walking in. But as the cold air seems to be frozen in its spot, a rough smell starts to form in the air. The smell of cigarettes and a woody earthy smell completly sat me back to reality in the matter of seconds. I was confused to who this scent belongs to but when I look up I can't make out who might left this trail. I put my fingers inbetween the pages of the book and stand up. The cold air was still stirring around the usually fairly cozy room. I hold the book in front of me slightly pressing it against me, hoping for some warmth. Almost squeezing my fingers between the pages I make my way through the countless ailes of bookshelves, following the weak trail they left behind. I pass the romance ailes quickly wandering through the more darker corners of the store... thirlles, of course. The scent was getting stronger as I finally got close to its owner. A tall man with gray hair standing in front of cedarwooden shelve full of the most brutal and haunting books in the store you could possibly find. It was him. I was weirdly glad to have finally found him as I whispered: "You...", shocked by myself as I realized that I said that out loud, I prayed he didn't hear it and would just continue browsing through the books. He was holding a book with a dark green cover reading it's back as he stopped and turned around: "Yes?", his voice was quite deep, deeper than I expectet. I was emberassed but wasn't going to admit it: "I- ... was just following something." - "Following what?", he asked and couldn't hide a slight smile. "I was looking for a good book that's all.", I stated. He hints at my book with it's cover directly pointed towards him: "I didn't know 'outlander' was about a brutal killer kidnapping young women.", his smile was getting a bit more spiteful. "Well, maybe I'm just in the wrong aile.", I tried to defend myself but his smile just made me more embarrassed. "I'll follow you then.", he said and proceded to make a gesture with his arm hinting towards the romace aile. I walked towards the aile but took a sharp turn instead and ended up at the front window where the smell had faded: "I thought both of us have already found something interesting to read.", I tried to sound confident but his smell made my heart race like crazy. "I think we might have found something way more interesting than that.", he responds and lays down his book on a small coffee table next to the chair where I had been sitting a few minutes ago. "Do you mind if I go outside to smoke a cigarett before we leave?", he looks me straight into my eyes as if he was trying to read the anwer right out of my mind. "Leave?", I didn't know what to say. "Yes, leave. I thought you might want to grab a coffee instead? I always get tired from reading.", he was looking at me without any lack of confidence as if he had already asked me a thousand times, as if he had known me for years. "Okay fine.", I respond trying to stay calm. I put my book down on the table as well and grabbed my coat. My heart was pounding as he kindly reached me his arm and opened the door for me. The bell rang again as we walked out the door and a slight smell of cigarettes entered the store one last time as he lit a cigarette infront of the door. His face lit up from the warmth of the small flame and his eyes were shining like honey as the fire mirrors itself. He takes a deep breath of smoke and smiles at me, a genuine smile this time and I linked our arms.
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I hope you liked this fairly long chapter :) I'm always hoping for some feedback so don't hesitate to go all out in the comments <3 I'm still not 100% satisfied with this chapter but I didn't want to let you wait any longer.
