Unknown

Store

Jason 

Nothing is more comforting than waking up in a house surrounded by crashing waves and sunlight beaming though the windows. I only wished, I didn't wake up with a headache from that rich wine I drank the night before. 

I woke up in my boxers with sweat on my brow, wiping the crust from my eyes. Noticing I was sprawled out on a clean white bed facing a partially opened bedroom window. I stretched and stood up to open the sliding glass doors to the patio area. 

I lean up against the side of the door and spark a pre-roll, noticing the waves rolling on the sandy beach. The trees that surrounded the house, make the area feel more secluded. That's what I enjoy most about this place, the seclusion.

Places like this make me wish I didn't move to the city, I miss the open fields. Less people around, less problems to worry about.

Barefoot and still in my boxers I walk out to the shore, looking left and right down the sides to see if there were more private houses down this way. There was one, a tall two story building sitting on a hill but has a back patio that faces the same beach as this one. Mostly filled with dark windows and trees covering its full view, it has a modern elegance to it. 

I shrug finishing my jo!nt and putting it out. I realize the dependency I have towards Nebula, I miss her small presence walking around my legs. 

I get ready for the day, I decided to go do some research on this country and this town. Find some culture, some inspiration, Possibly a new feeling. 

I go into the kitchen in search of a coffee machine. To my surprise there's a Keurig, the perks of getting an airbnb. I brew my coffee and go to take a shower, my outfit has already been picked out and it is laying out on the, now, made bed. Brown Mesh Supreme Water Script Shorts with a beige tank top I got from Walmart and the slides I wore last night. 

Once I got out the shower I got dressed, grabbed my things placed them in my pocket, grabbed my coffee and walked out the door, locking it behind me.

There waiting for me was the taxi I called when brewing my coffee. We rode into the city, Gliding up and down the hills to the center of the town. She dropped me off in a plaza, there were only castles towering the city, bright blues and shining white buildings as I jump out the car. I paid her and jumped out in the middle of the street, walking around for a minute or two. 

I found a store that sold bikes and considered it, I saw someone selling desserts and bought some sweets. Once at my destination I was greeted with the smell of old books and coffee, I came to the conclusion that I love this place already. 

I threw my coffee away at the bike shop, so I walked straight to the coffee bar to get a nice cup of joe with cream and sugar. The man that served me was nice, he spoke some broken english and wore a colorful top. The drink he made me tops the Keurig, I drink it with delight and walk around the store. 

Books are everywhere, tucked into every wall and corner. Books sitting in stacks on the floor that tower over the low sitting lounge chairs and bean bags. Lamps swinging down low to face the chairs, bringing light to even the darkest crevices. I find a small corner between two tall bookshelves and browse thru the rows of books. I searched thru all the titles from left to right, high to low in search of any books or vintage magazines that talk about the fashion trends here or maybe some fashion history. 

I then settled for the facts that I was 1. in the wrong section and 2. half of these books are in Arabic. Shaking my head I turn to go to a different section. But she stopped me in my tracks, it was the girl I saw last night.

She was sitting in a lounge chair with a lamp looming over her, her ankles were crossed letting her knees lean to the side. she was flipping thru the pages with one elbow on the arm of the chair and her palm lifts cup her chin. she wore glasses a tank top and a long flowing skirt. I could barely make out the book she was reading but I wanted to know all about it.

I wondered how I should approach her, it felt like a chess match. I had to be strategic, smart.. It's really hard for me to talk to people.. I almost forgot.

I walked around and stood by the book shelf facing the wall on her right, trying not to draw attention to my own self antics, forgetting that over 6 ft tall and dressed in white. I picked up a book, finally something mostly in english. 

"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho 

I've heard of this book, most people even celebrities read this book and thought it one of the greatest books around. I might want to purchase this, I thought.

"Is that the Alchemist?" I heard a sweet voice behind my back. I turn around and jumped almost dropping the book. The woman was standing up, in front of me, asking me a question.

"uhh, umm, yes, yes this is the book, the Alchemist. I was just looking at it." I finally reacted to her question. 

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I just, well I've been looking everywhere for that book." She said with a playful smile on her face. 

"Oh yeah? Well I'm sorry mrs...?" I ask 

"Francesca" She corrects me seemingly amused.

"yes, Mrs. Francesca well it seems I might actually be buying this book" I give her a knowing grin, I just hope I don't come off too rude.

"Oh yeah? well I hope you love it, of course you know what its about right?" She shifts her weight to one side and crosses her arms as if trying to get me caught up.

"Of course, It's about.." I flip the book on its back to find not a summary but a quote. I settle for the cover. "The sun and the sky. Very descriptive book, sold out almost everywhere" I say, ready for her to challenge my intellect, which she does.

She has a surprised yet not surprised look on her face "oh I thought it's was about learning the language of the Universe by reading and recognizing the signs and omens your higher self sends you in the present moment, and realizing you can live a successful life if you start by trusting yourself." 

I probably sighed and my eyes turned into tiny hearts because I couldn't look away from her. Francesca, this beautiful woman is standing a couple of feet away from me. Only a few inches below me she was looking into my eyes with no fear, tearing straight into me. She made me feel small, she made me feel seen, like I wasn't too tall to be seen or too scary to talk to. 

I felt my face move from a grin to a full smile and I laughed a bit, "So I was right?" I said. She shakes her head a bit taken back "About what?" She asks.

"It's a very descriptive book and its a best seller, I mean, Why else would you be looking everywhere for a book you've obviously done your research on." I lower my head a bit and smirk.

She smacked her teeth and placed her hand on her hip, shaking her head in disbelief. I never thought I'd see her again, yet here she is talking to me. 

Francesca.