in my head

Chapter 6

I woke up the next morning feeling exhausted, and I hadn't even done anything. After about an hour of lying in bed, I dragged my feet to the kitchen and made coffee. My whole body ached and I had no motivation to get ready today. Switching the tv on and lying across the couch, I figured I'd just have a nothing day.

My phone buzzed from somewhere in my apartment but I couldn't force myself up off the couch. A few hours went by and I made myself more coffee. Hearing my phone buzz for about the fifth time I decided I should check it.

My sister sent me two photos of our cats back home. Maddy asked what I was doing today. And I had two texts of a random number. I replied to both Katie and Maddy and then looked at the other two texts of an unknown number. The first one said 'hey what you up to?' And the second said 'want to get a coffee?'.

I sat there for a minute thinking about who this could be. Maybe they got the wrong number. Then it clicked. It was Timothee. He'd sent me these texts four hours ago. It's funny how even a text from him could instantly make my mood better.

I replied with 'sorry my phone was off. You still up for a coffee?' Hoping he'd not get mad at me for taking so long to reply.

My phone buzzed five minutes later with 'of course. Meet you outside your building?'

I replied with 'yes' and rushed to my wardrobe to pick out a decent outfit. My hair was a mess and I looked half dead to be honest. I shoved on some jeans, a plain black crop top and a black denim jacket. I shoved my hair in a bun and didn't bother with makeup.

Timothee was already outside waiting. He looked perfect as usual. I sneaked up slowly towards him and landed both my hands on the back of his shoulders. He didn't even flinch, but a smile drew across his face.

"I wanted to scare you" I pouted.

"That's almost impossible"

"So where we going?" Swinging my arms like a child.

"I know a place. It's only a five minute walk"

I followed him as we walked towards the busy main road, humming along to a song. Timothee kept looking at me and I could tell he wanted to ask something.

"What?"

"Oh nothing just you seem...different"

"Really? How?" I was confused. What did he mean by different.

"I don't know" he studied my face and I looked away quickly.

We walked some more and came to an old brick building. He turned and gave an excited smile before opening the door for me. When I entered my mouth literally fell open.

A bookstore but not like any I'd ever seen. The ceiling was a dark blue mapped with constellations and stars. Bookshelves lit with lights lined the entirety of the building, wrapping up the staircase to the second floor.

"This...this is beautiful"

"I knew you'd like it"

"How?" I was intrigued by how he knew that. I mean I did see him in a bookstore, but how did he know I wasn't dragged there by Maddy.

"I noticed you had quite a few books in your apartment, and I guessed you had liked space and stars from the song you were listening to the first time we met"

I looked up at him, unable to process the fact he remembered the song I was listening to and that he cared that much about me at all.

"You remember the song?" my eyes wide.

"Of course. I love that song"

I stared at him for way too long.

"So wanna look around?" Running his hands through his hair.

"Uh...yeah-yes of course" Snapping back to reality.

I scanned the shelves for anything that caught my eye. They fell upon a blue hardback copy of the bell jar which I'd already read twice. Upstairs, the ceiling was closer for me to fully appreciate. Gold detailing of astrology and stars spread over the deep blue paint. I was never going to get over how beautiful this was.

Timothee was behind me reading the back of a book. I couldn't imagine what he'd choose to read. I mean being an actor he must have to read crazy amounts, but I couldn't guess at what his preferred genre was.

Holding the copy of the bell jar I found, I headed over to Timothee. He looked up and gave me a smile. I felt a weird feeling in my stomach that I tried to force away.

"Any good books?" Not noticing the one I was holding.

I held the book up to him.

"The bell jar. Good choice" he gave me a look that was as if he'd figured out a piece of a puzzle.

"What we're you reading before?" I was so intrigued to what it was.

"Oh 1984. I've already read it but I just thought it was a cool copy" before I could ask him anything else he grabbed the book from my hand and went towards the till.

What was he doing. I stood there shocked then realised. I tried catching up to him but he was already at the till.

"Hey. What are you doing?" I frowned.

"Here. Where do you wanna go now" he handed me the book and I rolled my eyes.

"Did you just role your eyes at me?" a grin forming.

"Well yeah. I could've paid for the book"

"So where do you want to go now?"

I put the book in my bag and pushed his shoulder with my hand. He just laughed and nudged me back.

"You're supposed to be my tour guide"

"Alright then, follow me" and walked straight out the door.

I didn't expect him to decide so quickly but I followed him out the door.

"So where we going?"

"You'll have to wait and see"

We walked through a maze of people and past streams of cars. One thing I was not use to was living in a city, but part of me liked the foreign feeling. As we crossed over to the other side of the road I knew exactly where we were.

"Central Park" i beamed excitedly.

Hey. Sorry for taking so long to publish this chapter. Thank you for reading this far.

I just wanted to mention that in the upcoming chapters I will be talking about mental health and the use of drugs and alcohol.

I hope you like the story so far.

Xxx