Black and White (a short story)

Black and White

 It was all black and white. Always. I wake up in the morning, white light shines through my shaded window frame into my black and white room. It used to make me ponder, why everything is always black and white with no other color, but, as I grew older, it just became life. I don't even bother acknowledging it anymore.

 It's a normal, colorless Friday night. I don't feel up to doing my homework and there isn't anything entertaining to watch on TV. I alert my mom that I'm taking the car and drive to the local book store. It's a nice place: calm, quiet, comforting. I love the smell of aging paper and ink. Morey, the man who runs and owns the store, looks up from his thick book and nods. I nod back, our quiet greeting, and head to the back of the store where the fiction section is located.

 I scan the binds, each a different shade and variation of grey, black, and white. I slide a particular book with the name Don't Shun Death written in delicate cursive out of its nook and plop down on the floor, my back resting against the dusty wooded shelves. I open the front cover, reading the summary.

 "Miles, I'm going to the store," I hear Morey declare from the front. "Look up for me, would ya?" I hear the door open, followed by the sound of it shutting.  

 I go back to the book in my hand, proceeding to read the first pages of Chapter 1. It's a good read, the first paragraph gripping me with its morose diction and the subtle hints of foreshadowing. I was so encased in the story, I didn't realize the pair of shoes standing in front of me. I gasped, holding my hand against my chest.

 "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." The pair of shoes have a person in them. He bent down to my eye level. I blinked. He's gorgeous.

 His dusty brown hair is brushed backwards, although some hairs point out, indicating he's been active for some time. His jawline is narrow, but firm. I notice a bit of stubble on his chin. But the most enticing aspect of this man is his eyes. At first, I thought they were brown, but, with a lingering glance, I notice swirls of hazel. Maybe green too.

 Wait a minute! Green? Hazel? Brown? Color! I see color!

 "What are you reading?" He asked, stepping down on the ground, crossing his blue jeans.

 I gulp, unable to make words. I lift up the book to show him the cover. The cover isn't grey. It's solid black with golden spirals running along the edges. Gold. Wow. A beautiful color.

 "Don't Shun Death, huh? That's a good book. Read it last year. Couldn't put it down. I'm Miles, by the way. I work here."

 I smile. He's really cute in his red button down. "I'm Eve. I read here."

 He chuckles softly. He stands up and holds out a hand. I take it and he helps me up. He has a strong, but gentle grip.

 "If you want to get it, I'll give it to you for free," he offers.

 "Oh, no. That's not necessary. I have money and I really like this store."

 He cocks his head a little. Then smiles. "All right. How about this? A 50% discount?" He bargains.

 I smirk. "Deal."

 I follow him to the cash register. He pushes a series of buttons and the register dings. I hand him 5 dollars. Five, green, one dollar bills. He takes it, our hands touch.

 "Um. Miles, can I ask you a weird question?" I ask him, watching him put the money in the register.

 "I love weird questions," he replied. He turned his attention to me and, suddenly, I felt subconscious. What if he has always seen color? What if he laughs at me? What if he doesn't believe me?