1001 Love Stories Darker

Christmas (99)

The moment I saw him, I knew that he was perfect. I mean there's something about the way snow collected in his curly Afro and the way he shook them loose in the small entry way to the library. It was the giddy smile with his perfect teeth and how noticeable his dimples where against his warm chocolate skin.

I wondered if I could call it chocolate. I heard somewhere that it's racist to call AA skin the same color as things sold. But everything is sold, wood, coffee, and brown sugar. The only thing that isn't is dirt. And to discribe something as flawless and beautiful as the color of dirt was a bit sickening.

No his skin was that of chocolate, the sweetest milk chocolate.

I watched him as he headed to the adults section before dropping his bag and jacket at a table before entering an isle of books and then staying.

I wondered if he was looking for something or just browsing. Ive never seen him before, I'd remember is someone so stunning where to walk into the shitty little library that never gets any customers other then the kids who need to use the computers in the homeless hiding from the cold.

"Andrew is there's nothing to do you can start putting back the returned books?" Mrs. West said and I nodded turning to the three books on the shelf.

The moment I was away from the counter my eyes darted to the isle he had disappeared in.

Where I cought sight of those massive curls. It fail like a curly lions mane. It sat in his shoulders falling ever so slightly in his face as he read the backs of books sitting on the floor.

I woundered if I should say something. Yet I couldn't think of any words. I worked here, a simple. "Are you looking for something specific." I know it's easy but I don't trust myself.

To not break out into fits of blushing the moment his eyes met mine. I couldn't imagine what kind of voice he would have, but I know it would turn my knees to jelly.

I couldn't manage be the center of his attention for even a second.

I wish I had dressed better, did something with my own long hair of loose red waves. My skin got even more pale in the winter. I looked like the ghost of a ginger kid who died in the sixties.

If he were even into guys, I probably still didn't have a chance.

I returned the books before returning to my desk wondering if I'd ever seen him again.

"Our thoughts are just shadows of our feelings, always darker emptier and simpler." The voice seemed to cut through my thoughts and right into my heart. I knew it was him before I even regained myself from the thoughts I was lost in.

I blinked twice and he smiles before setting three books on the counter.

"You seemed to be lost in thought but also, you seemed sad. It made me think of that quote." He says and I'm too stunned to speak.

What do I say?

What could I say?

Just say something?

"Thank you." I choke out before realizing that was the wrong thing to say.

"Say something better." I tell myself. I think to myself.

Suddenly he chuckles and I feel my face going red as I realize that I had spoken out loud.

"I'm sorry, I'm kind of a mess today." I say hiding my head in my hands and also hiding from him.

"No, I'm sorry, I must have startled you. I had been trying to get your attention but you were lost. I didn't think you would even hear me." He says and I blush.