The Hurt Game

❧ nine

The ticking of the clock was the only sound audible, except for the little brushes of paper against paper. It was the kind of the quiet I loved; I could do whatever I wanted to do and be completely absorbed in my own little world, no background noise there to distract me.

The bookstore might have been the only place where I could have felt that. It was one of the reasons why I came there so often, and not only because I worked there. It was a safe haven and Arthur never minded having me over. Most times I would browse the aisles, in search for books I hadn't bought yet, or even known the existence of. Sometimes I would buy one, sometimes I would sit down in the aisles and read the first couple chapters.

I flicked a book to a random page. My eyes were transfixed on the book, absorbing every single word in my mind. Every now and then I would scribble down a sentence, or particular word, or copy a whole scene in my notebook. It was one of the many I owned.

The little bell above the door rang, signalling someone had walked in. It had been quiet for over an hour. No one had walked in, not even to take a peek at the new books which had come in this morning.

I looked up. A smile appeared on my lips and my heartbeat quickened in my chest, pounding a little harder. I dropped the pencil between the pages of the book as I slide of the little stool I had been sitting on and I made my way towards him.

Royden stiffened when I wrapped my arms around his neck. His whole body went rigid as soon as it collided with mine. He even leaned back slightly and it took another second when he circled one of his arms around my waist.

A little frown tugged my eyebrows down and I pulled away from him. The smile didn't waver from my face though, not when I stared up into his dark eyes. He stuffed his hands back in his pockets while biting down on my lip.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned. He simply shrugged his shoulders and looked around.

"Was bored," he said. His eyes fell back on mine. A stoic look, an empty look was plastered on his face. His voice didn't give much emotion away. "And I needed to get a break from work."

I raised an eyebrow at him before nodding my head, showing him a smile and I walked back towards the counter. I took my seat again. Royden had followed me and he was now standing on the other side of the counter. His hand rested atop the surface.

"And so you came to here?"

He hummed softly while nodding his head. His eyes met mine briefly and then they trailed around the store, glancing around like he had never been here. Before me, he had never gone near a bookstore. Relying on this fact, it continued to surprise he had actually tracked me down more than a week ago.

I raised an eyebrow at him before my facial expression softened by a slow growing smile. I reached over the counter and poked his arm. His head immediately snapped towards me and his eyes were set in a frown. I continued to poke his arm.

"Aw, you missed me," I mused.

He scrunched his nose while he swatted my hand away. "Did not," he said. His face was expressionless; his lips set in a thin line and his eyes cold and stoic.

"Just confess you did, Roy. It is not a shame."

His eyes narrowed to slits and the slight smile vanished from my face. My heartbeat dropped low, steady yet it was pounding harsher against my ribcage, begging to break free.

"I told you to not fucking call me that."

A sigh escaped my lips. "You're stopping with the 'princess' bullshit then?"

"That... is different."

"How?" I raised an eyebrow and waited for him to answer, but he didn't. He remained silent. His eyes were locked on mine. His jaw was set and it was clear he was pissed off. "How?" I repeated.