𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣'𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙣

𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆

Saturn
• • •

I'd been thinking about returning to the bookshop since the moment I'd left a few days prior.

Zaire had been too busy to pick up his books, and it was now the date of the deadline. He'd ask me to meet him there. It had worked out quite nicely.

There were four readers in the bookshop this time, one in each chair. Perhaps I should have left and returned later, as I really was looking for somewhere quiet to read. I supposed I could look through some of the other books and find some to read on the side of those I needed for my studies.

As I wandered the shelves, I wondered where Calvin was today. He hadn't been at the register when I came in. Maybe his mother was working, or he was on his break.

I snapped myself out of the thoughts. I didn't care if he was working, that was a ridiculous thought. I was at the shop to read, not befriend employees like Zaire was hoping to.

When I had a nice collection of interesting reads, I went to the reading nook. I laid out my books across the rug. I counted them. There were only eight. I could manage to finish at least one by the time the shop closed at seven.

I pulled the book with the most vibrant cover from the arrangement, and read the synopsis. I smiled to myself. I would enjoy this book indeed. It appeared to be about an orphaned girl finding solace in true love. She sounded like a warped version of myself. Yes, I may have been orphaned, but unlike the protagonist, love was not on my radar.

"You've made quite a mess over here."

I glanced up from the comfort of my book. Calvin smirked down at me. I struggled to compose myself under his intense gaze. "Are you going to kick me out?" I asked softly, only half serious.

Calvin looked stunned by my response. "No, but you do intend to purchase the books, don't you?"

"No," I shrugged, glancing back down at the book which I did not intend on paying for.

"Then perhaps we may have an issue," Calvin replied smoothly.
All of a sudden, I felt a strong urge to argue with him. "If you finish a book in a bookshop then you never have to pay for it," I said, "and I haven't got any money. This is my solution."

Calvin smirked again. I'd proved him wrong. "Very well," he muttered, turning his back on me. I sighed a breath of relief. His presence was heavy.

Just as I returned to my reading, Calvin turned back around. "What if I could offer you a job here?" he mused. I quirked an eyebrow at him. That was unexpected. "That would solve your financial predicament, would it not?" he added.

"Yes, I suppose so," I said, "but it depends. Are the other staff more inviting than yourself?"

Calvin's smirk returned. Why was this amusing to him? "I'm sorry, have I not just invited you, a complete stranger, to work here without any implications?" he asked.

"What gives you the authority to do that?" I wondered aloud.

"It's my Mum's shop," Calvin replied, "I have the authority to do as I please."

It all made sense now. He didn't look like a person who would choose to work in a bookshop, because he hadn't chosen to.
"Fine, I'll accept the position," I said, "when do I start?"

"How about now," Calvin offered, "you can start by cleaning up this mess." He glanced down at my book stash with displeasure. I scowled. This boy had a knack for pissing me off.

I set my book aside on a coffee table and picked up the rest. I scanned the room for a place Calvin would approve of me storing them. The door to the back room was open, I noticed. I spotted a row of carts just inside. They would do the trick.