The Book Shop

Twenty Bucks

Instead of going home, I decide to calm myself and go to my favorite place. The book store. I enter, comforted by the smell of old books. Sighing I head to the back and leaf through, shuffling past the many books I've already read. Kennedy, the store owner, smiles at me and winks. We have a secret promise to each other. She won't tell B&N I shop at her old book store, if I don't stop coming. I love Barnes and Noble, I do, but there's just something about coming to an old cave of books that this homey store had. It was warm and cozy, and I simply felt safest here, tucked away in a world of books. I picked out three novels and sat myself in a squishy chair. I started with a book called, Jelicoe Road and finished it three hours later. I bought it along with the other two and went home. When I pulled into my driveway I saw a familiar Camry and smiled. Hesitantly, I entered my own house.
"Where the hell have you been??" Stanley demands.
"None of your business." I say flatly. Jesus we've known each other for like two days.
"I get you're still pissed at me. But you have to hear about my date!" My ears perk and I watch him. He looks like he's going to burst with happiness. Holding back a smile I blankly look into his eyes.
"If you ever make me your beard again, there will be absolute hell to pay mister." I snarl and he laughs. When he sees I'm serious he sobers and nods.
"This will never happen again."
"Damn right it won't." He smiles at me and I frown. "What?"
"You're cute when you swear. It just sounds so weird coming from your mouth."
"Flattery will get you no where. Now spill." He beams and we sit in my bed. He gushes for hours about how amazingly understanding Jeremy is. Stan is over the moon in happiness and tells me about how they both are obsessed with Sam Smith and how they shared a milkshake during their first date. He tells me how Jeremy's mom died when he was young and how his dad is really supportive of him. Jeremy's aunts and grandparents frequent his house, and they're a close knit family. Both Stan and I pause at that. Stan and Jer agreed to date casually and go slow so that Stan could understand himself and respect Jeremy properly. Overall it was a good talk. I grinned at my friend, so proud of him for fixing his mistake.
"So I have a question for you."
"Shoot."
"Can I tell Piper about you. You know the truth. She's worried you're going to break my heart and I don't like keeping secrets from my best friend." Stan stills and looks at me carefully.
"I don't know. What if she tells someone? I've told two people in the span of three days. This has been a lot for me. I don't know if I'm ready. I'm sorry I don't want to cause anything between the two of you."
"No don't worry. You will get to know her and tell her. It's whenever you're ready."
My phone blared and I glanced at it and jumped.
"Nate!" I squealed.
"Hey baby sis. How are Ya?"
"I'm good. How are you?"
"Awesome! Schools great, parties are great, girls are great you know." I laugh and he chuckles.
"What's up?"
"Have you been talking to mom?"
"Not really."
"Layla."
"She goes out a lot."
"Have you been answering dads calls?"
"...." I don't say anything to show my error.
"Dammit Layla. They can get the lawyers again and this time they'll send you away. What if one comes and checks in. Are you stable?"
"Yes, I actually am. I've gone four days." I say proudly.
"Really? Good. Have any scars gone away?"
"Yeah some."
"Good. What made you stop."
"I made a new friend." I answer aware of Stan's gaze.
"Oh, really? What's she like?"
"He is charming."
"You have a boyfriend!"
"No, he is my friend that is a boy."
"Oooooh Laylie's gonna get cooties!!"
"Shut up Nathan." He laughs.
"I'm coming home in a week for Christmas break. I will assess this guy who has stolen my kid sister's heart."
"Nathannnn stop!" He chuckles and says goodbye. I hang up.
"Jealous boyfriend?"
"Ha. Protective brother."
"Gotcha."
"Bedtime?"
"Sure."
He wraps himself around me and I get comfortable. He's like a giant muscular pillow. Oh my love struck football player.
*****************
I'm woken up by my mother's shouts.
"What the fuck is going on here?" She demands with bloodshot eyes. I squint and roll over to look at her but stop when I realize Stan's body covering mine. He's wide awake and terrified of my hung over, pissed off mother.
"Mom, it's not what you think."
"The hell it isn't."
"Mom."
"Are you an idiot Layla? Do you want to end up like me? Or your sister? What are you thinking? That's it you're going on birth control." I frown and she storms out of my room, slamming the door behind her like a teenager. I huff and rub my eyes.
"So that's your mom."
"That's my mom."
"What happened to your sister?"
"Another day Stan." He stares at me.
"Okay." We sit in silence and I pick at my comforter. Suddenly my phone rings and I smile.
"Sup Pipes?"
"Oh my Goddd. Please dear God help me." She whined.
"What's going on?"
"He's a total ass. La, you wouldn't believe it. He desolated our bathroom, rearranged the cabinets with my food, and 'threw away' my Nutella cause he's 'allergic to hazelnut.' I fucking found it in his room. Then, then, this morning some chick came into the kitchen completely naked and sat down and demanded I make her French toast. He then completely ignored all of us for the rest of the day. I found fucking twenty cigarette butts in the past fifteen hours. For God's sake woman come help me before I cut him." I burst out in hysterical laughter as I picture her pacing, glaring at nothing, and shoving peanut butter in her mouth.
"Is it okay if I bring Stan over as reinforcement?" They both pause at this and Piper slowly answers, "um, no? Is it okay to do a girls day? I just really need you." My heart swells and I recognize our code. Whenever one of us is depressed, they say it to the other.
"I'll be over in five." I hang up and get out of bed. Stan stares at me as i throw on some ripped Jean shorts and an Imagine Dragons t-shirt.
"I have to go help Piper with her step brother situation. Can we hang out later?" Stan nods and watches me.
"Is he hot?" I blush and look away.
"He is isn't he? Bad boy type, I can just see it. Oh I'll bet twenty bucks he has a motorcycle and a leather jacket." I laugh and roll my eyes, "this isn't a movie and it's not nineteen fifty."Stan only holds his hand out and I shake it. We shall see who is right.
After ten seconds of being in Piper's house, I feel as if I can cut the tension in the air with a steak knife. We sit and watch The Breakfast Club, since it's our all time favorite. Right as the group are sitting in their circle of emotion, Adam enters and plops right down on the couch next to me. I can feel the heat of his body so I try to unnoticeably move away. This does not work since he throws his arm around my shoulders, locking me into my place. Piper glares and looks as if she could burn his arm off. I give her an encouraging nod, but stay stiffly seated. I've never been this uncomfortable in my life. I nervously twitch and try to wriggle away but his grip tightens every time. Pipe sends me apologetic looks ever few minutes, but I make myself concentrate on the diverse group of kids. Eventually I grow tired and somehow fall asleep. I wake an hour later, across Adam's body. He's holding me in a protective way, something I haven't felt in a while. Piper is fast asleep on the other side of the couch. I look back at Adam and see he's conscious and staring at me. Our gaze doesn't break and he slowly leans closer, when I realize what he's about to do, I jump away and run up to Pipers room. I'm shocked though, when I go through the familiar door and don't see the familiar room.
"I made her switch." I heard Adam say behind me. My fists clench, what an asshole. She's had this room her entire life, it was her sanctuary. And he just stumbles in and claims it as his own. What a jerk. My eyes lock on the dark fabric, draped across my best friend's desk chair. The leather jacket seems worn, but I wonder if he's bought it to look that way. Looking at him I ask in an annoyed voice, "Do you ride a motorcycle?" His eyebrows furrow and he answers, "motor bike."
"Dammit." I whisper. I'm out twenty bucks.