Simple

1

Alice's pov

TW: Memories of implied sh

"This one's so... interesting... Did you write this?" 

"Which one are you looking at Ma'am?" I take a step towards her curiously, "Ah yes, Dandelions, one of my favorites."

"So you did?" I nod my head, "It's lovely, how much?" 

"With the picture and the frame? $10.50." The  elderly lady smiles to herself. 

"Perfect," she says, handing me her card. "My grand daughter will love it, she loves everything poetry: she's blind so hearing it helps her see the world in her own special way." She wipes a tear from her eye. 

"I'm sure she'll love it," I smile warmly as the grandmother exits. Another success, finally. I've been getting a decent amount of business lately which is awesome!

 My shop is kind of hidden yet in the center of everything. Right across a beautiful park, a coffee shop right next door, the theaters only a few blocks away, it's perfect. I sip my pumpkin spice iced chi, god it's so good! It's almost like opening a present on Christmas day already knowing what you're gonna get yet being completely surprised at the same time. Jeez, I'm weird.  

Just as I'm starting to unwrap some extra Halloween candy, what, no one really comes to my apartment so I get to keep a lot of candy, I hear the little bell above the door ring. I immediately start reciting The Worst Pies in London from Sweeny Todd (I'm a theater nerd, deal with it). I chuckle to myself at my found memories and horrible humor. "What are you laughing at?" A young man, probably around my age, asks with suspicion and anger in his tone.

"Oh nothing! Just some stupid thing in my head that's all." He smirks, holy shit he smirks. He's hot, but in a 'I hate everything and everyone' way. Wait, how the fuck is that hot? "Shut up Ali!" I whisper yell at myself, he looks up, shit. 

"What'd you say?" He seems curious but in a mocking way. 

"Nothing, I was just thinking out loud. I do that a lot when I'm nervous." Wait, SHIT! "I mean not that you make me nervous I'm just always anxious, I'man anxious little mess, all the time. Oh jeez I'm ranting and being annoying I'll just shut up now." Smooth.

He laughs, shit why is he laughing? "You're fine, you're fine" He smiles, his smile is hot. God this place needs a fan, I need fan, no what I need is to focus on me, not some random guy I don't even know the name to.  "James, James Williams." I perked my head up looking right at the tall guy, who is apparently James. 

"Uhh Alice, Alice Swan. But friends call me Ali." Shut up shut up shut up.

"Alice..." James says with... pleasure. Huh? I was not expecting that. 

"I would like to buy this," he says handing me a picture of the sunset over the tall buildings. I remember taking that one, it was long ago. I took it on the roof of the building, the sky was a soft yellowy orange, just like the iodine on my wrist. 

"Umm... Okay! That will be $3.45"

"Only?" I stare at him in shock.

Uhh... Yeah? It's old and has been printed on smaller paper, and you also got it in the $3.00 bucket..." 

"Who knew something so beautiful could be so cheap?" he asks himself. 

"Beauty hides the painful truth..." My eyes lowered to the counter, hot tears welling up like lava. Ali you can't cry now, crying shows weakness and you are not weak. When looked up, James was gone. along with the picture.  

Sooooooooooo whatd u think?? should i keep going with this book or not??? Anyways, im here if anyone ever needs to talk so please reach out. ilysm!!! <3