The Bookstore

(19) Couch Potatoes

Lily

The evening is calmaswe walk towards Jack's house. The streets are quiet, with only occasional car passing by. The moon is high, casting a gentle glow over everything. He's wearing a simple grey T-shirt and dark jeans, a casual look that highlights his relaxed demeanor. I'm dressed in a light blue blouse and black leggings, comfortable yet stylish.

His house is a modest, cozy place. The front yard is well-kept, and the porch light creates a warm, inviting atmosphere. We step inside, and the interior is just as welcoming, with soft lighting and comfortable furniture. I just plan on staying here for a while, though. I don't think I'm ready to spend a night with him yet. YET. That doesn't mean I don't want to.

The living room is adorned with bookshelves, a plush sofa and a coffee table littered with magazines and a couple of notebooks. There's a relaxed and homey feel, with the faint scent of vanilla lingering in the air. I still do't understand where the vanilla comes from I'm confused here.

We settle on the sofa, initially a bit awkward but soon relaxing into easy conversation.

"So, what do you think of the place?"

"It's nice. Feels very you. Comfortable and full of books, and also painting stuff." I say with a tiny giggle escaping my throat.

"Yeah, I like to keep my things simple. Painting is my weakness."

"I can tell. I bet you spend such a lot of money with that stuff."

We sat in the sofa and started to share stories from our past, laughing at childhood antics and awkward teenage moments. He tells a particularly funny story about an embarrasing moment in high school, making me laugh until I'm clutching my stomach. I've never been the kind of girl who's easy to make laugh, but he somehows makes me chuckle even with the dumbest things.

"So, there I was, standing in front of the whole school, and I realized I'd grabbed my mom's speech instead of mine. Let's just say, everyone learnt a bit too much about her knitting club that day." I double over in laughter, tears forming at the corner of my eyes. It's nice to laugh like this with someone again.

"Oh my god, that's priceless. I would've died on the spot."

As the night progresses, our conversation naturally slows, and we find ourselves sitting closer together. I don't know what time it is, but I don't care about it right now, I'll be back at my house whatever hour it is. He tentatively wraps an arm around me, and I snuggle into his side.

I look up at his face subtly. Judging by his expression while he looks forward, he's questioning himself. Like he's thinking, "is this okay? Should I move my arm?". This feels nice, I didn't expect to be this comfortable with him. Maybe I should stay a bit longer.

The night wears on, and we both start to feel drowsy. I initially planned to go home but I find myself too comfortable to move. We drift off to sleep together, his arm still around me. I'll close my eyes for a little while and then leave.

I could feel how he shifted to be face to face with me, but I maintained my eyes closed. His fingers trace my cheek softly, and then he plants a kiss on my forehead. His other hand caresses my back up and down while the other one moves to my hair, running his fingers through my scalp. I noticed he didn't touch my waist or my hips, or any other place than my back.

***

We wake up to the sound of Jack's phone buzzing incessantly. We're in a completely different position, we're laying on the couch, scattered around. Groggy and confused, he reaches for his phone, only to knock over a glass of water on the coffee table. 

"Ah, damn it! Not again." I laugh through my sleepiness.

"Smooth move, Jack. You always this graceful in the morning?"

"Only when I have an audience."

"Lucky me."

After a moment shaking our sleepiness off, we get up and Jack offers to make breakfast. The kitchen is small and cozy, with the smell of coffee and pancakes soon filling the air. We talk about our plans for the day, with me mentioning I need to catch up on some work but doesn't mind staying a bit longer.

"So, pancakes okay?" He asks.

"Pancakes are perfect. As long as you don't burn them."

"No promises."

As we eat, we talk about how we ended up spending the night together. He jokes about how it's the first time his sofa has been so comfortable.

"I guess my sofa's more comfortable than I thought."

"Maybe it's the company."

"Maybe it is."

After breakfast, we start planning what to do next. He suggests a walk in the park to clear our heads and get some fresh air. 

"How about a walk in the park? It's a nice day out."

"Sounds good. I could use some fresh air."

  Tyler

Bella and I are at her house, a cozy and tastefully decorated place with a hint of modernity. We're sitting at the dining table, laptops and notebooks spread out, trying to make sense of the events at the cinema yesterday. She's wearing a casual outfit of a white T-shirt and jeans. I'm dressed in a plain T-shirt and khaki shorts, feeling comfortable and focused.

We began by recounting everything that happened at the cinema, from the moment we arrived to the chaotic evacuation. 

"I still can't believe it. One moment we were watching the movie, and the next, the alarms were blaring." She says.

"Yeah, and that strange shadow we saw before it all happened. We need to figure out what it was."

We sift through the photos we took at the cinema before the incident, looking for any clues or anomalies. I zoom in on a photo showing the cinema's interior. Bella points out a dark figure in the background,partially obscured by shadows. We saw that shadow when we got to the cinema but we shrugged it off.

"Look at this. Do you see that figure near the back?"

"Yeah, it's so faint, but it's definitely there. Could it be related to what happened?"

As we continue to analyze the photos, we come across one that seems particularly strange. In it, the shadowy figure appears to be moving, despite it being a still image. 

"Wait a minute. Look at this one. Does it seem like the figure is i a different position?" I say.

"That's impossible. It's a still photo. How can the figure move?"

We both lean closer to the screen, eyes wide with confusion and a hint of fear. The realization dawns on us that what we're seeing defies logic. 

"Something really weird is going on here."

"Yeah, and I think we've just scratched the surface."

The room grows silent as we stare at the photo, the implications of what we're seeing sinking in. 

"We need to find out what this means, Tyler. This changes everything."

"Absolutely. But first, we need to be careful. Whoever or whatever this is, it's watching us."