Consider Me

Chapter Twenty Part 2: Lucas

Foster Books.

I read the writing above me on a dark green board and squinted my eyes at the glass in front to see the inside. The small bookshop on the outskirts of the city was quaint, aesthetically pleasing smelled of old historical pages. And a little of pumpkin. 

I walk through the open dark green gate into the store and looked around for my brother. I am not a fan of small bookshops or anything related to books in particular. As long as it gives me the needful grades at the end of the term and holds my academic scores, I won't willingly read them. 

That to say, my elder brother Anthony is a geek for books. He is a kind of person Lily would make heart eyes for. Reader, intelligent, proper, well-mannered and what was the last thing she liked? Polite. 

Bloody fucking polite.

I can't believe whatever happened yesterday. One minute I was jealous over my friend for sharing a seat with her during undergrad and the next I was purposefully goading Lily to challenge me to be something I am not. 

Polite and me? I want to laugh. Yes, I  have created a whole fake personality to fit into the make believe image of mine that people like, it's been going on for years that now I can't differentiate my real and pretend self. 

This facade has been running in my blood, those long years of practices that made me build this shell of a rich kid persona that I forgot what lies underneath. Am I polite? I don't know. Is my real self polite? Again I have no idea. I am not sure how to act like one but I'll be damned if I don't try. 

Which is why I need a mentor. Someone who can give me advices on how to act less rude and more what Lily likes. Respectful and chivalrous. And whose better than my brother Anthony who is the walking ambassador of the Charming club. 

I went inside the stuffy bookstore and search the place for him. Why does he come here anyway. There are so many good and big bookstores in the city yet he chose a dingy one that has less space to walk and shelves overflowing with books.  

An old lady, around mid sixties judging by her wrinkles looks at me from behind the rusty hardwood counter and smiles. Before she could open her mouth and ask me what I want, I spot Anthony pressed between the shelves to my left. 

"Ah, it's okay. I got it," I stop her from saying anything and point to Anthony, "My brother," With that I left her by the counter, not worried if I was rude and walked straight towards the shelves.

Anthony wore a cream linen shirt, brown khakis, loafers and his signature glasses that made him look so posh and intelligent. Yep, my brother would help. I stop behind him and peak over his shoulder. "Is that William Golding?"

"Jesus!" He shrieks, holds the book against his chest and flashes me a glare over his shoulder. "Lucas,"

I take a step back. "I didn't say peekabo,"

 "That might've been better than sneaking up on me," his voice goes back to a certain octave that isn't loud but more gallant.

"Would you rather I say hello to you?" 

"Yes. That's how people announce their presence. I taught you that in middle school," 

I grin, "And I need you to teach me again,"

He goes back to facing the old depressing shelves, "Teach you what?"

"The manner and etiquette lesson 169,"

He gives me a disapproving side glance, "I don't recall the number said 169, Lucas,"

"Yeah I know but since I'll be your student, we have to modify it to some level that works for me,"