The Book Shop

Sharks

I sat in the bookshop, minding my own business for hours, when someone steps on my finger.
"Ow!"
"Sorry! I- Layla?" A familiar voice bursts from behind me.
"Adam?"
"Um, hi." He looks at me laying on the dirty pink carpeted floor, surrounded by fiction and pillows.
"Hey." I mumble through the pillows that I have propping my chin up.
"I know that yesterday I-"
"Don't even worry about it." I interrupt not wanting to hear excuses. I was overdramatic and everything was just dumb. I tell him this and he nods in relief, ruffling his blond locks nervously.
"Can we still, um, go out?" His blue eyes peer at mine hesitantly as he takes in my blank expression. I try to mess with him by acting aloof.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?" I bite my lip to hold a giggle in. He looks so hopeful and anxious. Silence stales the store, since we're the only two inside.
"I mean, I'll have to think about it." I say holding back a smirk. He looks at me for a moment then furrows his brows. After a moment he rolls his eyes and smirks.
"Maybe I'll just ask Dara out." He adds casually, looking at his nails.
"I mean I might as well have some fun while you're 'thinking about it'" he smirks at my horrified expression.
I smack his arm. "You jerk."
"Oh, please." He says dramatically. In the middle of our laughter, the front door bell chimes and steals our attention. Boots thud against the floor as the stranger approaches and I try to look around the bookcase to see if it's the bitchy store clerk. Instead of the expected nasty face, I'm met with a round, pretty one. His eyes are a beautiful forest green and his brown curly hair is swept behind him in a small, sloppy man bun. Freckles dotted his cheeks and nose even though he had an olive skin tone. I admire his tight ripped dark jeans and red flannel shirt. This guy is honestly crazy gorgeous. My eyes roam all over him, feeling a sort of familiarity. Adam looks at him briefly, then turns to stare at me. He raises his eyebrows at my widened eyes and coughs awkwardly.
"So, are we going on that date?"
"Uhm, yeah. Tomorrow? I'm hanging with Piper today." I respond, still staring at the stereotypical Badboy. Then I'm blown away by his equally gorgeous twin, who stands behind him, peering at us anxiously. She cowers a little under my stare but holds my gaze. Her green eyes are slightly hidden by her jet black bangs. She wears similar clothes, but her flannel is tied in a knot at her stomach and her jeans are shorts that emphasize her mile long legs. Unlike her twin, she's pale and her hair is styled in a pixie cut. I want to hate her because she's so pretty, as wrong as that sounds. It's not fair that she gets to look so amazing, and I'm stuck looking bleh. But I can't imagine anyone being mad at that face, it's so pretty. The girl maneuvers around her brother nervously while playing with the knot that barely covers her belly button.
"Hi, um, there's a sign out there that says 'Help Wanted' and we want to 'help.' Basically we need jobs." She says in a light voice. Adam nudges me and I jump.
"Oh, um, yeah. The owner is out today and she handles hiring new workers and everything. She'll be back on Thursday. Come in anytime then and she'll talk to you guys."
"Oh, okay. Thank you so much." She replies hurriedly, already walking toward the door with her twin trailing behind.
"Wait! Um, I'm Layla. This is Adam."
"Oh! Hi, how dumb of me not to introduce myself! I'm Paisley and this is my brother Eli." She squeaks while Eli rolls his eyes, grumbling and pushing her out the door.
***************
"Dad."
"Laylie."
"Stop calling me that! You're not my dad. Even when you were, you were awful. Why are you here? We don't want you!"
His accent rings through the house and wakes me from my dreams. I wish I was strong enough to confront him.
"Laylie! Breakfast!"
"Jay, honey, she likes to sleep in." I hear my mother murmur as I dreadfully approach the kitchen. It surprises me that she sticks up for me. Usually my father's charm or scariness silences her.
"There she is! My beautiful girl. So grown up, you look just like your mother did when we met." He looks wistfully at her, but she only looks away.
"Did we ever tell you that story?" He asks, eyes gleaming in nostalgia. I shake my head and he takes a breath, preparing a long winded story.
"Your mother was on a service trip in South Africa, teaching children how to read and write in English, while designing playgrounds. I was involved in the family business, just graduating from University in marine biology. My family had a long line of shark trackers. We started out as hunters, then became learners. Everyone in my family studied South African fish. I wanted to play electric guitar, but sharks were my destiny. I admit I liked it some, seeing Great Whites jump in the air was monumental and life changing. In fact, when I left here four years ago, I went back to study the velocity and intensity of those jumps. I marked ten Great Whites and tracked a baby. I was even part of shark week on that discovery channel for a couple of years. But anyway-I met your mother one day when she was lost and I was on my way to a gig after fishing all day. I smelled horrible, but she was desperate for a ride, so I picked her up and she watched my band play. I sang to her and won her with my voice." My mother holds a hand over her mouth and quietly leaves the room. The happy memories must sting after what's been said and done. My father stares on, clueless to her outburst, since he was lost in the memories of his glory days.
"But of course after that, you had kids you didn't want, moved to where you didn't want to live, and became the person you didn't want to be. You were drunk, violent, abusive, ultimately cruel and unapologetic. Mom was forced to dump you, when you nearly killed my baby sister. So, in the end, it wasn't a fairy tale." I growl for the first time, daring to glare at my short tempered sperm doner. He falters and gapes at me, but I just turn and stride away.
********
Hi it's Reagan, I can't get to the phone right now! Please leave me a message and I'll be sure to call you back as soon as I can! Have a great day!
"I miss you baby sis." I sniffle, buried in my comforter. Hugging my knees to my chest, I gulp loudly.
"I really want to see you. Hopefully I can save some money and come visit. I've always wanted to go to Florida. Nate could come too. We could all bond..."
"I have so much to tell you and I want to hear all about Milford. I hope they're treating you well. Okay, um, call me back. Really. Please Ray. I love you. Okay, um bye."
It's been almost a year since everything really crumbled. She hasn't responded to any of my phone calls, texts or messages. The past still stings, but we have to move on. I need to know she's okay.
***********
"She didn't answer?"
"Of course not, why would she?"
"La, it wasn't your fault."
"We both know it was." I mumbled and shove that popcorn away. Reliving that last year had taken over my mind. Every Time my mind wandered, it went to the worst times. Sleep started to waver until I was lucky to get four hours, and my appetite gradually decreased within the week. Everyone has noticed, but no one's said anything to me yet. I know they've been talking and worrying about it, though. Adam and Stan watch me at all times, completely unaware of what captures my thoughts. I blink zoning into lunch period, to see my friends staring at me. I shake my head and blink a few more times.
"I think I'm going to go to the lib. I'll see you guys later." They stay tensely silent, consumed in worry as I remove myself from the table. Footsteps follow me as I shuffle down the hall. Ignoring my stalker, I keep on my path only stopping when I'm tugged and pushed against a locker harshly.
"What the-"
"I'm sorry did I hurt you?! You just weren't paying attention and I underestimated my strength." Adam scans me worriedly.
"I'm fine. What's up?"
"I should be asking you that." He hardens his gaze on me and I look to the floor.
"Oh, no. Eyes on me." He tilts my chin gently so that my gaze meets his. We're only a few inches apart and it's clear in his eyes that he's concerned.
"It's a long story." I mutter.
"I've got all the time in the world."
"Not in school."
"Okay, how about on a date. You've been putting it off." He teases and plays with the loose strings of my hair.
"It's hardly a date topic." I frown and shake my head. Adam stubbornly places his hands around my head.
"Too damn bad. Friday. I'm picking you up and taking you out. It'll be secluded so don't worry about eavesdroppers." He leans in with a smirk painted on his face and I can't help the tiny smile that blossoms.
"And before I demand you eat, like, five cheeseburgers."
"Yeah, no. I decide what I'm going to eat and if anyone is going to order me to consume something then it will be my mother and not some little punk." I laugh poking his stomach-or lack of one. His eyes gleam and a lopsided smile appears.
"Okay. Got it." He backs off and saunters away, not looking back.
****************
"It's Friday, Friday gotta get down on fridayyyyyyy!" Piper screeches and I clench my fist.
"You need to shut up. Now."
She continues to sing the horrid song as I drive us to my house.
"Murder is illegal. Murder is illegal." I mumble to myself and my best friend only pokes me.
"So, are you going to tell him?"
"I don't know."
"Why?"
"I think he needs to tell me things, then I'll tell him things. If that makes sense."
"Even trade." She agrees.
"We'll see." I mutter, knowing he'll be stubborn and resilient.
"What are you going to wear?" I look at her and raise my eyebrows. Saying, I have no clue, this is why you're coming over.
She nods her head and plays with the radio. I nervously tap my hands on the steering wheel, thinking about all that will be uncovered on this date. When we get to my empty house, I let out a relieved breath. Piper immediately makes a beeline for my room and I slowly follow. She destroys my neat space by throwing my clothes everywhere. I shake my head and pick up disregarded shirts and pants. Holding a red tank top and a blue blouse in each hand, I shift to see which I like better to match my ripped light washed skinny jeans.
"No, no. Neither. Try this." Piper hands me a soft, baby pink sleeveless shirt. The collar is high and silver square buttons go vertically down the front. It's a little tight and I fear my boobs with pop out and that my stomach sticks out too much. When I voice this, Pipes shakes her head. After a few more judgmental looks in the mirror, I concede. My best friend looks at me evilly and holds my makeup bag. I groan and she cackles. Thirty minutes later, after I'm nudged, shoved and yelled at, I look presentable.
"If you could have just sat still, I would have been done in half the time." Piper grumbles, but assesses her handiwork. Finally, she's pleased enough to end the torture.
"Now, shoes."
"I'm wearing my bean boots and that is final." I object. She frowns, holding five inch wedges.
"Okay, princess you are ready. The mascara is waterproof, just so you know." I nod, silently thanking her. My doorbell chines just in time and I rush to go grabbing a sweater and a winter coat. Piper yells after me, "good luck La!"
I breathe slowly, attempting to slow my nerves. Then I open the door.