Fix the broken

Chapter 17.

Maria
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I decided to go to Ash's bookstore, so here I am making my way inside. I know that Lorenzo's working today because I asked him to tell me if he needed anything and he said he has work today.

Yesterday after I got back home I started texting Lorenzo to see if he was still going to go to school he said he was and that he would just make up an excuse.

So now, after school I've decided to go visit him and... make sure he's okay? I saw him at school and he seemed okay. He told Mae and James that he got in a fight with some random person and they seemed to believe it but I saw the way James looked at him, and I also saw the little nod Lorenzo gave him. Either meaning they were going to talk later or James already knew.

As I'm walking up to the door I'm contemplating going back. "Okay, just go inside. No, I can't do this." I think my thoughts out loud.

Why is it such a big deal? I'm just going to go say hi to a... friend?

Okay, I'm doing it.

I walk inside and look around for Lorenzo. I see him at the front desk.

He looks up from checking what he was doing, scanning a book. " Hello, welcome in- oh, Maria, hey." He cracks a smile.

"Hey." I smile back.

"What are you doing here?" He questions.

"Uhm, I'm here to get a book." I say, I didn't want to admit that I came here for him and I actually was in need of a new book.

I see his face falter slightly but as soon as I see it, it's gone. "Oh, okay, well you need any help?" He asks.

"Sure." I replied. He nods and we go and start walking toward the bookshelf's.

"So, what book are you looking for? Anything in particular?" He inquires.

"Uh, nope, just looking around." No way was I telling him what type of books I read.

"Okay, well, how have you been?" This conversation was getting awkward I should have just said I came to see him.

"You know, I saw you a couple hours ago." I say playfully.

"Yeah, well a lot can happen in a couple hours. You never know."

"Your right, I guess." I say picking up a random book. "I'm good, How are you? How's your." I look him up and down." bruises."

"There better, even though it happened yesterday they're healing up fast." He assured.

"That's good." I smile at him again putting the book back.

"What are you really doing here?" He eyes me.

"Uh, getting a book?" I say, but it sounds more like a question.

"Mhm, so in the seven minutes you've been here, only picking up one book and putting it down a minute after picking it up, and not even reading a page. Did you not like the book you picked up?" He teases.

"No, and it takes a long time for me to find a book." I glare.

"Mhm, okay." He thankfully drops it, though I know he knows.