Study First

P R O L O U G E

Pearl Versache

The door swung open gently causing the bell atop to jingle.It was a loud and clear one that it almost announced that a new customer had come into the shop once again.As per usual..I entered the book shop with nothing more than a satchel,shades and an outfit that didn't look so classy,but it had to do.I concealed my pretty blue bell eyes with the shades but nothing else to hide my pretty white hair.

(yes I have albinism.. )

The book store I was currently in was the only place where I could run off to and relax without having any weight on my shoulders.I would often swing by the book shop as an excuse to skip ballet classes or maybe just a place to unwind.I knew I was extremely rebllious for this and that Father would be furious if he knew what I was doing during my free time.But it felt so suffocating being under his control and it feels as if this is the only ever place where I could breathe.

I looked around the place and clutched my satchel tightly.I know none would steal it but still.I didn't look back to see if anyone I knew followed me into this place.I was too distracted by the vintage aroma of books all over the place.I inhaled the scent of old and new books combined like it was toxic , it's not of course but you get the point . I sighed heavily feeling the weight on my shoulders finally being lifted off . Of course , I can't just stall in the store and do nothing , it has a purpose , to buy?Despite being rebellious , I don't loiter around like an idiot , I loved reading ! Thats why I had just said before that this is the place where I could just relax and unwind .

I passed by a rack of fantasy books , grazing my fingertips against their spines , reading each one of its titles carefully

" Once upon a broken heart . . . "

" Haunting Adeline . . "

Were a few titles I came by at the bottom section.I glamced at the row of books at the very top this time.

" Caraval . . "

" The ballad of never after
. "

" A brunette with glasses . . "

She repeated the last title in her head.A brunette with glasses?That was not a book title at all !

" Boo! "

I yelped so hard that my shades nearly fell off my face.My shades fell crooked and I couldn't fix them for some reason.I was fixated on the brunette that had jumoscared me playfully and I was surprised that he was also staring at me too,into my eyes too.

" I'm sorry . . Did I scare you ? "

He quickly apologized for the little prank he pulled on me.But I could forgive him so easily . I stared at him with my head titled,observing his face card and its every little detail.He looked almost nerdy,but his soft boy look made up for it . I swore I felt my mouth fall agape . That's when the boy tilted his head back at me and chuckled softly , seeming to notice that i'm staring at him which left me super embarrassed.

" You seem my age ..I can offer you some book recommendations . I have a lot I can share with you if you'd like that . "

He smiled at me again . His smile felt so warm I could almost melt like ice cream under the sun. It took a while for me to process his question seeing how I was still mezmerised by him for some reason or I just got shy.

" I—i .. "

" You ..? "

He tilted his head at me teasingly,leaning against the other side of the shelf with his grin again.I was about to respond to him when he was suddenly called by someone for some assistance.I blinked twice before coming back to the real world as if I spaced off to a different one earlier.

"Gosh that was so embarrassing!What were you thinking Pearl ..?!"

I scolded myself in my head.I touched my cheel and gentle caressed it to feel a warm sensation of the heat rising to my cheeks and I slowly felt my ears start to redden.I left that place as soon as possible.