For What Its Worth...Lust

Rocky

We waited in the car outside the store for about an hour before the lights were turned off. Then we waited another 20 to make sure no one came in or out before we made our move.

"Alright it's now or never boss man" "Ok let's go" we get out scanning the surrounding streets making sure no ones around. I go to open the door, finding it locked.

"Did you really think it would be open, they just closed?"

"I guess she actually remembered to lock it this time."

"What do you mean actually remembered?" "Just pick the lock Nick" "This is not the end of this" he says as he picks the lock. Even in the dark you can see the perfectly aligned shelves and tables. We get to work walking down each individual aisle, scanning the floors and corners. Everything's quiet till Nick bumps into a table making all the books fall onto the floor.

"What the hell are you doing?" I whisper yelled at him. "It's not my fault the table came out of nowhere" "Don't be dumb, just be more careful" "Just help me move it out of the way" I pick up the table to help move it when Nick once again bumps into a bookshelf dropping more books to the ground. "Dude, I said be careful" "I'm trying just help me pick them up" we shuffle around trying not to step on any books, when out of nowhere there's a broom smacking my head "What the fuck!!" "Ow" I guess Nick got smacked too. The lights turned on and we came face to face with Persephone and some tiny girl. Who immediately starts yelling " DO you have any idea how long it took me to perfectly organize the books into each section, into each individualized sequence" " Wait a minute we can explain" Nick tries to explain but is quickly cut off by a broomstick in the face " oh you will explain why my perfectly organized store has been completely destroyed" "Alright Celine take a breather, this is the perfect time to prove that he's not my secret admirer"

"secret admirer?" I say angrily. "Oh he definitely is" Nick snickers to himself.

"Wait this guy is Rocky" The small one says while pointing at me. "Yea and that's flirt of the day, I knew they were in the same club or something"

" Flirt of the day, I knew that's what you were doing in here" I say angrily pointing at Nick who's arms immediately shoot up."Should we call the cops?" the little one says again. "I'm going to fucking kill you. I told you not to flirt." "Nah they're harmless plus if anything was going to happen it would've by now." Now what part of all this makes us seem harmless to her. "Enough, the first thing that's gonna happen is that all my books will be picked up and put back exactly where they were," shortstack says.

"Or what?" I say trying to hold back a laugh, what could that tiny little girl even do to us, we're both like over a foot taller than her. That's when her eyes get this really fierce look and she says "Or these brooms will end so far up your asses you'll never forget they were there." Something about the way she says it tells me she is not kidding, Nick realizes this too, and we both start picking up the books we dropped. Persephone then realizes that I have no idea where any of these books actually go and start putting them in the right place.

"I see where you get the violence from," I say

"Actually she gets it from me, so don't think for a second I would have gone any easier on you" she says matter of factly.

"I could never think that, I mean this is the third time you've assaulted me, second with a broom."

"Each was well deserved And you know it. Why are you so obsessed with this place anyway, I doubt you're trying to steal any books?"

"How do you know that? I maybe an avid reader"

"Yea right" I decide that now's the time to start today's little battle and lean down to whisper in her ear "its a secret" then I get up right away to see my handy work. She stops for a second but recovers quickly and stands up.

"Alright Mr. Rocky, Mr. Nick I don't know what possessed you to break into my beloved bookstore tonight and frankly I'm too tired to care. So, next time just come when we're open"

"Yea and actually buy something" Me and Nick look at each other semi confused at how this night has gone, but we go with it. Knowing full well they could have called the cops on us.

"Alright ladies it's been a pleasure, let's do this again sometime" Nick says enthusiastically. "Absolutely Not" shortstack responds immediately.

"Right, ok" yea his charm has just not been working today. I take a moment to look back at Persephone, she catches my gaze almost as a silent goodbye. I break eye contact and follow Nick out of the store, wondering if it had been different if I had come alone.