❝Golden Hours❞

❝Bookstore Syndrome❞

Zani De Luca

(Za-knee)

Ding! The bell on the door of the surf shop I work at went off. I looked up from where I was doing lazy doodles on the book at the register and saw my best friend, Olivia Williams, standing by the counter.

"Heyyy, how are u doing?" Olivia said as she went around the register to plop down on the seat next to me.

"It's okay, I guess." I answered as she pulled out a bag of food and dropped it next to me.

"Brought lunch, wanna eat outside?" Olivia asked.

I shrugged. "Sure, I just have like, " I looked at the time on the computer. "Five more minutes before I can leave."

"KK." She shrugged, and pulled out her phone and tapped away.

I took a while to attempt to look at her phone, but her light brown hair which she normally has in a bun was now down, and it was covering the screen.
I eventually gave up and waited for my shift to end, which was like 2 more minutes unless more customers walked in. Which is what usually happens and I usually have to work longer because my co-worker, Ashley, is always late and I mean always.

The door opened again and the bells twinkled. I turned to the door and watched as a tall, gangly guy walked in and browsed the store. I looked at Olivia, who was now studying him.

"Hey," she said, turning to me. "Does that guy look bent, or is it just me?" She grinned cheekily, gesturing to the clothing rack where that guy currently was.

I raised my eyebrows at her, and then turned to check him out.

"Hmmmm...." I pretended to think about it, but in reality it was an excuse to grab the hardcover book I was reading and whack her on the head with it.

"HEY!!!" She shrieked and put her hands to her head, seeing if any was messed up. I giggled and looked at the door, which had opened, and saw Ashley.

"Oh look, miss 'the traffic held me up' is here on time." I paused. "What changed? Didn't stop at McDonalds for the first time in forever?"

I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms with a smirk.
Ashley glared at me from across the store, and stalked towards us as, what Livvy claimed was the 'bent' guy, headed towards us. Time to leave.

"Okay we can go eat now if you want." I said turning to Olivia.

"Yup, we gotta go right now," she replied, looking forward.

"Race you! Three, two- GO!" I laughed and ran off, taking the food with me.

When we were finally outside, at the park across from the surf shop, with Olivia still breathing heavily, we found a bench to sit on and eat.

"You really need to get more fit." I stated as I reached into the bag and pulled out a thing of large fries.

Olivia rolled her eyes and quickly stole a handful from me. In return, I stole her Coke and drank a big slurp from it.

She stared at me blankly before speaking. "That's kinda gay. I'm gonna tickle your toes while you're sleeping for drinking that."

I threw the straw at her and stomped on it.

"That straw will be you if you come anywhere near my dorm at night."

She fake gasped and giggled, unable to keep up the serious charade any longer. I laughed along with her. It was too funny. And the toes comment? That was gold.

✰✰✰

As I walked with Olivia back to the bookstore where she worked, because she asked me to. And because I needed another book... I caught her smiling at her phone. Naturally as the best stalker ever, I looked over her shoulder and still couldn't see who she was texting. Again. Seriously??
She looked up at me and scowled, jamming the phone back into her beige crossover bag (that I bought for her, as the bestest best friend ever).