The Prince and the Bookworm

Chapter 2

You know, sometimes I wonder how the heck our store stays open. I seriously feel like we have 5 customers a day.

"That'll be $10.25." I said as a middle aged man handed me a 20 dollar bill. I opened the cash register, giving him his change. "Come back soon." I said as pleasantly as I possibly could and I handed him the book he bought, a hardcover edition of Gulliver's Travels. With a sigh I set my elbows on the counter, placing my face in my palms. I didn't often run the store all on my own, and believe it or not, it's very stressful. Like come on, what if a customer just collapsed on the ground from a heart attack? Or, someone tries to steal a book? What would I do? Pretend like it wasn't happening while I stuffed cool ranch Doritos down my throat? Which by the way, I was eating that. It was quite possibly my favorite snack for the week. I was picking the one that looked the most delicious, yes, some look yummier than others. If you don't know this, you just don't understand.

Anyways, I was busy doing this when there was a knock at the door. I turned confused as to why someone would knock to go into a store that was open.I started walking towards the door. I saw that the prince was standing right outside.

"Oh dear." I didn't even stop turning, I did a complete 360 and turned back into the position I was in earlier, my back to him. I hear him scoff since the door was open a crack.

"Seriously? You treat all your customers this way?" He said, crossing his arms over his chest as he narrowed his eyes when I turned to face him again.

"Nope. Only the unwanted ones." I grabbed a chip out of the bag, plopping it in my mouth. I chew on it an extra-long time before swallowing. Dallas watched me the whole time, that look on his face you have when something is weird but it's like your mesmerized.

"Um, okay then. I'm coming in anyways." He took his hands out of his coat pocket and opened the door. It squeaked as he closed it. He turned to face me, his nose and cheeks red from the cold. He took a deep breath. "You know you could turn the heat on in here."

"There's blankets over there." I pointed towards the basket, and Dallas turned looking at them for a second before shaking his head.

"It's alright."

"Your right. They are only for wanted customers." I said, all too happy with my annoying remarks. Dallas just rolled his eyes, looking over the book shelves.

"Nice little shop you got here." He overserved, running his fingers over a couple of books.

"Is that admiration I hear? Is the almighty Dallas Johnston also a little bookwork?" I ask, feigning shock. I throw my hand over my mouth for an extra flair.

"I wouldn't go as far to use that word. But," He paused, pulling a book from a shelf and looking over it. "Books are enjoyable to me." He muttered, sounded like he totally forgot I was even there. He mouthed the words to himself as I walked over to him. He hadn't even noticed I was still there until I was right by his side, reading along with him. He looked over to me, and I immediately felt like we were too close. I took a step away. My mom would not like this. He cleared his throat, putting the book back in its place.

"I came to say I really am sorry for everything today. I wasn't trying to hurt or offend you." He said quietly, and I wouldn't have heard it if I hadn't been right beside him.

"Its- my own problems." I say, looking to the ground so he wouldn't see the read tint of embarrassment on my face. "You did nothing wrong."

"Good." Was all he said, and there were a couple moments off awkward silence. So awkward I was about to excuse myself to go pee. Suddenly the door dinged and someone walked inside. It was a girl, looking like she was in her early 20's. She smiled when she entered, but I didn't return it. Thankfully, Dallas did for me.