Candles

11 | S T A L K E R

AFTER HEARING PART OF THE conversation between Jillian and Harry, I was all over the place. I jumped about in place before deciding where I had to go. I ran to the front and made my way down one of the aisles, pretending to be interested in what was sitting on the shelves. I was able to see Harry and he was looking for Jillian's purse. My eyes narrowed as I tried to get a closer look. A part of me hoped he would take what he needed out of the purse so I could see. Unfortunately, he took the entire purse with him to the back in quite a hurry. He practically ran back there. I moved away from the aisle and frowned. I was being too curious and I hated that about me. I was trying to keep my life a secret but I was too busy trying to find out about everyone else. It was time for all of this to come to an end.

But curiosity was a bitch and it left me craving for more.

I began to make sure the labels on the bottles of herbs were facing forward and I hummed along to the elevator type music playing softly in the shop. I bobbed my head and nibbled on the inside of my cheek as I made sure everything was in order. Clare checked on me every now and then to make sure I was all right and I constantly reassured her with a bright smile. She was such a sweet woman and it was so hard to believe she raised Harry. He was the complete opposite of who she was and I would have never guessed they knew each other for so long.

I placed my hands on my hips as I looked at the bottles on the shelves. All of their labels were facing the front and I was satisfied with each and every one. I had nothing better to do so I decided to entertain myself around the shop until a) I became too dizzy from spinning in circles or b) I was called to do something else. I stared down at my shoes as I walked in circles and I continued to hum. Business was extremely slow and I had no idea how Clare and Harry survived each day. I had to keep moving and right now, I did not really have a choice but to be still.

My body stopped spinning when I suddenly felt nauseous and I placed a hand on my forehead. I wobbled around a bit before completely regaining my balance. No one seemed to notice my failing attempt of trying to have fun and I was thankful. I went back to my seat behind the desk and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

Idiot.

I mindlessly tapped my fingers against the desk and kept my eyes closed. I listened to the sound of my fingers hitting the wood and to keep myself busy, I started counting how many times I tapped the desk. I mouthed the numbers silently to myself and smiled as they grew larger and larger. It did not seem like much to keep me busy, but it sure as hell did. My lips moved faster and faster as the numbers tripled in digits and my vision became slightly blurry. I was so focused on counting that I was no longer focusing on what was front of me.

112...

113...

114...

115...

116...

"You look high."

I glanced up to see Harry looking back down at me, smirking. I stopped tapping my fingers against the desk and tilted my head to the side. I thought he was supposed to be helping Jillian with whatever was going on with her? I leaned back on the seat so I could get a better look of the man before me. I looked around just to see if Jillian was going to join us. When I was unable to spot her with my eyes, I turned my attention back to Harry.

"High, eh?"

"Were the drugs worth it?"

"Probably," I smiled.

He laughed, his dimples deepening into his cheeks. I was slightly shocked when he made himself comfortable by sitting down on the desk. I waited for Clare to yell at him but she never did. She was too busy socializing to even notice. I placed my elbows on the desk and my chin sat on the palm of my hands. My eyebrows rose as our staring contest began. Harry raised his eyebrows, too, and I wondered if he was mocking me. I relaxed and he did the same. I rose my eyebrows and he repeated me.