9.8 Meters a Second. [Complete]

13. Book Store Blues

After his cup of coffee, Orange and I start our way to my favorite book store. The place is a dusty little hole in the wall with an atmosphere that places you kind of in a fantasy game. The place is small, like, really small. I'm not that tall and what most call skinny, and I find it difficult to sift through the shelves. It's a beautiful place, and one I'd call home if I could.
The moment I walk inside with Orange, I can't help but smile. It's nice in here. With him, it's even more nice.
"Any books you'd recommend me?" The quiet brunette asks me.
In a moment of thought, I pause. "Knowing you, I think it would do you better to talk more... Maybe you could read this?" I ask, leading him down a few rows of shelves. Eventually, we find ourselves in a shelf labeled for books on the English language. Amongst the dictionaries and other literary devices I find a copy of Jay Heinrichs' "Thank You For Arguing" and hand it to Orange.
"I see... So you just want someone to talk to?"
"Well, I wouldn't mind the occasional kiss." I say coyly, yet the blush on my cheeks is real.
Inaho laughes- well, chuckle is more like it. Very brief, almost decisive.
"I can fill that position."

I'm ushered over to the fiction section not long after, and end up buying a copy of "You" by Austin Grossman. The cover art is downright intriguing, and the blurb is fascinating enough to get me excited. Inaho doesn't seem interested, which surprisedls me. A book about computer gaming, something I'd heard he liked, didn't fit his niche... Still, the book was for me, and if he wanted, he could borrow it. After he reads "Thank You For Arguing", that is.

After waltzing up to the counter with books in hand, Inaho ended up clutching my hand this time.
"Hi, Lemrina." I speak softly.
The girl smiled, and says, "Hello Slaine. I see you found yourself some new reading material,"
"Yep. Interesting find about an industry I know nothing on, and he's got a book on the art of rhetoric."
"Interesting..." Lemrina nods to me. She stands from her chair, though she seems weak.
"Has the medicine been helping?" I ask with genuine concern in my voice.
Lemrina shrugs it off. "Sort of. I can stand for longer now, but it's still hard. It's okay, though, when I have my home among the books." She smiles again.
I smile at her, and hand her the two books. She scans them in, and I dig for my wallet. Initially, Inaho began to stop me.
"Slaine, I'll pa-"
"They're on the house, you two. Don't worry." Lemrina says, smiling at Inaho. I give her a soft grin, and whisper a thank you. We grab the books and head out the door. Lemrina stands behind the counter, watching us walk away.

"Interesting girl," Inaho comments.
"You think? She's fun to talk to. Her and I got along well."
"Hm." Inaho responds shortly.
"What, are you jealous?" I ask him with a playful tone. He doesn't seem to want to play.
"Not really. Just surprised how many connections you have."
I look at him confused, and think the rest of the walk home.