The Bookstore

Chapter Three

        "Wake up, Jane!" I heard faintly. I moaned and shifted in bed. The light overhead flicked on. "Let's go."
        "Fine I'm up," I groaned into my pillow. I flipped over and sat up, giving my mom a sleepy smile. Warm eggs sat on the table when I came down dressed in a dull blouse and boot cut jeans. I started down at the food. "Breakfast?"
        "I thought it'd be a nice change to have breakfast for once. We'll have time to talk," mom replied from across the table. I sat down and cutting the fried egg with my fork.
        "About?" I asked, lifting the food to my mouth. She sighed and leaned forward.
        "You've been spending so much time in that store," mom mumbled. I rolled my eyes.
        "I should have known where this was going," I groaned. I quickly shoveled the rest of my food into my mouth.
        "Jane please, your father and I hardly see you anymore and we want to spend more time with you," she pleaded. I took a hearty gulp of milk and stood up.
         "I've got to get going," I muttered guiltily. It wasn't my fault I didn't like spending time around other people. I just drift away. Mom frowned and stood up to hug me. I hugged back quickly, then pulled away. "I'm really sorry, Mom."
        "It's alright," she kissed the top of my head. I picked up my book bag and slung it over my shoulder. "Have a good day at school."
        See the thing about my home life is I don't come from a broken home, like you'd think. I mean quiet kids are supposed to come from broken homes, right? Anyways, that's not me.
        No divorce, no abuse. I come from a perfectly happy family. My mom was a hippy back in her teen years and into her early twenties. That might be why she's so understanding and cool about everything. My dad was a lawyer when they met. I mean, no he wasn't an official lawyer, but he was in law school. He was miserable in there, pressured into being a law student by my wealthy grandparents.
        Dad was sulking in the park when she passed. I guess a free spirited woman seems like an angel to a man bound into law school, because he was love struck. It's kind of a long story about how they finally came together and it's not really my job to explain, but you get the point. Dad and mom are still as in love as ever, so I was raised pretty well.
        I've just always been a quiet kid. Since elementary school, I've never really tried to stand out in any way. My parents don't mind though as long as I'm happy. Which I am for the most part.
       I quietly walked up the school steps and entered the third set of double doors. Other people were sprawled out on the benches outside or inside clustered in groups. As I said before, that's not really my thing. I slipped through the various crowds, trying to get to the library.
         "You looks so sexy in that shirt, Chris!" Nichole Binders chided in front of me. Out of everyone I wanted to see, Chris Hammons was among the least. I began moving quicker.
        "Thanks, I bought it last night. Just for you," Chris flirted right back. He turned in my direction and began walking with Nichole, completely unaware of my presence. Please keep walking, please keep walking, please keep walking, I silently begged.
        Chris's eyes began to wonder down the hallway, sizing up all of the students around him. His eyes stopped on me. His eyebrows furrowed a bit, then realization hit him. I groaned and ripped my eyes away, picking up my pace even more.
        The library door swung shut behind me. The last thing I needed was attention. Lily gave a small wave from the back table.
        "I brought coffee," she told me. I took the cup from her and gave a tight smile. Lily rolled her eyes. "I mean I got Greg and I coffee, yours is hot chocolate. I figured it was cold enough to get you one."
        "Thanks," I replied. My eyes found the library door again as I took a sip.
        "Did you guys see last nights episode of-"
        "Nope," Lily and I answered.
        "You guys never watch anything good!" Greg complained. We shrugged and smiled at him.
        "No offense, but if I have to sit through another 'I can't believe that happened on this tv show last night' rant I will bite your head off. I'm too tired today," Lily mumbled, letting her head rest on the table. I nodded in agreement. The bell sounded for a long minute. "Time to go?" 
        "Yeah," I sighed, standing up and pushing my hair back in. She groaned, then stood up. "Good luck."
        We split up in front of the library with tired goodbyes. No one else's eyes looked at me as I hustled along. My literature teacher sat at her desk with a bored expression on her face, not bothering with scolding the rowdy class. The second bell rang just as I settled into my seat.
        "Alright, alright settle down," Mrs. Kraig called out to the class. "Get out your books and open up to Act II Scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet. Hailey start us off."
        Everyone's voices droned on in the reading, I wouldn't know where they were because I was reading ahead. I smiled at the book, Romeo and Juliet is one of my favorites. Mrs. Kraig patiently helped the others through the act while I read by myself. She knew I'd already read the play twice, so she left me alone. Reading had it's benefits.