PROJECT: NYNE

Chapter Ten: Sky

The store was quiet, only two people browsing the shelves. Outside, the rain was making little swimming pools for fairies. A lady carrying seven books came out of the isle and came up to the counter. "Christmas shopping already Mrs. Deedra?" I asked. She came often.

"You can never start too early." She smiled at me. "How's Jodiah?"

"Good, he's at class right now." I said as I checked her books out.

"And Celie?" she frowned with concern.

"She's doing a lot better. Blaize is watching her now."

"Good, good. See you next week?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Okay," she said, smiling again. "Have a nice day!"

I waved. "You too."

She walked out of the store with her bag in hand. I spotted a boy with long dark hair in a hooded sweatshirt, standing in the front window. He stared off into the wet street. Another boy walked up to him and broke him out of his thoughts, whatever they were. I squinted at them. They were talking to each other, but I couldn't hear them through the glass. The second boy walked through the door and took off his hood. Joey. "Hey." He said.

"Hey. Who was that outside?"

"Uh... nobody. I just came in to see my other half." he smiled at me. "Kinda hard to walk with only one leg."

"Yes, but I can just use Blaizes crutches."

"How is he anyhow?" He was avoiding my question.

"Beginning to walk again."

"How does he heal so fast?" he asked.

"He has a bone condition that makes him heal fast but not always correctly. You know that. What's wrong?"

"I just- never mind. Any new books?" I decided to leave that one alone. It could lead to more conflict ,and I didn't want to fight.

"Yeah, we just got a new shipment. Non fiction, sci-fi, and super hero crap." I knew that he loved that stuff.

He stared at me, and raised a finger to protest. "I will have you know that- wait." He dropped his hand down. "Marvel or D.C.?"

"Marvel."

"Oh, then okay, you're right. Super hero crap. Marvel sucks." He bent down and kissed me.

"Even Black Widow?" I asked.

"Nah, she's just hot."

"Oh. I see."

"Not more than you, obviously." he said. I shrugged and turned away to walk over to the table with the new comic books on it. "Oh, there's a few DCs."

"Ooh! Which ones?"

"A Batman one."

"Ahh! Gimme gimme!" I brought it to the counter and bought it with my 75 percent off employee discount. "Thank you!" he grinned and hugged me over the counter. Then, he walked over to a chair and sat down to start reading.

The notification bell rang on the door and the boy that had been standing outside came in. I couldn't see his face. Joey didn't notice. He got so into his books that he wouldn't hear a tornado come by. "How can I help you?" A habit of mine. Saying hello.

"Joey." Joey didn't look up. The boy walked over to tap his shoulder, startling him, and ducked so he didn't hit him reflexively. "What? What are you doing in here?"

"You need to come. Now." Joey stood up. "Gotta go, babe." The mysterious boy said.

I stared at him, narrowing my eyebrows.