Book Worm (on Hold)

Book Worm

     To start things off I have never been one that goes around and makes friends easily. It was always hard for me to do that. I would have rather absorbed myself in books and stories than try to actually make friends. It had be an area that I had been shut down in before. SO I was scared of the disappointment. After middle school I really shut myself down. Maybe that was way my parents were so adamant about me getting a job.

SO that was why I was in town center. See all the job opportunities where there. If I had any hope of finding a job it would have been there. At least that was what I thought. “Thank you Miss Cross but we have already found our new assistant.” That ass of a business owner was of course talking about the tall, blonde, skinny thing that all the customers was already drooling over. “Try next door.” He said and stood up from the nice leather chair he had been sitting in.

I found myself standing as well and putting on the fakest smile I could manage. I walked out of the literally fiver minute interview and walked out of the store. Well that could have gone worse. I walked down the steps and then heard the thunder coming from the storm. And then like any good Hollywood moment…rain. Pouring rain. Oh great. Life just had to prove me wrong. I looked up and glared at the sky. “It’s not funny.” I said softly and then walked down the sidewalk.

See this had been my life. For the last four years, ever since my mom and brother died in a car accident, my life had gone downhill. My dad had remarried and surprisingly it wasn’t the step mother I had a problem with. No it was my step sister. Perfect little thing that was the same age as me. Perfect hair, skin (I have never seen her once with a pimple) and of course her all around happy outlook on life. No one could be that happy all the time.

Well maybe they could when said person was captain of the cheerleading team and had the quarterback as her boyfriend. Oh did I mention she was extremely popular. Though that probably could have gone unsaid and you could have figured that out.

As I walked down the street I cursed lightly in my head. My hair was going to fizz. Great. And my makeup was probably running as well. Though I didn’t wear much I wore enough that could be noticed if my face got wet. The rain was getting worse. I ran into the nearest store and found that it was the bookshop. It was new and had just opened. I looked around to see if anyone was there.

“Hello?” Might as well announce that there was someone in the shop. I walked in more and then looked around a little bit more. It was nice. It had a very old school bookshop vibe and a small café bar in the far corner. Reminded me of what Borders© used to look like. No use in just standing there. And the door did say open. I walked further into the store and looked around.

The store had most of the genres you would think should be in a book store. Mystery, romance, horror and fantasy. Even had a few good comic books. I pulled out an old leather bound copy of a Jane Austin novel. I had never seen a leather bound book this old before. I opened up the front and saw that the date was 1960. It was old alright. I put it back on the shelf and continued to look around. Now this was my sort of place. There were nice chairs and small tables laid out around the place in order for one to sit around and read. The whole place had a very polished look and most of the books were leather bound. I was shocked. Looking around more I saw a book all by itself on a pedestal. It was beautiful. Wrapped in a light brown leather and gold lettering. It was closed though. I titled my head.

There was only a name on the book. No title. No anything really. Just….Jesse. I went to open it before I heard a loud bang. I turned around and saw a women, around 40, trying to balance a very huge pile of books in her arms. “Oh. I am sorry. I didn’t hear the door.” She said and was wobbling to keep the books in the stack.

I went over quickly and took a few out of her hands and began my own stack. “Thank you hun.” She said and put the rest down on a chair that was near her. “It’s hard to keep a store going all on your own.” She said and then looked at me. I must have looked pathetic. Wet sopping hair, running make up, ripped jeans and a black long sleeve that was now soaked.

“Oh my. You must have gotten stuck in that storm outside.” She said and took the books from me and placed them on the empty chair next to the now full one. She grabbed my hand and led me to the café bar. “You will catch a cold with those things on.” She said and then took out a shirt that had the name of the book store on it and a towel. “In the back there is a bathroom. Why don’t you go change and I will get you a cup of hot coco.”

I didn’t argue but went. The bathroom was nice. Had a very classical vibe to it like the rest of the store. I took off my shirt and then looked at my body in the mirror. Somewhat flat stomach and pale white skin. Nothing impressive. Then there was that scar. I quickly put on the new shirt and started to towel dry my dark hair which was already frizzing on me. It was soon put up into a ponytail and I walked back outside.

“Oh good. The hot coco is done.” The women said from the bar. I walked over there slowly. She was pretty. Light brown hair that was also curly like mine. And her eyes. They were a clover green. Something I envied immediately. Mine always held a dark green color.

“Here you go.” She said as I sat on a stool. I handed her the towel and smiled.

“Thank you.” I said and she smiled back at me with an impish grin.

I raised an eyebrow. “Ah so the mystery girl can speak.” She teased and then I rolled my eyes. “Hey didn’t your mother teach you that it is rue to roll your eyes at people.” She said and smacked me on the head lightly with a rolled up newspaper. I rubbed my head and didn’t tell her that my mom was dead.

She poured herself some tea and then looked back at me. “So what where you doing outside in the rain?” She asked. Well she wasn’t one to sit in silence was she?

“I was looking for a job.” I responded before talking a sip of my drink. She stopped and her face lit up with a kind of errie glow to it.

“I believe that fate is working here for the both of us.” She said and smiled. The women went to the window and took down a sign I had not seen. When she turned around I saw the words “HELP WANTED” written in a flourish of black ink. “I need someone to help me with this place and I believe the fates have sent you here.” She said and then I really rose my eyebrow.

Fates? The women but the sign behind the checkout counter and walked over to me. “I am Haley Brooke.” She said and held out her hand. I looked at it and then up at her. “It is costume that you shake it.”

Ok at that I cracked a smile. I shook her hand and my smile widened. “Melody Cross.” I said and she smiled.

“Would you like to work for me Miss Cross? Judging by how fascinated you were with the store you must be a fan of books. And that is just who I am looking for in a worker bee.” She said and I raised an eyebrow. This women had just met me and I didn’t even look nice. I looked like hell. This was too good to be true. “Well?”

I blinked and then smiled even wider. “Yes. Yes I would very much like too.” I said and didn’t realize that this was the beginning of a grand adventure.