Book Worm (on Hold)

Chapter 2

Three months later….

“Thanks, come again.” I said as the women who just a bought a leather bound copy of Pride and Prejudice walked out the door with a wave. The store didn’t always have someone as I found out. There had been days where I could just sit and read as many books as I wanted and no one would come in. Rainy days where the best for business. That was when everyone decided to come in and buy books. I was surprised at how many people actually still read books in this town. I had even helped Haley start a book club. Though she wasn’t too happy that most of the women that showed up just wanted to talk about shoes and the latest fashion statements.

I went over to the brewer and poured myself a cup of coffee. It had taken me two months to figure out how to work everything. The coffee machine was one of the old school ones and the kettle was a copper one from the 40’s. Hayley was really into her antiques. Though have been begging her to get a new coffee machine at least. I swear that ours had a mind of its own. Sometimes it would not brew the coffee and give you only hot water. And other times the coffee was so thick it would clog up the dripping hole.

This time it seemed it wanted to actually work. I patted it gently in a sign of good faith and went to go get the cream from the fridge. Our fridge was the only thing in our café that was brand new. A nice stainless steel with double doors and an ice box that would make my mom jealous.

My parents were not too exciting when I told them what type of job I had gotten. I was already so wrapped up in books at home, they didn’t want the same thing to happen in the outside world. The whole book group thing had been to keep my step-mom happy. She was one of the socialites of the town and with my father being the best lawyer in town, she could easily live that lifestyle to the fullest.

There were always constant gatherings at our house. Fundraisers, beauty pageants, tea parties. SO why shouldn’t a book club be a part of her list. I wondered if she ever even picked up the book that her group decided to read.

Of course it was really my step-sister, in all her perfection, that encouraged my parents to let me keep the job. You would think my father would have supported me more. Of course not. He was a very heavy business man and apparently book stores did not fit in his grand plan for his daughter. It took everything I had not to shout in his face that I was at least getting out of the house and doing something. That maybe if my dad would spend more time with me, his biological daughter and less time gawking over his step-daughter, then I wouldn’t always lock myself in my room.

“Mel!” I popped my head up at the sound of my name. “Mel. There you are.” Hayley said as she came running over. I smiled and got out another mug. I poured her a cup and since she liked her coffee black there wasn’t much else to do. As she sat down at the bar she was literally bouncing up and down in her seat. “You wouldn’t believe what happened.” She said.

I walked over and set the cup in front of her. “Let me guess. That guy from the post office called you back.” I teased and she rolled her eyes at me.

Hayley and I had become very close friends. We would talk about books and movies for hours. And also the last days of my high school life. I was so close to graduating. It was only three months away and I couldn’t wait to get out of my house and move into the extra room that Hayley had next to her apartment on the top floors of the bookstore building.

“Yes. But that isn’t the best part.” She said and sipped at her coffee. “He owns the best club around her and we can get into the VIP section for free. And a bunch of authors go there to party too.” She said and I raised my eyebrow.

A club? Hayley was into clubs? “And where exactly is this wonderful club Mr. Perfect owns?” I asked and she smiled even wider. Oh boy. That could have only meant one place.

“The city.” She said with a grin so wide it could have blinded the sun. I stopped what I was doing and looked at her with wide eyes. Our town was only thirty minutes outside of the city and I had never been there once. Hayley had told me about all the amazing bookstores that where there and how much fun the night life was. And that after my graduation we would have to make a girl’s night out.

The place I really wanted to see was book shop lane on the north end. Apparently they had books so old somewhere the original versions. And the one I wanted to add so badly to my collection was a leather bound copy of Sleepy Hallow. I had been looking all over the shop for one and I could never find it.

“SO when is this?” I asked and sat down next to her.

“Tomorrow night. Which this is the part where I ask you for a major favor.” She said and I paled a little bit. “Can you lock up the store for me please?” She asked and did her best attempt at a puppy dog face. Locking up the store. I had never locked up the store on my own before.

“I don’t know…..” Hayley rolled her eyes. “Come on it’s easy. You do it with me every night already. Just count do the registrar, put the deposit in the bank bag, lock it in the safe, turn off the lights and lock the door. That’s it.” She said and placed her hands on mine. “Please Mel. It’s been so long since I have been on a proper date.” She begged and I bit my bottom lip.

Closing up a store on my own was a big responsibility. SO many things could go wrong. And what if I couldn’t contact her when something did? My eyes wondered around the store and then something caught my eye. The book on the pedestal. After that first day Hayley never really let me near it again. Not even for cleaning. What was so important about that book? If Hayley wasn’t around I could go through it. I could read it. And she wouldn’t know anything.

I looked at Hayley and smiled at her. “Of course I can close up. You are absolutely right. And if anything goes wrong I have your number.” I said and smiled a little bit wider. Hayley squealed and hugged me tightly again her body. I hugged her back and my eyes landed on the book again.

“Thank you so much. I so owe you one.” She said as she squeezed me tighter. I smiled as I kept my gaze firmly locked on the book. Oh she was going to pay me in full tomorrow and she didn’t even know it.

Hi everyone. Thank you so much reading and comments are always appreciated. This is my first story here and the fact that more than ten people have looked at it and read the first chapter already makes me so happy. So a new character will be introduced next time and I am sorry this is so short but it is really just a filler chapter. So thanks again and see you guys next time

-CLG