Black and White

Chapter 3

When I wake up, it's still dark outside. Hannah still sleeps beside me. I pick up my phone and flip through Facebook. It's filled with the usual happy people. I sneer and shut it off.

Hannah rolls over and sits up. "What time is it?" She asks groggily.

"It's five in the morning." I say glancing at my phone.

She nods and lays back down. I get up and tiptoe downstairs. I can't sleep, so I slip into some jeans and a loose tshirt.

I grab my bike keys and pull on my jacket.

I jump on the bike and drive down to the book store nearest my house. It's called the Book Stop and it is my favorite place in the world.

I park my bike and walk inside. It's a twenty four hour shop, which saves me many a restless night.

"Hey Lannie!" Thomas calls from behind the counter. He works the night shift and sees me a lot. He's one of the few people I've met who is still color blind like me.

I jog up to him. "Hey Thomas, what's new?" I ask, jumping up onto the counter.

He laughs. "With me? Or shipments?"

I roll my eyes. "With you, obviously."

He grins. "I met her."

I jump. "Holy crap, are you serious!?"

He nods and grins. "She's amazing. And so is color."

I laugh and slap him on the back. "That's great man! Congrats!"

He looks down at his shoes. "You're not mad?"

I snort. "No, I'm not mad. I'm overjoyed. I won the bet!" I holler.

Thom slaps the counter. "Damn! I was hoping you'd forgotten!"

I shake my head. "Hell no! I get half off of my purchase now!" I yell. Two boys poke their heads out from between the shelves and I grin. "Sorry about that!" I say to them, burning bright red.

They turn away and I jump off the counter. "I'm off to find the perfect book haul." I say in singsong, waving a hundred dollar bill under Thoms nose. He pretends to bite it and I laugh.

I walk through the shelves grabbing a book here and there. Every book I've ever looked at and wanted, I grab. Once I have five books and two box sets, I head for the counter.

Then, several things happen at once.

I pass a gap in between shelves and a boy about my height runs out, smack into me.

At the same moment, a boy whose a decent bit taller than me runs into me from behind.

And then the world explodes into color.

I don't fall down, but I stagger. I clutch the books to my chest and fall backward, leaning against a shelf. The boys have collided with one another and are laying on the floor, laughing. Then one of them opens his eyes and freezes. The other one helps him up and they both leave, the one who froze talking, wide eyed.

My head is spinning and Thomas is yelling. The walls are bright blue, the carpet is a dark green. I drop the books and this time my hands out in front of me. My nails, which Hannah had painted earlier that week, are a dark red.

Thomas runs up and grabs my arms. "Are you alright!?"

I look up. His normally grey eyes are bright green, and his curly black hair is actually brown. He wears a yellow shirt and blue jeans.

I just laugh. I laugh so hard Thomas probably thinks I'm crazy.

"Your eyes!" I say.

He knits his eyebrows. "What? What about them?"

I laugh. "They're green!" I say.

Thomas's jaw drops. "Holy crap! Yeah! They are, how did you..." Then he turns to look at the door. "No way!"

I grab his face and plant a kiss on his cheek. "Yes way!"

He smiles and picks my books up off the floor. I walk around picking things up and calling out their color.

He hands me a bag with the books in them. I hand him the hundred, but he refuses. "Congratulations, man. Enjoy."

I laugh. "Thank you so much!"

I run out of the store just as the sun begins to rise. The sky is filled with colors. Purple, blue, orange, yellow, green. I've finally met my soulmate.

But which boy was it?