I leaned back in my chair making it creak, as I stared up at the ceiling. God, I was so bored. We hadn't had customers all day, and for once in my life, I prayed that my shift would end so I could go home. Okay, never mind, I wasn't that desperate yet. I prayed that the stupid bell above the stupid door would ring, so I would have something to do other than stare at these stupid self-help books. I loathe self-help books, and it just goes to show you how much the universe hates me for landing me a job in a bookstore that sold only self-help, cooking, and non-fiction books. I mean come on. Really? Only the three kinds of books I hate?
I pushed my bottom lip out and tried blowing my inky black bangs from my eyes, but ended up just blowing air in my eye. My feet pushed the chair back and forth, the creaking the only sound in the entire store. My scalp began to tingle and I had the sudden impulse to move. This happens sometimes, my ADHD kicks in. I don't mean literally but I am extremely fidgety. I let out a long breath that tapered into a gurgle and jumped up, a giggle bubbling up in my chest. I walked swiftly to the door and began hitting the bell cat style, smiling manically as the ringing filled the quiet store.
A noise, having nothing to do with my crazy bell ringing froze my hands. I whipped my head around, stopping the bell so I could listen. Thump. My heart began to pound and I scolded myself frantically. It could be anything! Most likely it was just a cat or some stupid kid hitting something. Thump. Creaaak. Thump. Yeah, that's it a cat. I thought frantically before pulling myself together. Stop being such a coward and just check it out already!
Cautiously I made my way through the rows of books to the back of the store.
Thump.
Thump.
Creaaak.
Thump.
Thump.
Creaaak.
My vision turned tunnel-like as I made my way closer to the back door, and the eerie thumping filled my ears, erasing all thoughts and instincts. All I saw was that door and all I heard was that thumping. It sounded almost eager now, which I know sounds odd. In fact, this whole situation was odd, but the closer I got to the door the more eager the thumping seemed to get. It didn't thump faster or anything I just had a feeling it was eager. Evangeline, you are officially off your rocker, I thought to myself.
I reached the back door and with a shaking hand twisted the door knob.
"Evy!" a voice shattered the spell I was under and with an angry thump, whatever had been making the noise stopped.
Abruptly I yanked my hand back and spun as if I had been doing something I wasn't supposed to. I looked at my intruder, and with a sigh of relief realized it was just Carter, my best friend.
"You scared the blood out of me!" I said angrily, thumping him on the chest. \
He raised his eyebrows, an incredulous expression on his face, "Evs, I called you like five times, but you were too busy walking toward the back door like a zombie!"
"Was not," I huffed, even though we both new it was totally true.
But Carter, being Carter, just chuckled and loped off toward the front of the store. Carter was handsome, I guess, but I didn't spend much time pondering his charms. He has deep red hair and icy blue eyes that cut through bullshit like jell-o. He's also a few inches taller than my five feet seven and has toned arms and fair skin. He looks a bit like a faerie (not in the gay since, in the really charming but really mean sense), and I know for a fact that he acts like one, but he was always nice to me.
I heaved a sigh and walked toward the front of the store kicking a book back into place on my way.
"What brings you to hell?" I asked grumpily as I plopped down in my chair.
"Aw, it can't be that bad," he said in the slightly raspy voice he had. Girls thought it was sexy, apparently.
I just shrugged and leaned back in my chair again before asking seriously, "Carter, you didn't hear a weird thumping sound when you came in did you?" I looked up at him, waiting on his answer and holding my breath anxiously.
God, please don't let me be crazy, I prayed silently just as Carter was saying, "No, I didn't hear anything when I came in."
I let out my pent up breath and closed my eyes mentally going through the psyche wards in the area because it was official, I was crazy.
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like it? hate it? should i go on? or should i bury this sorry dream in a shallow grave? input is appreciated.
