ALICE
As I stand behind the counter, ringing up the books for an old man, a boy about my age opens the door and steps inside, shaking off the chill that the night brings. I pay him barely any notice, except for his eyes.
They shine bright, even in the dim store. Electric blue. Just like the boy I saw come in late to school today. The boy looks at me and sees that I am staring at him. Before I can look away he gives me a smug smirk that makes my insides do flips and cause me to blush.
Looking back to the old man I hand him the sack of books and he gives me a tip. Rarely do I get tips, working as a book store sales clerk but the older people are nice and sometimes they will give me extra money telling me it's "for the college fund" which doesn't exist.
The thing about laying low is I don't get to experience anything. I will probably be stuck behind this desk, selling books my whole life as the people around me grow up and raise families. That's okay too. I'm fine with being alone and normal. It doesn't bother me.
As the man exits the door the boy walks up to me, running his fingers through his slightly shaggy hair.
"Welcome to Books Galore, can I help you with anything?" I ask with a smile that he takes as flirty. I sure am off my game today.
"I am looking for a book to help with the literature topic. I think we are in the same class, so you know..." He trails off.
"Oh, I know what you are looking for." I say manuvering around the checkout desk and into the piles of books. I've had to go searching for this book quite a lot in the last few weeks so I know it's exact section. Once I have it I go back to the casheir and start ringintg it up for him.
"Sure," He pauses, his blue eyes gleaming "Can you answer a question."
"Sure," I say squinting my eyes in suspicion "In fact, I think I just did."
The boy chuckles which strikes me like a blow of a wip "I guess you did. So, my question..." He trails of fingering through a stack of tourist brochures for surrounding towns on the edge of the desk.
"Yeah?" I choke out, turning so I'm not facing him as much while I put the book in a paper bag.
"What's a pretty girl like you doing working at a book store?" He asks "Aren't books for nerds?"
Instead of accepting that he called me pretty or answering his question I evade by shooting back "Yeah, I think books are for nerds. Don't you think your possey would be upset that you are showing your true nerd colors by buying books and socializing with a socially inadequate girl like me?"
"Um, I, uh." He stutters with his jaw practically on the floor.
"See that's the thing about me. If you don't have time for me while you are around people then I don't have time for you when we are alone." I spit at him shoving the book into his chest.
"Wow, you are fiesty, beautiful, and smart. I like that in a girl." He flirts while flashing me his pearly teeth.
"Yeah, well you are arrogant, ugly, and annoying. Just the three things I hate in a guy." I mumble.
"That hurts me. That hurts right here." He says reaching for my hand.
Before I can step away he grabs my wrist and pulls it up to his chest roughly.
"Let go of me!" I cry ripping my hand away from his grasp, leaving him shocked.
"I didn't mean," He tries to apologize but I cut him off.
"Get out! Get away from me!" I yell at him, my voice shrill and annoying " Can't you tell when a girl doesn't want you? GO. AWAY!"
Looking hurt and fractured his blue eyes darken with sadness as he lumbers out of the store. As I watch him leave I notice what color his shirt is. Purple, the deep kind of purple that you can only see in a bruise. The purple of pain.
Once he is completely gone and has driven away, I slide onto the ground behind the counter and try to control my breahing. I try to keep the tears from flooding, but they do. They wash over my face and I don't stop crying until I hear my cell phone ring.
Hurrying to it I prop onto the lockers in the back where the employees - just me - are allowed to keep our things. I pick up the device and hold it to my ear.
"Hello?" I ask into the phone.
"Oh thank God!" I hear my mother's voice "Alice you need to come home! Where are you?"
"Mom, I'm sorry! I had a break down and-and I'm still at work. It's just this boy came in and he started flirting so I deflected and then he grabbed my wrist, not trying to be mean I'm sure. His shirt.. was purple. Oh momma!" I ramble not forming complete sentences.
"Do you want me to come get you?" Mother asks.
"No. I'm fine now." I say hard as stone.
"Well hurry home. I'm thinking pasta for dinner?" She says which instantly makes me feel ten times better.
"Yes, pasta sounds great." I finish the call and go to my jeep out back.
As I start on the short drive home I can't help but think about that boy and how he was so shamelessly flirting with me. Is it so second nature now, did it mean anything? I hope not. I ponder about him the rest of the night.
