"Bookstore boy? What do you mean"
Elsie giggled before pausing to speak, "I mean his name is Fionn and he works here, but he's been coming here since he was a kid."
"He seems," Adleigh pondered for a word to describe the boy propped against a wall of stories, "unique?"
Of course she didn't mean for it to come out as a question, but she brushed it off and changed the subject.
"You don't happen to have a really old copy of Fahrenheit 451 do you?"
"If we did it would be in the collectors section in the loft upstairs," Elsie pursed her lips in thought, "I would ask Fionn he's practically always up there."
Adleigh sighed an "Ok" and walked over towards where he was sitting. She stood there for a second, unsure of how to approach this situation and worried about disrupting his reading. He was completely oblivious to the girl standing before him. She extended a hand and lightly tapped him on his slouched shoulder.
"Um hi pardon me, but I was wondering if you have a copy of Fahrenheit 451?"
His head shot up from the words on his page to the unfamiliar girl. He quickly placed a sheet of paper with words scribbled on it into the book. His lips pursed in thought, "Newer edition or old?"
"The older, the better."
He began to rise from his spot against the shelf and dusted his pants off. He walked in the direction of a small, winding staircase. Adleigh stayed still unsure if she should follow. Fionn whipped his head around and waved her over.
"Are you coming or what?"
"O-oh yeah, sorry."
She hesitantly climbed up the stairs behind him. At the top, a large shelf of books stood with bean bags scattered around.
"You said you were looking for an old edition of Fahrenheit 451, right?"
Adleigh nodded running her hand against the shelf with hundreds of copies of first edition books in it. She was still in awe from the significant amount of historical books just lying around longing to be read. Fionn handed her a book with a grin on his face. Not just any book, the book.
"I'm not sure if it's first edition, but it's definitely one of the first."
She cradled the book close to her chest with a smile bursting on her face. It was the one she had treasured, but then it hit her. This book was going to cost a fortune. It was in pristine condition for a book at least sixty years old.
"How much is it?"
Fionn's smile dropped remembering the price. He had never seen someone get so happy over a copy of a book that in his opinion was terribly depressing.
"Well, miss, it costs £498."
That was the kicker. Everything seemed perfect until the price came and bit Adleigh in the butt. She couldn't even afford a new book let alone a rare one. She handed the book back to Fionn.
"Oh, never mind."
Fionn sighed, but then an idea hit him.
'Mr. Trodd said we needed more staff. Maybe she can work enough hours to be able to buy the book with employee credit!"
But he didn't even know her name. All he knew was that she wanted this book. A lot. He spoke up suddenly breaking the uncomfortable silence between the two.
"What's your name?"
She looked away from the book laying in the palm of his hand and up to his face making eye contact before speaking, "Adleigh Creed, and yours?"
She knew his name of course, but he didn't know that.
"Fionn. Fionn Whitehead."
"Nice to meet ya, Fionn, even if it's in a very tragic moment for me."
"About that," Fionn paused, "I think I have an idea that could help you get that book. It might take a while, but you wouldn't have to pay pocket money."
"I love a good ole idea that doesn't involve pocket money. Please enlighten me."
"You could work here."
"I would pay to work here. I mean not just here, any bookstore really, but that's beside the point."
"Didn't you see the hiring poster on the door? Mr. Trodd has been looking for more staff."
"But how will I get the book from this?"
Fionn titled his head, "Oh yeah that! Well, we have this policy here where if you work enough hours, you can earn credits to buy books with. If you work enough hours you'd probably earn enough credits to pay for the book. Also I get a bonus if I help hire someone."
Adleigh couldn't believe that she hadn't thought of that, or that Fionn was being so nice to her when they barely knew each other. Either way it was a good offer for both parties.
"Deal."
/\/\/\
oooo I wrote 200 more words this chapter than last chapter I am really feeling this fic. Please comment with suggestions and critiques or anything honestly I love feedback aha. I hope everyone has a nice night it's midnight here :)
Follow my ig: Fionnly
twitter: stripedtees
