White Rose

Chapter 1: Her

"Hmmm..." I pondered aloud as I effortlessly traced my finger along the shelved books. "What book will fill my time luxuriously today."

Not even looking at the books or stopping to examine at least one. I casually strolled up to the store's mini café.

"Morning!" chimed warmly the barista. "You're a tad late today. Over slept?"

"Nah." I dryly spat without a second thought. "I took a rather necessary detour."

"Oh? Traffic accident? I hadn't heard anything of it."

"No."

"Hmm. I wonder what could ever drive you to take a detour away from here." she smiled as she finished fidgeting with a cup that clearly didn't need to be more clean than it was.

I could tell she was nervous. It's not often we  held  conversations. Despite her trying to force one today. I decided to be a bit lenient and give her a break from beating herself up trying to get to know me.

"It's nothing major, plus I'm not even that late." I smirked, shoving my hands in my pocket and gave her a half smile.

"Well you're here pretty early, so you do have a point. The town hasn't even begun stirring as yet."

I saw her blush under my stare and almost dropped the cup. From that she was much too embarrased to look up at me.

I viewed myself as no one special. It is true I stick out like a sore thumb and everyone thinks I'm some sort of ladies man, but they're far off. If it's anything, I'm deeply anti-social. I view people as bothersome and I've gotten into too much trivial squabbles when mixed in with people. So I refrain from the slightest of contact.

I don't know if she likes me in any sort of way, or she's simply a shy girl trying to  break her troublesome speech anxiety. Either way I wish she knew I'm only here for coffee and books. If she didn't work here, she wouldn't get a second glance from me, if she was lucky to get a first.

Don't get me wrong, she's a far cry from hideous. She's rather cute in my opinion.

She stands roughly about 5 ft. She often hides it, but behind her thin lips she masks her braces for fear of looking like a geek. I wonder who must've bullied her into thinking she looks-

I was dragged back into reality.

She stood before me. Her freckled cheeks flushed red. Her green eyes, boldly visible behind her glasses.

I had been gazing for what felt like minutes.

"Uh.." she dragged on in embarrassment, trying to find words.

I had put her in an awkward spot. I quickly looked up at the menu.

She managed to find herself, but was still slightly shaken from being anxious as per normal. "Kn- knowing you're , uh, late means you'll be getting something new huh?"

I gazed at the menu but lost in thought. She tucked a lose strand of her curly brown hair behind her ear, but it sprang back in place over her right eye. Her frustration with it was clear, but she didn't try to attempt it again in surrender.

"You've been here so often but have hardly tried anything new."

"I'm a simple man. I love my coffee the usual way." I smiled at her.

"Right."

She quickly began working on my usual as I turned to lean on the counter facing away. I watched the vast books, resting on the shelves as if they were in a deep slumber. Lusting to be stirred. I've read most of them, but not many are good. I read them for completion sake. I rarely leave things undone.