Endyein Dimensions

3. Finally, Home

The late morning sun was shining bright at Mia's face. The birds didn't chirp anymore. But the noises woke her up.

And in no time, the last night came into her view. She couldn't just forget about it. But it was already time to go to the uni. She felt nervous cause' down the hallway, there would be Brad standing with his fellow mates and Abigail.... she just didn't want to think about her anymore.

Walking back to the shabby apartment of hers, she decided to first, take a long shower and get dressed, and then feed her hungry self since she never had anything from last night, just the events were enough.

She stood in front of the mirror and saw a girl wearing a white oversized sweater and a blue skinny denim looking back at her. She had dark circles under her eye and her face looked deathly pale. Mia pitied her. More like herself.

University sucked! Yes, today it did. Mia couldn't help but feel embarrassed and nervous at the same time. She wanted anything but to dig a hole and jump in it. All eyes were on her. Few were even gasping and laughing at her. She felt like a laughing stock for others. But the Lord above, listened to her prayers and miraculously, she never had to face the morons from yesterday. Although Abigail was another story.
She passed continuous apologetic looks to Mia in Mr Bailey's class but got caught by Mr Bailey who misunderstood her passing flirtatious looks to Adam, the curly redhead that was sitting behind Mia. Mr Bailey never tolerated students who displayed these kinds of acts.
Nevertheless, things weren't that great nor bad for Mia. The cafeteria crowd sure passed her looks but her determined self never cared about those idiots.
    
Within the last two hours of college, she was already feeling tired and so she decided to pay a visit to Mr Hopkins. Thoughts invaded her mind and the lectures faded to nothingness.

You see; sometimes we want to do something wholeheartedly but that evil son of a bird- heart never cooperates with us.

Mia's heart and mind harked back to those events down the memory lane. She gulped hard and her hands started to sweat. 

"Ms Parker, are you having any problem there?"

"I'm sorry professor. I'm fine. Please continue".

The clock struck 12. Her mind went to Hopkins again. Hurriedly, she packed her bag and started to walk towards the university gate.  Abigail tried hard to catch up with her but guess, she just had to wait for another day.

"Bookworms" her lips read and automatically a big smile embraced her face.

Bookworms- that was her home. The place that made her cry, laugh and even helped her cope up with stress. It was a small bookshop and standing in front of the glass door, you can see the old man, Mr James Hopkins, with a spectacle hanging on the bridge of his nose, dusting the books. Yes, being the shop owner that's his only job. He never pays attention to who enters or exits but is so obsessed with books that he keeps dusting them lovingly as if they are his children. The shop remains closed most of the time. But Mia, of course, was a special case.

Knocking loudly at the door, she stood there waiting for the old chap to open it.

"Oh! Who's that? My shop is closed. Shoo! Go away. You kids are so much of a trouble. Go now".

"It's me oldie. Remember? Your best friend on the planet ? of course except; Jay Gatsby, Atticus Finch, Logan Mountstuart and blah blah blah!"

"Oh! Mamma Mia? Come here, darling. What d'ya want today?" The old chap sang sweetly but his little smile dropped when he noticed her. She looked sad, like really sad.

"Wha'cha goin' on honey? Life's not cool? Oh! Never mind, nothing is cool but at your age, things should be hot". He grinned lightly at her and continued."Well, when I was young like you, I was dating so many beauties of my time. They were happy, I was happy. Things were hot. And sure, my community college sucked. I failed a lot of times. But there was always pleasure. I just loved it. Ah! I miss those times and there was this little Miss....oh what was her name?....."

He kept on rambling and telling his story, probably to the walls. Mia couldn't help but smile at his reminiscences.

She ran her small fingers on the perfectly arranged books on the bookcases while picking up a few books that begged her "please read me. I'm good"; as she continued to walk by. 
But all of a sudden, she realised someone watching her. She looked to the left, then right. But there was nothing. She turned around and saw Mr Hopkins sleeping in an uncomfortable position on his chair.
No, nothing from there too.
She dismissed that unsettling thought and went back to flipping through pages. But just in time, her eyes flickered to the next bookcase in line and she choked on her breath. A bright, well almost bright light radiated off of a book. She looked around and slowly moved towards it. The light went off. And she couldn't figure out the book that gave her the shock. All the books looked alike.
The bookcase was arranged with the new bestseller: "Dimension"
The book that gained popularity within days as it was the last and incomplete book of the most celebrated author Mr Garrison Moore who died a week ago. She gasped in horror. Reading a dead man's incomplete book was never her in her list so she never thought of buying this muck. But today, somehow her instinct forced her to pick one up from the rack and left with no choices but curiosity, she bought the book. She wanted to know the underlying mystery in the book. A frown was still planted on her face but she held the book tightly and walked towards home.

Little did she know that with unfurling the book, she'd have to pay a big price. A price that'll have her found or lost, forever....