Behind the Glasses || a.i.

Chapter 23

 I stock the bookshelves, bored with my job. The store is beginning to lose money, but I don’t have it in me to tell Ms. Farce. I don’t think she would understand me anyway. There is something odd about her behavior lately. She usually stays upstairs, leaving me to manage the shop on my own.

 The bell on the door rings, and I glance up at the customer with a forced smile. The elderly man and the two children with him look around with wide eyes. I set down the book in my hand. “Hello, welcome to Words For Nerds. Is there anything I can help you with?”

 They look over at me, and the man shakes his head. “Thank you, but we are just looking around.” I nod, heading back to stocking shelves in the same humdrum rhythm. I keep an eye over at the register, struggling to keep up with multitasking.

 Its thirty minutes until closing time when a woman approaches the counter. I weave through cases of novels, and slide behind the desk. She sets a stack of several books on the counter. “It’s nice to have the store open again,” she comments. I slide her stack toward me, scanning them one by one. “You were closed all last week, correct?”

 “Yeah, there was a lot going on,” I confess.

 “Is Ms. Farce alright?” she asks. I smile at the fact she didn’t use her first name.

 “She’s fine, just tired lately. I don’t think she will be working down here much longer.”

 “Aw, that’s a shame.”

 I nod, bagging her items. She swipes her card and signs the receipt before heading off. I watch as the old man glances over at the counter before shaking his head at the little boy he brought. They seem sad, and the girl sets down a bookmark with kittens on it. With their heads low, they exit the store empty-handed, and I am alone.

 Just as I am about to lock up ten minutes early, the bell rings, and I groan internally. However, when Sierra comes over and sit on the counter, I smile. She is a disheveled mess, for Diana is still living in her guest room. “Hey,” she exhales.

 “Hey, how’s-”

 “Don’t even,” she warns.

 “Sorry,” I laugh. “Still a pain?”

 “It’s been two weeks! She’s perfectly healthy; she just doesn’t have a place to stay. I caught her trying to sneak out to see him last night! Can you believe that?” she exclaims.

 “Let her.”

 “What?”

 “Let her sneak out, but when she comes crawling back all heartbroken, say ‘I told you so’.”

 She shakes her head in exasperation. “Whatever, I don’t even care at this point.” I walk to the back of the store to grab the keys, and she follows. “How’s Ashton?”

 I purse my lips, shrugging. “I haven’t spoken to him yet.”

 “Still? My god, it was just a kiss!”

 “Oh, shut up! Just a kiss can mean a lot, you know.” I snatch the keys from the hook.

 “Has he tried calling?”

 I shrug again. “Maybe.”

 “And you haven’t answered?” she shouts.

 I smack her arms, pointing to the ceiling. “She’s probably sleeping!” I hiss.

 “You should’ve answered. Why wouldn’t you answer?” I hold the front door open for her, and I lock it before continuing.

 “I haven’t thought everything through yet.”