Words are Words (Dan Smith - Bastille Fanfiction)

Chapter 28

***

The next day I made my usual route to work, and was the first one in the bookstore so opened the doors with my set of keys and started setting it up. Not many people were in today apart from Nina, Steve and I. Well, Steve was here all the time really. I had been here for a couple of hours before Nina came rushing in with a balloon in her hand attached to a small pink gift bag.

"Happy Birthday!" She called as she ran over to me, interrupting a customer asking me a question as I turned around and caused them to walk out of the shop.

"Nina..you j-"

"Shhh open your present!" She interrupted, as I attempted to let her know that my birthday was infact yesterday.

I placed the handful of books I was holding down on the nearest counter and took the gift from her hand as I looked up at the floating balloon which was printed with the age 20. I laughed a little as I began to open the bag, constantly feeling her eyes on me as she smiled in excitement. I seriously don't understand her, one day she is annoyed as hell at me and the next, she is giving me gifts wrapped in pink paper decorated with kittens.

I opened the bag to reveal a small black box and the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic*. I thanked her before smiling and lifting the lid of the box up, and seeing a silver coloured charm bracelet.

"Thankyou. It's lovely." I muttered, looking at the selection of charms. I shoved the balloon under the desk so it wouldn't float upwards and draw attention to myself.

"Nina, can you help me in the back?" The familiar voice of Steve called from the other room as Nina smiled at me before leaving and rushing into the other room.

***

I only had a good half hour left at work. It was a short day today, thank goodness...right now, all I wanted to do, was leave here and be in the comfort of my own home.

I leaned over to stack one of the books on to a nearby shelf causing my hair to fall over my face, no longer covering my neck.

"Violet? Are you okay!?" Nina called, dashing over to me in a fluster, her features defined.

"What?" I asked, biting my lower lip as I looked down at the books in my hand to draw the attention away from myself.

"Your neck..it's-"

"Oh, yeah.." I muttered under my breath, stopping speaking when I no longer knew how to finish my sentence.

"Violet.." Nina complained as she walked closer to me, her eyes squinting, staying fixtated on my neck making me look away in embarrasment.

"Are those lovebites?!" She exclaimed almost sounding angry.

"No..I jus-"

"Violet!" She whispered coming closer to me and lifting her hand up to my face. I stopped her and wafted it away as I turned my body around.

"Nina, stop." I murmered, walking to the other side of the shop; hearing her footsteps close on my trail. I knew she wasn't going to listen.

"Who gave you those?!"

"Ja-" I began to stay but stopped mid sentence. It wasn't Jake, it was Dan. I didn't want to let her know but I couldn't lie, it just made me feel even more guilty.

"It doesn't matter." I mumbled, quickly realising how much of a stupid response it was.

"As if.." She smiled using her hand to curiously move my hair away from my neck, making me flinch away.

"Get off me!" I exclaimed, pushing her away from me, harder than I had expected leaving her stood speechless.

I hurridley walked past her, letting out an irritated sigh.