the book shop > j.l < MID EDIT

ten

john

"can i have a light?" her slender fingers held the cigarette. every movement hypnotised him.

he pulled his cigarette out his mouth and placed the tip to her own cigarette lighting it, "this shit will kill you," he stated.

"i know," she took a drag and blew out the smoke, "but eventually everyone dies, so what's the point in trying to prevent it?" she flicked her eyes over to him.

"you're smoking too. that shit will kill you," she mocked.

he chuckled bowing his head, "living isn't any fun if you don't take risks."

she agreed, "that's a nice motto. shame i'm too much of a nervous wreck to ever follow it," she laughed taking a sip of her drink and wincing at the taste.

"so tell me penelope-anne, why'd you decide to come tonight?"

"music," she inhaled her cigarette, "and charlotte dragged me out of the house,"

"so you wouldn't of come to see us if it weren't for your friend?" john inquired, she looked at him briefly before looking down at her drink,

"not that i wouldn't of liked to, it's just i'm too absorbed in not doing this. it's just not anything i've ever found appealing but charlotte insisted saying it's early birthday celebrations. but really it's just an excuse for her to drink and get me out of my apartment," she laughed heartily.

john smiled grateful of penelope's friend for bringing her.

"when's your birthday?" he questioned wanting to find out how old she actually was.

"monday, the 13th to be exact, the big one eight," she replied sarcastically, "birthdays aren't a thing i care about, charlotte knows that so she just uses it as an excuse to come out."

"well i must buy you a drink for your birthday, what you thinking?" john wanted so badly to sit with her for a while longer and another drink ensured a bit more time spent with him.

"surprise me" she said lifting an eyebrow.

john ordered her a fruity cider, thinking maybe she'd like it if it tasted less like alcohol.

he placed the drink in front of her as she observed the concoction.

"what is it?"

"taste it," he gestured towards the drink, "it's a surprise".

she brought the drink up to her mouth and took a sip from the bottle, "it's good, i like this, doesn't taste like alcohol," she laughed, then winced at her statement, "oh my god i sound like such a loser" she hid her face in her hands regretting all her boring words.

he laughed.

he didn't think she sounded like a loser. he wanted to know everything about her. why she didn't celebrate her birthday, and why she didn't like the party scene. he thanked the lord yet again for charlotte dragging penelope out to the show.