Beauty and the Beast

1

May 26 

Today was her 36th birthday and she did the same thing she does every day. She gets up collects her little Chinese Crested and lets her out for the day. Lily was a gift from her brother a few years back and she absolutely loves her. 

After she dresses in her typical day wear; a chiffon handkerchief skirt this one is red and patterned with many different patterns. White flowers and diamonds on it. Paired with a red tank top and a white shawl. She eats quickly after she lets Lily in. This morning her father left her donuts on the counter so she chooses the chocolate one with glaze on it that she knows is blueberry, and then she makes her way into town. Even though she lives with her father she always stops in and says good morning before making her way to the Library. She loves books and in a lot of ways it's the only thing she really has left of her mother. All of her stuff was sent to the consignment shop after she passed away except for a few pieces of jewelry. Stevie starts her day off alone, She works from 9-5. Another girl, Robin who's been her best friend since they were in diapers joins her at 11. The library is opened from 9-9 So they both get around the same hours and they're only really alone in the place for a maximum of four hours.  

The girls have a steady stream of customers all day, and even though they have people in and out they both read on the job because what else are you supposed to do surrounded by books every day. It's around one-thirty in the afternoon when Do Henley walks in. He smiles at the girls,  but Stevie rolls her eyes at Robin. He's a brute. But like a big teddy bear brute. He's soft and cuddly but he wants what he wants and if what he wants doesn't let him take it...he can get scary and persistent. He's been after Stevie for months and she's not budging and he's not having it. 

"Good Afternoon Stevie." He smiles.

"Afternoon Don, to what do I owe this nuisance?" She questions gazing up at him briefly before turning her attention back to the book she was currently reading. 

"How can you read this? It doesn't have any pictures?" He plucks the book she's reading out of her hand, this one is entitled, Annabel Lee. 

"It's called imagination." She huffs plucking the book back and returning to her spot. 

"Who needs imagination when you've got me. Come to the tavern with me for some lunch. They've got the best bison burgers around." He demands walking behind the circulation desk.

"I've already eaten a tuna fish sandwich for lunch, I'm okay." She tells him.

"Tuna Fish is disgusting and can't classify as lunch. I insist you come down for one of the best Bison burgers you'll ever eat. I can guarantee it." He pushes. 

"Oh, really Mr. Henley I'm okay, and I'm more of a hamburger and chicken finger kind of gal." She shakes her head.

"Bison Burger, hamburger the same thing." He shrugs.

"Bison is a buffalo, Hamburger is a cow. Not the same thing." She spits. 

"Come on I'll play you the new song I'm working on." He starts rubbing her back and she shivers in disgust. 

He's the town's entertainment. He puts performances on with a group of people at the Tavern every weekend. That's how she met him. They are a good group but all of them are slightly conceited and think they're entitled to anything their little hearts desire. However, they're the only form of entertainment besides horseshoes and the occasional beach trip if it's nice so people learn to deal with them. 

"Sorry to inconvenience you, but I really must stay here." She crosses her arms. 

"Why no one cares about the stupid books anyway and Robin's here." He scoffs.

"Don, No." She states firmly.

"Fine but you're missing out. I'll see ya later babe." He kisses her cheek and she flinches before wiping off where he kissed. 

***

She's stacking up the shelves around five in the evening when her brother and sister-in-law Lori walk into the Library.

"So why do we think dad's going up to the castle tomorrow?" Chris asks grabbing a book of the stack and thumbing through it.

"Why's he going to the castle no one has been up there for years. I was under the impression that it was illegal." Stevie looks towards the two of them.

"I don't know, but I heard him in the shop today telling a customer that he was venturing up there. And he told me that he wouldn't be at work tomorrow so I have to fill in. Which is fine, I enjoy working WITH him at the bakery but I don't know if I want to go to work by myself." Chris explains putting the book back.

"Well, I'm sure we'll find out why at dinner. ROBIN I'M LEAVING!" Stevie waves to the woman on the opposite side of the small library. 

"Have a good evening." Robin waves as the three Nicks' leave the old book-filled building. 

***
Stevie and Lori work diligently on dinner and slicing up the leftover bread that Jess brought home and once they're all seated before breaking into their spaghetti Jess clears his throat.

"Tomorrow at daybreak I'm leaving for the King's mountain." 

"Why? Isn't that like dangerous or illegal or something?" Stevie takes a bite of the freshly made bread.

"Well, yes but no. He doesn't want visitors but tomorrow marks the 22nd anniversary of his parent's death from that freak pandemic. I'm not going to request to see him but I'm going to bring him some teacakes and write a note saying that we all still think of him down here." Jess explains.

"Why, no one likes him. As far as I'm concerned he's a beast. Worse than Don Henley as a matter of fact. He's rude, conniving, and egotistical. And rumor has it that he has a really bad temper." Lori explains.

"But that doesn't mean we still can't be nice people. The poor kid's been through a lot.

"Well, i'll see you off in the morning." Stevie sighs.

"Alright, now with that settled. We have a 36th birthday to celebrate.