The Exchange

Chapter 35- Power Of the Gaze

Sasha wiped a hand over the cover of a book, squinting her eyes to read the small-type blurb. It was a sturdy hardback with blue lettering and woven detailing on the front. Flipping it over in her hands she began to leaf through the pages, reading random extracts from the chunky paragraphs.

A faint vanilla scent encased her as she turned to the next chapter and she took a deep breath in. She loved the smell of books. There was something exciting about it, the promise of a new world that could be conjured up in her imagination.

The book find had been successful. After searching and searching Sasha had come across as small part of the shop that contained a selection of with the most beautiful illustrations and bound covers. Rummaging through she'd finally decided to buy Julien a compilation of Old English Folklore Stories as these had been her favourite when she was a young child.

By sharing these with him she felt as though she was also sharing a part of herself. She liked how each story often had a moralistic message but were filled with magical and fantastical creatures as well. 

Now that Sasha had completed Julien's task she wondered aimlessly about the store waiting for him to finish and picking up non-specific books to pass the time. The undirected stroll had taken her to the self-care section and she was now immersed in a world of 'how you can turn your life around' and 'top-tips for those who want to make a change!'. Lost in her own sphere of well-being she almost didn't notice the creaking of floorboards behind her.

Suddenly she felt something brush over her arm causing a shiver to jolt down her spine and she let out a muffeled shriek. Spinning around she almost dropped the book in her haste, and with eyes bulging like balloons she examined the offender who had caused her heart to flip into her stomach. 

Julien stood behind her with a wicked grin plastered on his face so his cheekbones appeared even more pronounced. Sighing loudly Sasha wrung her hands in annoyance, flailing the book about in her grip, "Please can you stop scaring me all the time!" she cried. 

Scanning her up and down Julien shook his head as chuckles began to explode from his mouth, "But it's so funny!", he exclaimed, "I get you every single time! It's becoming a tradition. I'll always have to greet you this way". 

Jutting out her chin, Sasha flipped him the middle finger and a menacing glower that was so sour it could curdle milk. Ignoring her, Julien plucked the book that she was still clutching from her grasp and began to page through it with a quizzical brow. 

"What's this?", he questioned as he snapped it shut to look at the cover. Sasha's face immediatly flared a blood-red and her habitual dramatic blush bloomed over her cheeks, seeping up to the tips of her ears. Gasping loudly she attempted to steal the book back from Julien who was holding it above her head, just out of reach.

"Please give it back!", she squealed hopping from toe to toe.

"The Power of the Gaze, huh?", Julien remarked, flitting over the books title before focusing on Sasha's mortified form, "This isn't the book that you were going to get for me is it?"

Slumping her shoulders forward Sasha shook her head so severly it appeared almost theatrical, "No! I've already bought the book I've chosen for you, it's in my bag. I just picked this one up randomly".

"Picked it up randomly you say? Are you sure there was no other reason?"

She shrugged.

"What's it about?", he asked. 

Focusing on removing some fluff from her jumper Sasha groaned, the last thing she needed now was for Julien to start making fun of her. She was already feeling vulnerable from all the swirling new emotions that encapsulated her body and sucked her into a hole of confusion.

Having to admit to that she was doing some quick research and had been caught red-handed collecting flirting tips would crush her soul completely. It would be another huge reminder for him that she had little to no experience and had to rely on books for infortmation causing her to feel exposed. 

"Would you please just give it back?", she moaned, clenching her fists so tight that red marks appeared on her palms.

Julien glanced at her, his gaze soft , "I'm just curious. Go on, tell me", he continued to probe, "It's not like you'll be ruining the surprise if you do".

"Are you always this persistent?", Sasha snapped, folding her arms over her chest. He reminded her of Ben with his ceasless grilling and stubborn attitude and she hated that she was being driven to confess to something she didn't want to. 

Firing one of his heart-stopping smiles in her direction he nodded, "Yes".

Knowing that Julien wouldn't stop with his incessant nagging until she attempted to answer his questions, she took a deep sigh of frustration wondering how she could summarise the books premise, "Well I only read the first couple of pages and the blurb but it's about the importance of looking".

"Looking?", he asked in a confused voice.