Box Of Matches | ✓

23

The crisp autumn morning brought a refreshing chill to the air, and the leaves outside The Book Nook had started to turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Ariel sat at the counter, tapping her pen thoughtfully on her chin as she stared at the blank page in her notebook. The words that usually flowed so easily seemed to elude her today.

She sighed and glanced out the window, watching the leaves swirl in the gentle breeze. The peaceful scene outside was a stark contrast to the turmoil in her mind. Ariel's life had been a breeze these past few months, filled with moments of joy and contentment, but today, she felt an unexplainable restlessness.

A sudden, unusual text tone broke her reverie. She picked up her phone and saw the name "Sam" displayed across the screen. Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't heard from Sam since she stopped talking to Colby. Confusion washed over her, and she placed her phone back down, not ready to deal with the potential emotions that the message might stir up.

Ariel tried to focus on her writing again, but her eyes kept drifting back to her phone. Curiosity gnawed at her, and she found herself staring at the screen, wondering what Sam could possibly want. Just as she was about to pick it up to read the message, the bell above the door jingled, announcing the arrival of a customer.

"Welcome to The Book Nook," Ariel called out automatically, her eyes lingering on her phone for a moment longer before she looked up to greet the customer.

An elderly woman, bundled up in a thick coat and scarf, shuffled into the store. She moved slowly, her eyes taking in the shelves lined with books. Ariel offered her a warm smile, even as her thoughts remained distracted.

"Take your time," Ariel said, standing up and moving from behind the counter. "If you need any help finding something, just let me know."

The woman nodded and continued to browse the shelves, her pace leisurely. Ariel watched her for a moment, then glanced back at her phone, which was still sitting on the counter, the screen dark.

Minutes ticked by as the woman meandered through the store, occasionally picking up a book and examining its cover before placing it back. Ariel's impatience grew, but she forced herself to remain attentive and courteous. The last thing she wanted was to seem distracted or uninterested in a customer's experience.

Finally, the woman approached the counter with a small stack of books. "These look interesting," she said with a smile. "I could spend hours in here, just browsing."

Ariel returned the smile and began ringing up the books. "I'm glad you enjoy it. We love having customers who appreciate books as much as we do."

As she handed the woman her bag, Ariel couldn't help but glance at her phone again. The elderly woman followed her gaze and chuckled softly. "Looks like you have something on your mind, dear."

Ariel blushed and shook her head. "Just a message I wasn't expecting," she said, trying to brush it off.

The woman gave her a knowing look. "Sometimes unexpected messages can bring good things. Don't be afraid to see what it has to say."

Ariel nodded, her curiosity piqued even more. She watched as the woman left the store, her steps slow and deliberate. Once the door closed behind her, Ariel quickly reached for her phone and unlocked it.

The message from Sam was short but carried a weight that made her heart race.

"Hey Ariel, it's Sam. I know it's been a while, but I think you should know something about Colby. Can we talk?"

Ariel stared at the message, her mind racing. What could Sam possibly want to tell her about Colby? After all these months, why now?

She hesitated for a moment, then typed a quick reply. "Hi Sam. Sure, we can talk. When are you free?"

Almost immediately, her phone buzzed with a response. "Can you meet me at the café around the corner in an hour?"

Ariel agreed, and after tidying up the counter and making sure Salem was comfortably settled, she grabbed her coat and headed out of the store. The crisp autumn air greeted her as she walked to the café, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and questions.

When she arrived, Sam was already sitting at a corner table, a cup of coffee in front of him. He looked up and smiled as she approached.

"Ariel, thanks for meeting me," he said, standing up to give her a quick hug.

"Of course," Ariel replied, taking a seat across from him. "What's going on? What do I need to know about Colby?"

Sam took a deep breath, his expression serious. "I know Colby really hurt you, and I'm not here to make excuses for him. But I think there's something you need to understand. When he stopped talking to you, it wasn't because he didn't care. It was because he felt like he was protecting you."

Ariel frowned, her confusion growing. "Protecting me? From what?"

"From the fallout of his life," Sam explained. "Colby's been dealing with a lot of personal issues, things he didn't want to drag you into. He thought that by cutting you off, he was saving you from the chaos."

Ariel felt a mixture of anger and sadness. "Why didn't he just tell me? I would have understood. We could have faced it together."

Sam nodded. "I tried to tell him that, but Colby's always been stubborn. He thought he was doing the right thing. And then Charlotte came into the picture. He didn't want to hurt you more, so he stayed away."

Ariel's eyes narrowed, her voice rising in frustration. "Charlotte? You mean his girlfriend? Why did he get with her after leading me on?"

Sam sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's... complicated. The thing with Charlotte was a PR stunt arranged by her manager. It was a good opportunity for Colby to make some extra cash and boost both of their popularities. He was reluctant, but her managers wouldn't take no for an answer."

Ariel's heart sank. "So, he just went along with it? Pretended to be with her for publicity?"

"Yeah," Sam admitted. "He hated it, Ariel. He never wanted to hurt you, but he felt like he didn't have a choice."

Ariel stared at the table, the coffee in her cup growing cold. "I just wish he had told me. I felt so betrayed."

Sam reached out and touched her hand gently. "I know. And I'm sorry you went through that. But Colby still cares about you. He regrets how things ended."

Ariel looked up, meeting Sam's eyes. "What am I supposed to do with this information, Sam?"

"That's up to you," Sam said softly. "I just thought you deserved to know the truth."

Ariel sat back in her chair, processing everything. She had spent months trying to move on, to forget the hurt Colby had caused. But hearing Sam's explanation made her realize that maybe things weren't as black and white as she had thought.

"Thank you for telling me, Sam," she said finally. "I don't know what I'll do with this information, but I'm glad to know the truth."

Sam smiled. "That's all I wanted. Just think about it, okay?"

Ariel nodded, and after a few more minutes of catching up, they said their goodbyes. As she walked back to The Book Nook, her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. She had believed that Bradley was her second chance at love, but now, with this new information about Colby, she wasn't sure what to think.

Back at the store, Ariel sat down behind the counter and picked up her pen. The blank page in her notebook seemed to taunt her, but she took a deep breath and started writing. Maybe putting her thoughts on paper would help her sort through the confusion.

Hours passed, and customers came and went, but Ariel remained lost in her writing. By the time she looked up, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the store. She closed her notebook and looked around, feeling a sense of peace.

Whatever happened next, Ariel knew she had the strength to face it. She had her family, her friends, and The Book Nook to ground her. And maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to navigate the complicated feelings that Sam's revelation had stirred up.