RAVI (formerly Indie-America)

23

(((Edited•)))

    Rachel and I sit silently across each other, sipping slowly from our glass of milkshake as we turn the pages of our copies of Children of Blood And Bones. I was afraid Rachel wouldn't be able to keep up with my reading speed but clearly, she's an OG herself.

She pauses and looks up, clearing her throat as a warning that she's about to break the silence.

  "This book is like the Nigerian version of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson."

I nod emphatically, "have you read it before? You obviously must-have if you know they're similar." I slap myself on the forehead and Rachel chuckles, her hair is raised in a messy bun and she's wearing thick black-rimmed reading glasses. She doesn't look like someone who wears glasses.

  "If you're trying to ask me whether I like it then the answer is yes. It's my absolute favorite book."

"I can't answer if I'm asked my favorite book," I admit and her grin grows wider.

"I couldn't too until I read it. The greatest joy was finding out it was a series. I'm so in ship with Percabeth I wouldn't even date Percy if I had the chance." Her eyes go starry and I can't help but laugh.

"Me too. Funny, Rachel Dare didn't think that."

Rachel rolls her eyes. "Uncle Rick could have easily named her Danielle or Elizabeth–oh her name is Elizabeth.. either way, a name that fits the character of a rich girl who flies her daddy's airplane."

"Oh come on, Rachel wasn't that bad. And it's not like you can blame her, Percy is arguably a very handsome young man. Plus she steered clear for them too. And Rachel does sound like a rich girl name."

  She wants to argue but of course, she can't since she's also rich to put in nicely.

"But they're also simple people and are usually nice and caring," I add and this earns me a grin from her.

"Do you do this often?" She asks me, looking around the cafe we branched into just after buying our copies of 20 books each. Most people experience impulse buying in jewelry shops or boutiques. I–we experience ours in bookshops.

"No, not really," I admit. "As much as I love books, I don't really have a reading partner. My older sister Amba and I would read just like this but she's in college now so I'm pretty much alone." Plus, as much as I love Teddy and Ronnie, they're anything but book readers. Teddy loves games, movies, TV shows, sports but not books. Ronnie would rather wear a brown top on bright green shorts than read a book.

"I've got an entire group of friends just for reading," she grins at me, "I'll add you to our group. I even volunteer to teach young kids the art of reading."

"Really? That sounds cool." My book is now closed.

"It is. Here's the card, you can sign up to volunteer anytime. It'll also help with your college application."

"Yeah. That makes so much sense," I take the card she's handing out to me. Readers of Tomorrow, it says boldly and I smile.

"Speaking of colleges which one do you attend?" I ask her while neatly placing the card in my purse.

"Princeton. I'll be heading back in two weeks. I stay in the hostel." She pauses and looks at me, "where do you wanna go?"

I shrug, I haven't really thought about that.

"You should decide now so you tailor your choices according to it," she advises and I nod but add,

"Yeah but I've still got a long way to go before I start talking about college." She wants to say something but chooses not to and we go back to our books.