Jupiter

Chapter 10

Monday night after school and work, I picked Galexy up from aunt June and uncle Jeff, and we went back home to dad's home, much to dad's joy. Rain and I have been texting since Sunday night, the same day we met. I still haven't heard from Jace, but honestly, I don't expect to, either. My first day of work yesterday went well, despite the butterflies I felt in my tummy at starting something new.

"Hello, and welcome to 'Pearl's Bookstore," I greet with a smile to the two women, who have just entered from my position behind the counter where I've just finished with another customer.

The two women smile back as the blond asks; "Where are the romance novels?"

"If you'll follow me, please?" I request, walking from behind the counter to show them where that section is.

"Thanks," the red-headed woman responds, once we're at the romance section.

"You're welcome, and I'll be up front if you need me," I say with a bright smile, then walk back toward the front, since Ms. Pearl is in her upstairs apartment doing something.

As I'm straightening some misplaced books, the bell above the door rings, I call out cheerfully as I turn around; "Hello, and welcome to 'Pearl's Bookstore."

"Hi Jupiter," Jace's voice replies, stopping me in my forward steps.

"Hello, how may I help you?" I polietly ask, refussing to let him shake me.

Jace's smile drops instantly into a frown; "What's wrong, Jupiter, I thought you'd be happy to see me?"

"There's nothing wrong. Is there a particular book or section that you are looking for?" I return with my fake smile still in place.

"Um, no there isn't. I saw you throught the window as I was passing by, so I decided to stop and talk to you," he shrugs sheepshly. "Can we do our date over, just you and me on Saturday?"

Yup, there it is, he doesn't want Galexy around, so it's not happening.

"Nope," I reply, walking behind the counter to check when our next shipment will arrive, which is Friday.

"I know I screwed up, but please let me make it up to you by taking you to dinner?" he begs from the other side of the counter.

"No, I'm not interested, so if you're not here to buy a book, then please leave," I dryly reply.

"Jupiter, I really am sorry, I had a last minute study group that I couldn't miss," he insists, leaning across the counter to touch my shoulder.

"Don't touch me! I said no, now leave or buy a book!" I growl loud enough for only him to hear, as I forcefully push his hand off me.

"Young man, I expect you to leave my store now, instead of harrasseing my worker," Ms. Pearl coldly states from the entrance of the stairs; our attention snaps to her as she walks toward us, and stands beside me.

Jace steps back a few steps a few steps as Ms. Pearl continues; "Leave before I call the police on you for physiclly and verbally assulting Jupiter."

"It won't stick since my dad is a lawyer just like his," Jace arrogantly smirks.

"Yes, it will," the red-headed woman from earlier says, catching our attention, and we find her recording with her phone, her own smirk gracing her lips.

"Fuck all of you," he bitches before leaving the store.

"Thank you," I sniffle at them, while trying not to sob.

"Can you forward that to my phone, dear?" Ms. Pearl asks the woman.

"Of course," she instantly replies, walking over to Ms. Pearl.

Once the two women pay for their stuff, at a discount, Ms. Pearl turns to me saying; "Clock out, Jupiter, go pick up Galexy, and go home to talk to your dad about this. I'm going to send this video to you, so you can show it to him."

"But Ms. Pearl, it's not closing time yet, and I don't want to leave you here alone," I sniffle gain, close to my breaking point.

"Call your dad and send him the video from here then," she comprimises. "Do this upstairs in my kitchen, so you can have privacy."

Silently nodding, I head upstairs to do as she said.

"Jupiter, what's wrong?" dad asks, when he answers on the second ring.

That's when I start sobbing uncontrollably; "Jace Owen stopped at the bookstore, and he, he."

I can't finish, so dad says; "Are you still at the store?"

"Yeah," I manage to say through the sobs.

"Stay there, and I'll be there in a few minutes," he says before hanging up; I manage to stop sobbing, so I can wash my face and walk back downstairs before he arrives. I tell Ms. Pearl that dad is on his way here to talk to me since I couldn't explain what Jace had done and said.

"Now, what's going on with you and Jace?" dad asks, once he's in the store ten minutes later; Ms. Pearl explains everything to him before playing the video for him, which he has her send to him, so he could show Mr. Owen, Jace's dad.

"You are not to go anywhere alone until further notice," he sternly states.

"Do you really think that's neccessary?" I sniffle, since dad is angry and I'm not sure if he's mad at me or Jace.

"Yes, Jupiter, I do think this is neccessary," he states with Ms. Pearl nodding in agreement. "I'm going to talk with Jason, and your uncle Conrad about getting a bodyguard for you."

Uncle Conrad is mummy's younger brother, who own's a bodyguard buisness, and is a bodyguard himself. He's run this buisness for many years now.

"Okay," I whisper, biting my lip in worry. "What about Exy while I'm at school and here?"

"I'm going to enroll you online through your school, so Galexy can be with you and the bodyguard."

"When you're working, bring him with you, and I'll watch him either upstairs or down here," Ms. Pearl states, and I know not to argue with her or dad.

Slowly nodding in agreement, I say; "Thank you both. I'm sorry for causing so much trouble."

They hush me by telling me that I didn't cause this situation, and dad ends up staying at the bookstore to call Mr. Owen and uncle Conrad. He situates himself in one of the overstuffed brown chairs in the corner that customers sit to read the books they've bought.

"Alright, uncle Conrad is sending his best guard to the house in the morning. The guards name is Cole Andrews, and he's been working for Conrad for fifteen years now. Jason is going to talk to Jace tonight, and if his behavior continues, he agrees that the police will be involved, along with requesting a personal protection order for you and Galexy against Jace. Now, I'm going to pick up from your aunt and uncle, and let the know what's going on, and then I'll be back to walk you to your car once your shift ends, and follow you home," dad states, and I know not to argue with him about any of this.

"Thank you, daddy," I murmur, hugging him tightly before he leaves.