3 Chapter 2

There were books of all kinds. Ghost stories, fairy tales, gardening tips, world war one stories and everything you're looking for. I swiped my finger over the spines of the books, wiping dust as I go. One book caught my attention. It was a thick swamp green leather book with no title. Taking it out, I saw that the cover also didn't have a title. I opened the book to see what's inside. Flipping the pages there were typed words. It seemed like a normal book except for not having a title inside or outside.

"What the heck?" I said out loud, turning the book over once again.

"Found something you like?" a rusty voice behind me spoke.

Turning the color of a tomato I swung around to see who's standing behind me. A tall blond boy leaned against a bookshelf. He stared at me smirking.

"Uhh, yeah I'm just looking," I answered placing the book back.

The boy looked at me with his pale blue eyes. He looked around him and stepped closer to me.

"You know I give discounts for cute girls like you," He smiled.

I instantly felt irritated.

"No thanks, I'm not playing this game. You sound like a- never mind. Uhm you know what, I'm going to leave now," I snapped at him and consciously tugged my skirt lower while walking away.

"Hey It was a joke! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. It usually works on other customers," The boy yelled after me. I ignored him and searched the packed area for Aurora. She stood behind a box full of ornaments looking frightened.

"Thanks for searching for my cat, but now that I think about it, he might be at home," she said, giving me a smile that was clearly forced. Aurora scanned the street outside with her eyes and walked out of the door.

The blond boy came around one of the corners again.

"Look, I'm sorry okay. Let's start fresh. My name is David and this is my dad's shop. Welcome," He said holding out his hand for me to shake. I only gave him a sour milk type of smile and walked out.

This type of flirting might've flaunted other girls, but not me. I vanished through the door and stood outside. Derora was still in sight and I realized she was running back the way we came. Curiously I squinted to look at her. Derora constantly looked behind her. I wondered if it had been something I had done to scare her. Honestly I didn't even think she had a cat, otherwise we would've found him already. Tired from all the walking I stumbled home. The sun was already saying her goodbyes, leaving only an orange glow behind. Before reaching the house I patted my pockets just to make sure I didn't leave my inhaler somewhere again. The feel of the hard plastic made me sigh in relief. I wouldn't have to leave the house again and meet weird people like I did that day. The thought of David made me think about the swamp green book again. I felt... almost guilty for not buying it. Derora's frightened face flashed in my mind too. I tried to shake it off, because the sooner I forgot about these weird people, the better. As I stepped inside of the house I instantly felt safer. My stomach churned, but I tried to reassure myself that it was only because I was hungry. I hadn't eaten anything after breakfast. My dad stood behind me, almost like he could hear every breath. I jumped at his hands on my shoulders.

"Hey Leo, where were you? I was so worried that I almost called the police!" he exclaimed, then embraced me in a big bear hug.

I stepped away towards the fridge. Sometimes I swear I love the fridge more than my family. I mean who else would store your food for you instead of eating it.

"Town. And it's Leona not Leo, I told you I don't play the nicknames game," I said while stuffing my mouth with leftover lasagna. My dad smiled holding out his hand for a fist bump. I almost walked away but felt bad, so I returned it.

I went straight into the shower after that. I shivered no matter how warm I turned the water. I didn't even know why I was shivering. Goosebumps spread over my arms and legs like a rash. It was that damn book! I knew from the beginning that I shouldn't have helped Derora search for her cat, that is if she even had a lost cat. That way I would not have entered the antique shop. But there was something in me that really wanted to read the book. I never read anything, why did I all of the sudden want to start? A sick feeling of desire crept unto me. After getting in bed, All I could think about was seeing what was inside the mysterious book. It was a restless night with all the thoughts sponging my ability to sleep. That night it was decided, I was buying the book.

***

The next morning I woke up feeling groggy, my hair standing up in strands. My stomach dropped to my feet when I realized I were to buy the book. Lack of sleep made me feel dizzy, and I wore my eye bags like an accessory. With my credit card pinched underneath my arm, and a breakfast croissant in my mouth I waltzed to the antique shop. My dad was going to worry himself sick again, and it made me sound like a bad person for saying I didn't even care. I itched to get the book in my hands. Outside the wind was blowing tiny drops of rain into my face. Shivering I pulled my sweater tighter around my middle. The weather was strange. The day before it was sunny and hot like summer is supposed to be. I ignored it and felt only relief as I finally entered the shop.

David was standing behind the counter flipping a gold coin over and over. He looked up only when the coin landed on the backside, and registered I was standing in front of him.

"Look who's back," he said lifting his brows. If I wasn't imagining things I could have sworn he still looked offended.

"I'm here for the book. The green leather one I looked at yesterday."

"No shit, I thought you were here to come take a last look at me," David said, his voice thick with sarcasm.

"I'm sorry for taking your joke so seriously yesterday. Happy now?" I returned the sarcasm.

David smiled and gestured for me to follow behind him in the dusty shop. He took the book I've been craving for from the shelf. My fingers itched to touch it again. Eagerly I looked at it in his hands. Back at the counter I took out my card to pay. We stood in awkward silence as we waited for the transaction to be done. David put the book in a brown paper bag and handed it to me. I took the bag, then held out my hand.

"My name is Leona."

David shook my hand and his kind eyes lit up slightly. Just as I was ready to leave rain started pouring crazy outside. It sounded like million tiny pebbles being thrown onto a corrugated iron sheet. I glanced back at the boy with the messy hair behind the counter, freckles strewn over his cheeks.

"Mind if I stay for a while?" I asked and looked through the window at the rain pouring and flooding the streets.

If you liked this chapter please vote and comment :)