Heart-wrenching

That was how every moment of the evening felt for Skaii, she had to force a smile, fake a smile even when it crippled her insides. It was random customers, no one from her high school or her community but it was all the same. She wanted away from them all, people were nuisances in her book, with only two exceptions.

But if smiling and laughing and pretending to be as chirpy as the cheerleader she could get her into Deane's good graces, then that's what she had to do. She was stuck between that façade and the mother-son duo. Ever since she arrived, she was kept at the cash register by the mother who showed her how to work the card machines. Chad was almost always in an aisle straightening a book display or walking around the reading area on the ground floor tending to a customer. He seemed very funny, nerdy almost and his mother was cut from the same cloth. They didn't seem all bad, but they just felt the need to start incessant conversations about Skaii's school life that she did not want to hear about. So maybe she was too quick to judge them based on their association with the Shaw family. But it was a precaution she needed to latch on to.

It was almost nine when they were ready to close up. It was very dark out, she could see the night's sky from her position at the desk. She began gathering her things from the baggage area by her feet but as soon as she stepped down from the platform, Jane appeared in front of her.

"Skaii! You're leaving already." She chirped, Skaii fought the urge to roll her eyes. She didn't peg this woman as dense, but she could be mistaken.

"That's the idea." She simply answered and began walking past her.

"Mom, I think that guy is still here." Chad's voice echoed from somewhere around the back. Jane huffed out and hung her head back in frustration.

"Skaii, could you please tell that young man it's time to go? I have tried so many times, and yet." Lilith asked, but it sounded more like a plea. If asking nicely was no longer an option, maybe a pretty face and a broken arm could do the trick.

"I-" Skaii was just about to protest.

"Second time this week." Chad pointed out as he approached them, his nametag and the grey uniform were replaced by a neat white dress shirt. The color blended into his skin perfectly. He looked like he was just about ready to explode from frustration. Judging from the persona he showed her tonight, he was easy-going, so this person must have tested his patience.

"Okay sure, where is he?" Skaii conceded. Could dealing with one person be so bad?

Chad breathe out, he looked like he was about to burst with relief as he clasped his hands to show his devotion. "Last aisle at the back, dark corner."

"Great." She muttered and dropped her bag on a nearby table and headed straight for the last aisle. The crisp air from the air conditioner licked the back of her exposed neck and she shuddered in response and wrapped her arms around her body. This place looked like it came right out of a horror scene, the only lights she could see emitted from the dull lamp turned on in the reading area, where the stranger was sitting.

As she rounded the bend, she spotted the guy Jane and Chad spoke of sitting in the corner of the room. His head was buried but the dark curly locks on his head were not hard to miss, neither was his strong jawline. He was focused on a book, it had bloody red covers and a striking line running through the center, Beloved, she read. Her eyes trailed down to his fingers as they skipped another page of the book. He looked, captivated. And he captivated her. It was the first time she had looked at him and boy was he hot. She didn't know why she stood frozen in her spot still, but she was. Was it because of that strikingly handsome face or the fact that he read books like these? And judging from Jane and Chad's reactions, he reads a lot, to the point where he never wants to leave when the bookstore closes?

"I can feel you standing there." The sound of Nicholas' voice broke her trance, he finally noticed her presence but never bother to even glance up.

She took a while to recollect her thoughts before she said, "Um-it's closing time."

He froze as she spoke, he knew her voice all too well. Her whole system rebooted when rose his eyes to meet hers.

They were alluring.

"Why do you keep showing up where you're not supposed to?"

It angered her how much his words affected her. Did he have to be so aggressive? She thought up a snide comment to lash back at him but instead, she sighed and replied softly. "As of today, I work here. So you better get used to seeing me."

"I didn't know a cheerleader would be interested in a bookstore." Oh, so he wanted to be that stereotypical boy?

Come on Nicholas, I expected better than that.

"I could say the same about you."

"Fair enough." His reply was flat as he stood and began gathering his things. Then the realization hit her, how was she going to get home? It was dark and the bus stop was not for the next quarter mile. But she could ask him to take her, couldn't she? Skaii just stood there, looking at him until he finished.

"I'm leaving, geez," he bit out, and spun around to face her. Her breath hitched in her throat She couldn't understand him, his words were fire but his eyes didn't hold the same light, they never did. "What are you still doing here?"

She could ask herself that question but she didn't have an answer. It's not like he would say yes. She watched as he walked away from her and towards the front of the bookstore. After collecting herself, Skaii did the same.

Jane was standing at the exit waiting for her with her bag, maybe could ask her for a ride. She was nice enough. "That nice young man left you a note." She told her, then handed her a small piece of paper.

Meet me in the parking lot, was written on it in perfect cursive. Even his writing was sexy.

Her eyes skimmed over the words twice before she decided to do as he requested and he was there, standing by his car, completely unaffected by the chilling draft outside. His exposed muscular arms were folded across his chest, but he allowed them to fall when he saw her. Skaii traced every inch of those perfect arms with her eyes. Damn, he was hot. She wondered idly if he wasn't cold too, but then again she didn't mind him not wearing a jacket.

"Your highness." He quipped and opened the door for her and leaned against it.

When he told her to meet her in the parking lot, she had no idea what he wanted but she did not expect this. Was she that transparent?

"I would have gotten a ride home from Jane." She tried to look and sound unimpressed.

"The same Jane that's been wanting to leave the bookstore the moment she arrived?" He tilted his chin at something behind her.

Skaii's head spun in the direction of the elderly woman who was just boarding the car that Chad had running for her. Was it that simple to abandon a young girl in the middle of the night? Some people were just plain cruel. But at the same time, Jane didn't owe her anything.

Her cheeks heat up as his offer dawned on her. She turned back to look at Nicholas. He could've just left her there, but yet he didn't. "Why are you being nice to me?"

"Is that what you want to say to me?" He opens the door for her and holds it, a smile playing around his lips. He enjoyed seeing her squirm, she stood before him, so vulnerable, this was the side of her he was willing to take.

"I just-" Skaii began.

"Get in before I change my mind." Nicholas snapped at her, it was obvious that he was getting a little impatient.

Great, now he was back to his old fun self. She got in the car, without a word and he closed the door behind her.

As soon as she sat down the iciness of the car hit her, why did it feel like it was colder in here than out there? It wasn't long before he pulled out of the parking lot of the bookstore.

Nicholas reached for something behind him, "You're freezing," he said, he was holding a thick cotton hoodie in his right hand and the steering wheel in his left. Skaii froze as she looked at the clothing in his hands, all that effort to act tough was for absolutely nothing. He saw right through her, again.

She tried to take it from his hand, but with the seatbelt trapping her in and her left hand-bound, she found it a little awkward. The car slowed a bit and he reached over to her, his face was so close to hers, she could feel his warm breath on her face as he moved. His airy mind scent overpowered her senses. For a moment she wonder what he was doing, her breath caught in her throat, but he simply unzipped his hoodie and placed it over her body. The minute it hit her body, she inhaled she welcoming the warmth and the strong tangy scent it brought.

"And here I thought chivalry was dead". She managed to tease. She was met with silence so she decided to not speak again. Instead, she turned her attention to the scenery outside.

She almost slipped into a lull when he decided to speak. "Why don't you have a car? How do you get by?"

She peered over at him with a hooded gaze. "I've been perfectly fine, thanks."

"You just can't help yourself." He shook his head slowly. "I'm just trying to understand why a girl with so much would not have a car."

"My stepfather has money, I don't. And I don't want it." She simply said. Judging by her tone she was talking, so he didn't press on.