Chapter 3

Business in the bookstore continues as usual today. There are still people searching the crowded shelves in hopes of finding a perfect book. More books came on today, so I am in charge of putting them back where they go.

Lizzie is sitting in her chair again, and she is finishing up Socks. She has been telling me about how much she 'wants a little kitty kitty like him!'

Her grandma came in earlier to drop Lizzie off. She asked me to confirm that it was alright for her to read here.

I can't help but be curious of Lizzie and her grandma. Is her grandma taking care of her full time? And if so, why?

The bell jingles again. I don't even pay attention to it this time. I am actually quite bored. I left my book at home, and I don't want to start anther while in the midst of a series.

So, like any logical person, I spin in my chair again. I am whirling around, giving myself whiplash, and I don't even notice that someone has confronted me.

I stop my chair, my hands grabbing the counter for help. Then I sit up straight. I sway because the room is moving. I laugh a little.

"Sorry. Hello," I say. I still can't see straight.

"Hello... I feel like I've seen you before... Ah! You're the one who forced me into the boys bathroom to get your tutor-dude out!" The person says.

I focus my vision. Yes, sure enough, there stands that exact boy that I made go get Jack. His brown, curly hair and deep brown eyes prove that.

"Uhhm, how can I help you?" I ask.

"Oh, no 'I remember you, you were that pretty awesome and inhumanly attractive guy'?" He asks.

"Nope, I'm afraid not."

He just keeps looking at me with a wide grin on his face.

"Do you need something or not? Because I am afraid that I have other things that I could be doing," I say, breaking the silence.

"What, spin in chairs?" He asks, the grin still on his face. I have no real response to that. I feel my face getting red.

"Can you stop looking at me like that?"

"Like what?" He asks.

"Just... Never mind. Do you really need something or not?"

"Yes. Where can I find excellent books that I would like? I'll really read anything," He asks.

I notice, now, that he has a book in his hands. I reach over the counter and grab it from him. It reads 'The Fault in Our Stars.' I stare at him in disbelief. He seriously reads John Green? This kid suddenly got less irritating.

"John Green?" I ask.

"Yes. I loved this book... And, um... I... Yeah." He looks down like he's embarrassed.

"That book is depressingly amazing," I say.

"You've read it too?" He asks.

"Of course. I work in a book store, don't I?"

"Wow... Well... I suppose that somewhat makes sense. What's your name? Sorry I never asked before now," he says.

"Jordan. Jordan Green," I say. "And who might you be?"

"I'm Ray," he says. And suddenly his grin returned. Ray. Seems to fit him well.

"So how about that book?"

************************************

For dinner, I pour myself some Cheerios because I really don't want to cook anything. I take large bites until the cereal is gone, then drink away the milk. See, the thing about me is that I can't eat like a girl. Putting dainty sized bites of salad in my mouth at a time.

My phone buzzes. I pick it up and look at it. It's an unknown number.

'Hey, it's Ray.'

'Oh hey Ray- wait how on earth did you get my number?'

Seriously, I just gave him a book and he left. I surely would have known if we were handing out numbers. Unless he's a professional stalker, which can seem likely. Maybe he's in the FBI. Or he's a ninja.

'I asked Sierra.'

I suppose that works too.

Sierra, of course. Sierra is friends with everyone. Nice to know she's willing to give my number to strangers, though.

'I see...'

'Yeah, well, I had better get some homework done. Talk to you later, kay?'

'Ok.'

I sigh and head up the stairs for bed. After a hot shower and brushing the knots out of my hair, I lay down in my bed. I am just about to fall asleep when I hear a buzzing noise. My phone screen lights up. I groan and pick it up.

'Finished my homework! Exciting right?'

'Super exciting, especially at 12. Thanks for that.'

'Oh, anytime.'

'I am going to sleep now, so goodbye.'

'Bye! Don't die.'

I chuck my phone across the room and slowly but surely drift to sleep.

***********************************

"Hey, lets get this over with. Come here. Get your homework out," I tell Jack as he walks in.

He freezes.

"Please tell me you didn't eat it again."

"No. Sorry. Okay," he says. Then he walks over and sits down. "I hate math."

Jack is actually getting the hang of things fairly quickly. Each day, he understands more and more. He even puts some effort into it. And this tutoring thing isn't as miserable as it used to be.

After completing all of his work, it's time to leave. I get my stuff and head out the door.

The walk to the bookstore is cold, as usual. I avoid getting hit. Avoid getting yelled at by oncoming traffic when I cross. Try not to die. Always a good thing.

When I arrive, Sheryl hands me a new stack of books. I walk to the shelves and arrange them in their categories.

Lizzie arrives at her usual time. She comes daily now. At one point one day, she told me about why her grandma takes care of her.

"My mommy and daddy were not being good drivers and they went to Heaven," she told me. "Now I live with Gramma."

I can't imagine living without my parents. I mean, I love my grandma and all, but I wouldn't exactly want to be raised by one. It's really sad, actually.

I walk over to Lizzie, who is currently reading 'Little Women,' and plop down into the seat next to her.

"Hey, Liz. How's the book?" I ask.

She looks up at me, noticing my presence. "Oh, it's great."

"Sure is, isn't it? Can't go wrong with the classics."

"Grandma told me she has read this one too. So I wanted to read it just like she did."

"Yes, your grandma is very good to you isn't she?" I say with a sigh. "How is school going? Second grade going well for you?"

"Very much. Mrs. Dallas told us that we don't have to do any more homework for the rest of the entire year!" Lizzie says, setting down her book on the small table next to her.

"That's great!" I say.

"And it also means that I get to come here earlier. Gramma says that I can start walking here on my own, if I want."

"Oh, that's good, make sure to stay safe."

She simply nods in reply before sticking her nose back in her book. I smile and shake my head.

I walk back over to the stack of books I am supposed to be putting away and continue placing them in where they are supposed to be. But then I get that strange sense that someone is staring at me.

I turn, and sure enough, there is someone standing there staring at me. It's Ray. He really could be a stalker, if he tried.

"Hey," he says casually, as if he hasn't just been staring at me.

"Hi there," I say slowly.

"What?" He asks, innocently.

"You're a creep, you know," I return to putting the books away and walk to a different section. But I hear footsteps following me.

"I just thought I'd come over and say hi. I mean, I have nothing better to do," Ray says.

I turn around and give him a look. "Nothing, huh? No homework? No room to be cleaned? No homeless person to be fed? No dying child waiting to be rescued?"

"Not anything desirable."

"Oh, is that so?" I ask, quirking my eyebrow.

"'Tis."

"Right, then. Carry on," I say, moving to the next section with my stack of books.

"I'm here to talk to you," he says, still following me.

"I thought you were here to say hi."

"I was, but now I am here to talk to you."

"And I am here to work," I say.

"You can double task," he says, not giving up.

"And how do you know that, you psychic?"

"You're talking and working right now, see?" He says, with his usual grin on.

I sigh with defeat.

"Alright, whatever. What is it that you want to talk about that it is so important as to break into my evening work schedule?" I ask, putting a hand on my hip and looking at him.

"Ah, how's life?" He asks.

"Really? That's all you've got? It's fantastic, thanks for asking."

"What about school? You still tutoring that one guy?" He asks, leaning against the wall.

"Yeah. He's getting better. Doesn't hide anymore. Does mostly what I tell him to."

"Well that's good," he says.

"Yes, yes it is."

"Can I ask you something very important?" He asks.

"Depends."

"It's, like, super important. I'm telling you. Mind blowing important. Top secret," he says.

"Alright, lets hear it."

"Why is everything colorful instead of black and white? Who decided this?"