There she goes again

Racing thru' my brain

And I just can't contain

This feeling that remains

-The LA's, There She Goes

May 23, 2016: 5:43 p.m.

"Alright, I'll see you later Rick," I managed a smile taking a sip out of my sports drink as I grabbed my board.

He waved me off already putting his headphones back on. Exiting the studio, I made my way back toward the elevators.

Looking down at my phone, I exhaled wishing the time went by faster. If I wanted to I was confident I could hang out at Donnie's for a while. There was a small tournament going on down there which would be dope to watch.

I wasn't up for it, though. I wanted to, but my body was telling me it had enough.

Explaining it was hard, even to Lexi. It was like my heart was sinking in my chest and I had no idea why. All I knew was that it made it easier to detach myself from the world again.

Stepping out of the elevator, I walked toward the exits my mind made up.

I was halfway there when I spotted a familiar face stepping out a conference room from the side and making her way toward the exit.

Realizing I hadn't had a chance to congratulate her, I jogged to catch up.

"Hey, McKenna!" I exclaimed maneuvering through the doors to stop her from flagging down a taxi.

She looked over her shoulder and put her arm down. "Reece, what's up," she smiled moving a strand of hair that was blowing across her face.

"Nothin'," I said my hand going back to the nape of my neck, "I just wanted to congratulate you. Your EP is out!"

Her hazel eyes widened as if she was surprised I remembered. "Oh yeah, thanks! It's pretty exciting," she grinned.

"I bet!" I remarked excited for her, "It's going to blow up, watch. I can feel it."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," she chuckled.

I scrunched my eyebrows, confused as to why she didn't seem to be more excited about it. She was bouncing off the wall with her first music video and this was even bigger than that! This is where it's all going to start for her.

"Is everything good?"

"Yeah," she replied a little too quickly, "Just nervous about it, is all."

I raised an eyebrow not believing her. "I've seen you nervous and this isn't it."

She sighed looking back at the street before turning her attention back to me. "I got in a fight with Noah. It's stupid, really."

My eyes widened not expecting that to be the reason.

"Huh, well that's too bad. I'm sorry," I replied trying to muster all the fake sympathy I could.

This day really couldn't go uncelebrated.

"Yeah, I bet," she replied giving me a look that screamed 'I know that's total bullshit' before checking her phone. 

Even though I was lying between my teeth, I still felt bad for her. This wasn't a day she should be sulking through.

I should go home for my welcoming date with Netflix. It wasn't the best fix, but it helped keep my mind occupied.

But I didn't like the look on her face right now. I bit my lip fighting the urge to help. It wasn't like I was being immoral. She was in a fight with her boyfriend and I was going to help as a friend.

Okay, with the hope of her dumping his sorry ass running through my mind, it was slightly wrong.

"Well," I exclaimed. Fuck morals. "This is a day to celebrate and I cannot let you ruin that for me."

"For you?"

"Yup. Can't have it."

She raised her eyebrow expectedly, "What are we even going to do?"

I shrugged not really having any ideas. What the hell was there to do?

"I'm not the partying type."

"That's great because I'm not either," I answered faking relief.

"Yeah, okay," She rolled her eyes but a smile slipped its way onto her face. "I'm not in the mood to do anything that requires energy really. I think I'm just going to go-"

"Nope," I stopped her, putting a hand up, "I got just the place."

"What is it?" she asked doubtfully.

I grinned not planning on telling her. "You've been pestering me about the things I like to do for fun. So that's what we're doing today," I told her moving to the curb to flag a cab.

"I told you I'm not partying."

I gave her a dull look as a yellow taxi screeched to halt next to me, "Are you coming or not?"

6:18 p.m.

"This is what you do for fun?"

I eyed McKenna sensing skepticism in her voice.

"Yeah," I said confidently entering the shop. The bell rang signaling the door had opened. Looking over at the worker, I nodded at her. She nodded back before turning back to her book.

"Just curious, but what is your definition of fun?"

I scoffed as I looked over the area. "Don't judge," I told her. The atmosphere was so comfy, I immediately felt warm and at home.

"I'm not judging," McKenna stretched with a smile as she walked toward a shelf. Picking up a book, she looked it over, "I'm just a little surprised, is all."

"I used to read a lot when I wasn't so preoccupied," I told her as I surveyed the books next to her, "I found this place when I first came to New York, but got too busy to come for a while. It's a quiet bookshop, really but it's cool." I trailed off as I flipped through the pages of a book, but I wasn't really paying attention to it.

It still amazed me how much I let get away from me. This used to be a sort of sanctuary. I don't know how I let myself stop coming here.

"You probably think it's stupid," I said aloud when she didn't say anything.

I don't what I was thinking bringing her here. She probably thought I was on crack.

I watched as her fingertips trailed the book spines as she went through the narrow aisle. "No, I actually like it," she commented giving me a warm smile.

"Really?" I asked, sure she was lying for my benefit.

"I'll admit I'm not much of a reader, but this place is pretty cool," she said stepping out of the aisle and looking around here, "It's quiet and messy in a 'I can spend hours here and not feel out of place' kind of way."

I nodded agreeing with the accuracy of the statement. The aisles were all narrow and filled head to toe with books. They were sectioned off by genres but you'd hardly find a portion of the shop that was ordered by author's name or book titles. Everything was all over the place.

On the opposite side of the shop there were piles of books as well that were just books to browse if you weren't really looking for anything in particular. Or that's what Judith, the worker, told me. Honestly, I think she was just to lazy to put them away.

"It could use a better name though," McKenna added.

I laughed, "The Bookshop isn't very creative is it."

McKenna shook her head as she bit her lip, smiling, "No it isn't.

"C'mon," I motioned with my head, "I'll show you where the cool kids hang out."

I made my way out of the aisle and toward the back end.

"Wow, now I'm really started to feel special," McKenna's voice rang behind me.

"Oh, you should. Not many people are allowed," I remarked. "Hey Judith," I greeted as I walked toward her.

"Wassup'," She greeted unwrapping a lollipop, "Long time no see."

"I know. Too long," I admitted.

"Make sure you and your friend buy something. I'm getting bored around here," Judith called out as I turned to the left.

I chuckled shaking my head as I approached the stairs.

"She seems nice," McKenna said sounding amused.

I jogged up the narrow steps that were walled with stacked books. It would take an eternity to read em' all.

"Yeah. She's cool. Had no idea who I was for the first few months. She freaked out when she saw a billboard with my face on it," I laughed at the memory.

She didn't really follow my type of music. She still thought it was an over hyped genre and slightly over used in a way that it was no longer what it was when it started.

I was completely offended, but I guess people were entitled to their own opinion as brutal as they might be.

"Wow, I didn't even know this many books existed," McKenna whistled as she reached the top.

The ceiling was lower up here to the point where if I stood up on my tippy toes, the top of my head would touch it. The shelves were a lot smaller and spread out. They encircled a small area that had two leather couches facing each other and a red rocking chair next to a lamp.

"They have a backroom too," I told her. I only saw it once by accident.

I smiled thinking of all the times I came up here after being stressed from a whole week of recording, interviews and photoshoots.

"The best books are over here," I pointed toward the shelf on the right as I made my way over.

"How many of these have you read?" McKenna asked studying the shelf. She was examining the books before placing them back on the shelf without opening them.

Amused at her lack of interest in the content of them, I scanned the shelf as well looking for something new.

"About a third of them. I could usually finish a book in a few days. I always brought the books back after so they're all here," I answered picking out a book.

"Ooh, this one sounds cool."

I raised an eyebrow, "You haven't even opened it."

"No, but the cover looks cool." McKenna grinned showing me the cover.

I chuckled examining the front cover. "It is," I agreed, "It's also the third book in a series." 

She scowled looking back at the book, "I could still read it."

Oh, dear God.

"Not a good idea."

"I didn't know I was with the book police."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "So you don't read at all?"

"I did," McKenna said moving to the top shelf, "When I had to. Never 'cause I wanted to."

"Wow."

"What?"

"I never understood how people like you lived."

She rolled her eyes, "Somehow, I survived."

I watched as she took another book out and turned it toward the back. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she read the summary.

"What's your story then," I asked.

She looked over at me questioningly, "What do you mean?"

I shrugged. "Before all this you know," I said referring to her growing popularity, "Who is McKenna Ellis."

McKenna eyed me for a second before turning toward the book in her hand with a smirk. "You already know that."

"That's not true. I know you like to be outdoors, you like annoying people until you get your way and you love going out of your way to make people happy," I listed, "I also know you close up anytime we talk about what you did before you got famous."

She always changed the subject so swiftly, sometimes I barely even realized it. But back at the talk show she admitted to a lot of things she never once brought up again.

She remained quiet for a moment as if she was thinking of what to say. "I was just the girl who didn't read and somehow survived," she said motioning to the book she put back on the shelf.

I let out a small laugh at her cryptic answer. "I guess that's true," I said taking her answer even though I really wanted to know more about her.

I knew there was so much she wasn't telling me and it was kind of disappointing that she was holding back.

It was her choice though, it wasn't like we were actually dating.

"You know they have some old vinyl records here too," I said knowing she had her own collection.

It was the real reason I thought she'd like this place.

Her eyes widened as she dropped the book back on the shelf. "And you're telling me this now?" She raised an eyebrow, looking over at me as if I had betrayed her.

"I must have forgotten," I shrugged holding back a smile.

"Um, jerk," she exclaimed swiveling around, "Where are they?"

A/N: So this chapter was mostly to show a different aspect of Reece. Not very eventful but still feel like it's important.

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