THREE

Simon wasn't lying when he said he would go back to the shop to read. He came walking in with his football kit on, he must of had training after school. Simon Minter was a great football player, he was captain of the school team. Simon walked past a few people who were gathered round a table playing chess. He rolls his eyes at them, they were just nerds to him. He also passes a blonde girl who was looking at a copy of 50 Shades of Grey. He gives her a smug smile when he passes and she looks him up and down, batting her eyelashes at the boy. 

Cleo was stacking books on the shelves upstairs. The shop had a small upstairs that you could access using a iron spiral stair case- it was kind of like a balcony that over looked the downstairs and held a small reading room through opened, wooden double doors. Simon walks up to the counter, checking for Cleo. 

"Is a girl named Cleo here?" He asks the older woman behind the counter. 

"She's just upstairs stacking the shelves, but be quiet up there, the reading room is open," She says, looking over the rims of her glasses at the adolescent boy. 

"Thanks," He says and he walks to the spiral staircase and heads upstairs. 

He walks between the sets of bookshelves until he finds Cleo standing on a step ladder in order to reach the higher shelves. She had her work uniform on, which consisted of a black polo shirt with the stores logo on and her name badge, a pair of black skinny jeans and some black slip on shoes. Simon observed her for a moment, watching her fringe fall in her eyes when she would reach into the box to pull out another collection of books, and the way her fingers ran over every book spine as she placed it on the shelf in its alphabetical order. 

"Cleopatra," He says, walking into her view. 

"It's Cleo," She says, not even looking round at the person. 

"But you suit Cleopatra," He says and she looks up.

Her eyes meet his suddenly and she gulps, eyes widening as he looks at him.

"What're you doing here?" She asks him, her voice soft. 

"I told you yesterday I'd be here, don't act so surprised to see me, Cleo," He says and she sighs deeply.

"If your true intention is to read, the reading room is through there," She says while pointing towards the open double doors a few metres away. 

"I will read, but I wanted to see you first," He says and she continues her work, flicking her fringe aside every time she stands up straight. 

"Well you've seen me, so you can go ahead and read," Cleo says and Simon rolls his eyes. 

"Listen, Cleo, I want to say I'm sorry, for getting you in trouble, and for that time a few years ago, I just...I'm a very protective person, and I'll stop at nothing to make sure people know who I am, and that I'm important," He explains. 

"No, Simon, you are an aggressive bully. Everyone is scared of you, and you have made the school feel like a war zone with your conflicts, please, just stop," Cleo tells him. 

"Are you scared of me?" He asks, stepping closer to her. 

"Everyone is," She mumbles and he nods. 

"I figured...I make people fear me, that makes them know that I am in charge," Simon says and Cleo shakes her head. 

"No Simon, you're not in charge, and yes, these people might be scared of you, but we're smarter, stronger and better than someone like you will ever be," Her blood was starting to boil. 

"If thats what helps you sleep at night," Simon says and she rolls her eyes yet again. 

"Just leave me alone, I'm trying to do my job here," Cleo says and Simon nods. 

He walks away, looking for a book to read. 

Cleo finishes stacking the shelf and returns the step ladder to its place in the corner of the room. She heads downstairs, passing by Simon who was looking at some science fiction books.

"I've finished upstairs, Marie," She says when she reaches the counter.

"Alright, well Louise is coming in now, so I'll be off, she'll be about 10 minutes alright?" Asks Marie and Cleo nods. 

"Of course," Cleo smiles and Marie gathers her coat and bag and passes Cleo the keys to the building. 

Marie heads out of the store, leaving Cleo in charge. 

The group of kids playing chess all get up and thank Cleo before heading out of the store, the blonde girl who was reading 50 Shades of Grey had paid for her book and had left. Cleo watches as Simon comes down the stairs carrying a book called The Maze Runner- a book which Cleo had read.

"Would you recommend this book?" Simon asks, holding it out towards her.

"Yeah," She says and he raises an eyebrow.

"You're not really selling the book are you?" Simon teases and she bites the inside of her cheek. 

"Read it, and you'll find out if its good or not," She says, "I have to go out back for something," 

Simon just nods and watches as Cleo turns and heads into the back of the store. 

She didn't really have to go back there, she just wanted to be away from Simon Minter. 

Cleo walks into the bathroom and splashes some water on her face before going to the storage cupboard where the staff kept their belongings. 

She quickly checks her phone, typing a fast message to Sapphire. 

"What're you doing back here?" She hears and she spins round quickly, almost dropping her phone. 

"I could ask you the same, this is a staff only area," She says, looking at the taller boy. 

"I just wanted to see what you were doing," He says and Cleo frowns. 

"You're acting like a stalker, just leave me alone, or I'll tell someone you're stalking me," Cleo says and he chuckles. 

"I've been trying to make up for my mistakes, but you won't listen," Simon says and he steps into the cupboard with her. 

He reaches up his hand, tucking back a strand of her hair- just like he had yesterday- and she flinches away from him. 

"I've already told you, I'm done hurting you," He says and she looks into his eyes for a moment. 

"And I've already asked you to leave me alone," She says, grabbing his hand and pushing it away. 

"Why are you so against me?" He asks and she looks into his blue eyes. 

"Do I really have to answer that?" She asks, holding his stare. 

"Yes," He says softly and she shakes her head. 

"You beat up people for fun- just to prove you're bigger and better than them. You laugh at people for their choices, when you can't even make good ones yourself. You have ruined peoples lives, Minter, and I'm not going to let you ruin mine,"

"I'm not going to ruin it, I'm going to show you things you've never seen before...I want to make amends for my mistakes...Please, Cleo, please just give me a chance...Just give me one chance...To prove you wrong about me," He pleads and Cleo shakes her head. 

"I have to work, get out of the staff area," She says and he just sighs. 

"Okay," He whispers and he heads out of the room before walking back into the store. 

Cleo follows him, her head whirling with thoughts. 

"Are you buying the book?" Cleo asks when Simon picks up the copy of The Maze Runner of the counter. 

"Yeah," He says and she nods. 

He pays for the book and puts it into his bag. 

"See you in class," He says and she nods. 

"See you in class," She mutters. He gives her a small, genuine smile and turns on his heel before heading out of the store, looking back at her through the window. 

He was gone, and she remained, her thoughts causing her head to spin. It was chaos, he had caused her whole body to erupt like a volcano, and she couldn't deny the feeling she got when his skin touched hers, when he was so close to her in the storage closet. He was gone, and she remained, already missing his touch. 

____________________________

Ayeeeeeee

Thanks for reading! 

I hope you enjoyed. 

I know Simon seems a little creepy with the way he follows her about and such, but he's very determined to prove to Cleo that he's not all he appears to be, and he also wants to find out what makes Cleo tick. Cleo of course is appearing to be very defensive and uninterested, but you'll see how that changes over the next few chapters. 

Thanks again! 

~KatnissBajanCanadian<3