=Chapter eight=
•*•
An embarrassing encounter?
=

Tuesday, 6th of August

The next afternoon I was out in the shop putting some new books onto a shelf.
May peeked around the shelf holding her bag.

"Hey, May. Going somehere?" I asked curiously, noticing her going out outfit.

"Yes, Percy I'm going out to dinner with my daughter. You remember I told you about Jessica? She moved to Tennessee? Anyways.. she's here for a few days so I'll be getting dinner with her." May explained with a smile.
I could tell she was really excited to see her daughter again.

From what she's told me, Mays husband passed away from cancer five years ago, and her daughter moved to Tennessee with her husband and they don't talk much, for whatever reasons, however May still lights up when she talks of Jessica, so I know it couldn't be estrangement or anything.

"That's great, May. I'm really happy you get to spend time with her. Go have a good lunch." I said with a smile, waving her away.

May nodded, and added: "oh, new glasses hm? They look very cute, dear. Alright, alright, im going. Hold down the fort for me while I'm gone."
She stepped away, but then poked her head back in sight as if in an after thought.

"And don't forget to eat. I know you will." She said pointedly.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't forget every time.."

"Mhm." May hummed questioningly,
"Eat lunch." She ordered, turning and walking to the door. "I'll be back soon!"

"Bye." I called after her and turned back to the shelf, humming a random tune that I wasn't sure where I had heard it.

Speaking of family, I really miss my mom. For the longest time she was the only one I could trust, the one person I really truly loved with all my heart, and it's been a struggle to live so far from her now, and hardly talk.
I missed the days we'd go snuggle up with a book in my room while Gabe played poker with his buddy's.

Not that I missed him, hades no.
just the quality time I got to share with my mom before everything changed.

I smiled to myself as I finished putting the last book on the shelf.
I'd like to go visit mom and Paul sometime. I need some quality baby time too.

The door opened making the bell jingle.

I looked up and greeted the customers. "Hello welcome in."

The girl smiled in appreciation, and I noticed it was someone quite regular, if someone who came at least once a month can be called that.

She had a friend with her, a kid who had black hair, a grumpy face and reminded me a whole lot of Nico.

The blonde super talkative girl was telling the much shorter boy all about the cookies that I baked.
"You have to try them. You've had a bad mood all day and these will cheer you up, I'm very confident."

"Shut up Brown. I'm not eating stupid blue cookies. Gross." The kid responded with a tch.

I raised my eyebrows in amusement while listening in to their conversation. I walked over to the counter and smiled politely.

"Hi there. Can I get you guys something?" I asked knowingly.

The girl smiled back with a grin.
"Two blue cookies please."

I nodded, ringing her up for the cookies. "The total is 2.12, cash or card?"

She gives me a five and I put it in the drawer.

"Alright and your change is two dollars and eighty-eight cents.." I gave her the change and receipt, and bagged two cookies.

"And here's your cookies, enjoy." I said passing them over.

"Thank you. These are the best." The girl smiled, and the kid rolled his eyes dignified way.

I nodded in agreement. "Thank you. I'm happy you like them!"

The kid grumbled. "I don't know why you always force me to do stupid things. Who puts blue in cookies like that's so dumb-" the girl puts a hand over the kids face and smiles sheepishly.

"Haha.. uh.. sorry. We will go now." She smiled and pulled the kid along with her, who was putting up a massive fight and glaring daggers.

I snorted, watching them leave. It was hilarious, and in a way made me miss my family so much more. 

I munched on a cookie thoughtfully, eyeing the very empty store and wondered what my options were while I still had three hours before closing.

There were floors I could sweep.. books to reorganize..

•*•

"BABY ITS YOU! YOU'RE THE ONE I LOVE YOU'RE THE ONE I NEED-"

The door opened with a ding and I froze embarrassingly, the extremely loud music still playing.

While sweeping the customer-less store, I decided to crank the volume and play some tunes.. which led to dancing around and using my broom as a microphone stand.. which led to public humiliation when a tall black haired guy wearing a leather jacket walked in staring at me in bewilderment.

"Uh...." I said hesitantly, my face flushed.

"Hi?" The guy said loudly over the music, he ran his fingers through the front of his hair, drawing my attention to the white tuft, which also reminded me of my own grey streak, that I've kept hidden.

I winced and ran over to the stereo and turned the music waaaaaaay down.

"I'm so sorry. I got carried away.. nobody was around and I had some work so-"

The guy raised his hand. "Hey, it's fine. It was funny." He smirked.

I put a hand to my face.
"And embarrassing.." I mumbled.

"Anyways.. mind if I look around?" He asks, walking around my piles of dust I had forgotten.

"Uh yeah.. let me know if you need any help." I smiled with a grimace, wanting to slam my face into a wall.

The guy smiles with a soft chuckle and walks behind a bookshelf to leave me to my embarrassment.

I go back to sweeping, opting for picking up my piles and put the broom away before I embarrass myself further.

I dump the dust pan into the trash can and hang the pair up and sit behind the counter with a sigh.

"Hey."

I jump. "Hi. Sorry. I wasn't paying attention.. can I help you with anything?" I adjust my glasses.

"I'm looking for a book.. or specifically an author. I came here a few months ago and bought Pride and prejudice, and I'd like to read more Jane Austen.." he explained. "It's not in the same section so.."

"Oh, yeah sorry I reorganized the store when I started here. I can help you find Jane Austen!" I got up and led him to the front of the store.

"I put classics in the front, followed by popular books and so forth. Usually when someone comes in they want to find something good pretty fast, so I figured.." I trailed off hoping he'd understand.

"I see." He nodded. "You don't get very many customers often."

I winced. "Yeah.." I shrugged. "But I'm glad you're back. Did you enjoy pride and prejudice?" I asked changing topics.

He nodded. "I missed a lot of classic reading when I was younger, I've been reading all sorts of books lately. It's honestly been really refreshing." He spoke passionately.

"I feel the same. I have dyslexia which led to a whole lot of issues and I couldn't ever get into reading.." I explained.

He nodded. "That's too bad, but you've been cured or something?" He selected Emma and Sense and sensibility from the shelf.

"Ah, no. But I found a temporary relief from it so it's not bad anymore." I said dodging the topic, as magical glasses don't usually exist.

"That's good." He said smiling down at me.

Why is he so much taller than me?

Why am I blushing because of that fact?

I cleared my throat.
"Anyways.. anything else you need?"

"Nope. Check me out?" He asked.

My face flushed. "What?"

"Checkout?"

"OH. Uh yeah!" I hurried to the counter and rung him up for his books.

He chuckled while he walked after me, setting his books down on the counter.

"So what's your name?" He asks leaning on the counter looking at me while I'm purposely trying not to look back.

"Percy." I said while pressing buttons flustered.

"I'm Jason. Nice to meet you." Jason said with a smile.

I finally met his eyes and nodded.
"Yeah, same.."

"It's uh.. 19.86$." I said looking away briefly.

He puts in his card and lets the payment process, and i hand him his receipt.

"Thanks. Can I get a cookie too?" He asks eyeing them.

"Yeah, here, since you bought two books.. it's on the house." I put one in a bag and hand it over.

"Thanks Percy, I'll probably be back." Jason grinned at me, taking his books and walking to the door.

"Uh yeah, alright! Thanks for shopping!" I called after him, watching him leave.

"Hmm.."

I jumped.

"May?!" I turned to see her watching me with a small knowing smile.

"He's a handsome man, Percy, do you-"

"No! Stop-!"

•*•
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