Alisson

"Oh, Alisson and Cassidy. Welcome to the book club!" The president of the club welcomed us with a smile. A total of seven pairs of eyes were on us. This might be a tad bit awkward.

"Hey Holly! Sorry we arrived late, someone had some stuff to do," Cassidy explained to Holly while gesturing at me as the 'someone who had stuff to do'.

I gave Holly a shy smile with pretty much what might seem like an awkward wave. She's really pretty though, jet black hair with a brownish kind of skin.

"It's all good and dandy! Just go take a seat and we will all start with some introductions." Holly points towards two free seats to which we went and sat in.

"So now that everyone's here, I officially welcome you all to the Book Lovers Club!" Holly says in excitement which must have spreaded through out the once
quiet room as claps and laughter resounded all around.

Later on we went on with the introductions. It went on like those normal plain introductions till it was my turn to introduce myself.

I hate introductions. Seems a bit awkward standing in front of a whole room with people who you may or may not know while you tell them about yourself.

"So um, some of you may know me but I'm Alisson. . ." I stopped for a while thinking over what to say next when it immediately clicked into my mind. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to spruce up my introduction.

"My favorite book is Every Last Word though I lost it due to some situation." I chuckle a bit thinking about what had happened over the last few days.

"As me, Alisson Grace, might have managed to land in a fictional book like situation where I ended up swapping books with a stranger. Pretty strange am I right?" My confidence has been boosted when people reacted to what I'm saying. Especially to that one pun I might've sneaked in.

"So if I ever get to the end of that story just approach me and I can tell you tips on how to get out of some cliché thing you might have gotten yourself into." I laughed at my own words as people laughed along with me.

"I'm pretty sure that's all, though if you couldn't tell, I'm a great lover of puns so hit me with some if you have any." I said with a smile and went back to my seat.

When I sat down, Cassidy patted my shoulder, impressed at the sudden outburst of confidence I had.

To be honest I was just thinking, 'What would Aiden do?'.

Though I'm sure as heck that's not what he'd do. As a big dork head, he might actually do something else more stupid and ridiculous than the way he introduced himself to me.

Soon enough everybody introduced themselves, the ones who introduced after me were inspired by my way of introducing so in short, I guess you can say we all had a good laugh.

Maybe one of my greatest achievements. Like, ever.

"Okay everybody!" Holly drew her hand up for attention.

"So since as we're the book lovers club, it wouldn't make sense if we didn't read any books now would it?" Holly asks her question in a kind of statement to which I've noticed some heads nod to her question.

"We will all be doing a critique of a book we haven't read yet, there's not much of an exact deadline yet so all of you can take your time reading and understanding the book you choose to read, though your critique should be passed in an essay form. So are there any questions?" Holly asked to which none answered, maybe all of them already know what to read.

I know I do. I even know the right person to help me with this. It's going to be fun.

"Well if there are no questions then the meeting is dismissed!" Holly says as she clasps her hands together. Maybe feeling happy that the first meeting went well.

"Ali, do you know what you're reading for the critique thing?" Cassidy asks as she places her book in her bag. I caught a glimpse of it, think it was called Together At Midnight.

"I'm pretty sure I know, if I didn't, my schedule would have been booked out," I replied to her with a look knowing I did a good pun. At least for me it was good.

"I swear you and your puns..." Cassidy groaned as she slinged her backpack over her shoulder and started walking away ahead of me.

"Come on Cass! You got to admit me and puns are one puntastic duo!" I exclaimed making more puns as I followed behind her and we both went home.

—————

"Wait what? You want me to help you learn more about Kent Aiton?"
Aiden's voice resounds around my room as I set him on speaker mode and did my assignments while talking to him.

"Yes Aiden. Can't get it through your head that you want me to repeat it again?" I retorted, puffing out a gust of air as I try to answer a stupid math equation to which I clearly have no idea how to solve.

"No Ali, I'm just curious. Why me? You could always search on the internet you know?"
He asks in a voice to which I can't exactly know what he's portraying.

Maybe he doesn't want to help..?

"Oh well, you know I've read your book ever since we agreed on the book swap deal and I thought since you owned it you might have more knowledge than me..?" My answer came out more like a question. Like I was unsure if I should keep asking him to help me.

Maybe I shouldn't ask him if he doesn't want to help.

"But it's okay if you don't want-"

"I'll do it." Aiden cuts me off.

"What?"

"I'll do it. I'll help you know more about Kent Aiton."

"A-are you sure? You sounded kind of hesitant earlier," I asked, concerned for him. I just don't want to force him that's all.

"Yes Ali, I'm sure. What else do I need to say to prove to you that I'm sure?" He says with a laugh.

I was going to ask him one more thing before I heard other voices on his side to which I can't really make out on what they're saying.

"Hey Ali, my buddy needs me so we'll start learning about him tommorow."
He says it like he's clearly smiling from the other side of the phone.
Though I'm not actually sure if he's actually smiling. That's the difference.

"Alright Aiden! Talk to you soon!"

"Later sugar." He says as he ends the call until I realized what he just said.

Sugar?!