Tomorrow is Steve's Famous Diner's 35th anniversary. Mom has been working there since she was fifteen, she's been there for twenty six years. She has the best pay rate besides the boss. She is the head manager, making $7 an hour. She works twelve hour shifts, six days a week. After bills and basic necessities, we try to rely more on hunting for food. Mom used to not let me hunt because she said it was "too dangerous", but once she came to realization of the state our family is in, she agreed. It wasn't like I was actually going to obey her if she would've forbade me to do so anyways.

Every year at the diner, we celebrate by having a discount on everything whether it's $1.50 off per meal with a drink or buy two meals and get one half off, everyone in our small town seems to think it's amazing because even Miss Betty that lives on the stretch past the county lines comes to eat at our annual celebration. We make more money on celebration days than any other day if the year, which is crazy because we have a discount on everything. Mom will get a big check at the end of this week and this is the only time we have left over money. The leftover amount is about $100-150 and we try to make it last as long as possible. If we only spend $15 on groceries a week, then it last us a pretty long while, but that's with no clothes or appliances in need of repair.

*****

Lately, I've been not having much school/house work or babysitting and having more free time, so I've been meandering my way down to the public library and finding myself curled up with a new book each day. And oh my, if only Augustus Waters lived here. I mean, or even a little bit of Tobias Eaton would do me good! But enough of me and my hopeless fantasies!

Today on my way in, I noticed a help wanted sign and I instantly raced over to check it out! I was totally tuned in to the sign when suddenly a deep, yet mouth watering, voice whispered softly into my ear, "I never thought you'd notice."

I snapped around a little faster than I had meant to, to only whip the guy with my ponytail and trip over my own feet.

As I was heading towards the splintered wood floors with my face though, these firm, yet gentle, hands snaked around my waist, faster than I thought humanly possible, and I was pulled right back up, facing him. Inches away from his perfect, boyish lips.

He was tall with bronze hair, a to-drool-over jawline, perfect teeth, piercing green eyes with a hint of gold, and a Gryffindor Harry Potter shirt to top it all off. His oh-so strong arms had veins popping out of them that were to die for. Lastly, his orange hat was backwards. I was literally resisting the urge to lick his face.

"Woah there! I won't bite!" He said with a smirk followed by a slight chuckle. "Promise." He added with a wink.

I instantly pried out of his perfect hands to back sharply into the corner of the counter, wincing as I (think I) smiled, (but most likely just looking like a snarling wolf, same difference, right?).

"Careful there! These floors can be a little tricky!" He smiled brightly now, as if he just gave me a survival tip.

"I'm Samuel, but most people call me Sam or Sammy."

I was still awestruck by his beauty and about how this whole situation just played out. My mind was racing, yet blank. And my mouth, well there was probably drool or something because we all know no words came out, well, true ones anyways.

"I, errr, um, I'm-... I'm Kat." WHAT DID I JUST SAY? KACEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? My name is- oh my gosh, what an embarrassing brain fart!

"C or K?" He asked, intrigued.

"K." WHY AM I STILL GOING WITH THIS?

"Okay, Kat. Nice to meet ya." He said as he held out a hand for me to shake.

"Are you okay," He asked, concerned, "You kind of look like you've seen a ghost or something..."

SNAP OUT OF IT KACEY!

I cleared my throat and pulled my act together and said, "Oh, no, I'm fine! I guess I'm just slightly phased from my near face-plant experience."

Then, I laughed lightly to clear the air, hoping I didn't come off weird.

"And thank you for catching me! That would've been quite the sight!" I added quickly.

"Oh, well, of course! I wouldn't have just let you fall. I do have some manners, yanno."
Suddenly curious, I asked him, "Why did you say 'I never thought you'd notice' when you snuck up behind me?"

Embarrassment covered his face, which I thought was odd, but then as the cherry red blush was fading, he said, "I've seen you everyday, always snuggled into my chair, engulfed in something different each time."

"Oh, well, where have you been? I haven't seen you once in here at all, yet you claim to see me 'everyday'." I said as I searched my mind for any memory of him.

"I work in the basement watching the security cameras." He replied simply.

"Oh," I felt dumb for questioning him, but still said, "Well, why did you say I was in your chair? I mean, it is a public library, Sammy."

"Umm, Kat, I don't think you've realized it, but you've been sitting in the cushioned chair in the back room with a small bookshelf of my personal favorites." He said with a smirk and eyebrows raised.

"....And your point is?" I replied, my eyebrows raised as well.

"That's the employee room, we just leave it open, not thinking little cats would wander and curl up." He said with the hottest laugh ever. Can a laugh even be hot, or is he just so perfect that everything about him is my desire to explore and know?

I blushed, then said, "Why hasn't anyone stopped me then? If it's off limits for employees only, then why wasn't I informed?"

"I told them I let you." He was looking deeply into my eyes, as if searching for something. Something that I didn't even know about myself.

"Why did you do that?" I asked suspiciously.

"How could I not? Kat, you don't realize how adorable you are when you read." He said with his famous smirk.

My face had to be scarlett. Oh and the way he says my name, as if it's the light in his world of darkness. Well, my "name". I still managed to somehow keep up with the conversation though.

"How is reading cute? Isn't it basically the same as pooping? You just sit there and stare until you're done." Did I honestly just say that?

He busted out laughing, surprising me. I'm really nervous around him, yet I can joke with him like he's my brother.

"Uhhh, they're actually kind of polar opposites. But man, you're really funny, Kat! I'm glad we met! Hey, I'm gonna go change and go for a run, so I'll catch ya later!"

"Wait," I called as he was taking off to the basement door.

He stopped with the door open and turned around with an expression that said "Yes?"

"So, uh, is it cool if maybe I could still-"

"Of course, Kat. You are always welcome to all of my books and chairs."

And with that, he took off down the stairs, leaving me with a warm, tingly-fuzziness inside and totally forgetting that help wanted sign.