"So what are we looking for today?" I ask cheerily as rub my hands together.

Dakota walks beside me, cocking his head to the side as he looks at me. "Uh...a book?"

I close my eyes, releasing a breath through my nose as I fight the frustration eating away at my calm demeanor. "Considering the fact that you don't even know what you need, I'm guessing this book isn't for you?"

He laughs, shaking his head. "Nah it's for my sister. She's really into the whole reading thing." His hands gesture around us and I'm assuming he's pointing to the books.

I blink at him, trying to hide my annoyance. "I see." I reply happily, gritting my teeth. "What genre is she into?"

Dakota thinks on this for a moment, his eyes downcast. "I see her reading everything from romance novels to science fiction. The latest series she's been obsessing over is definitely science fiction."

I smile, impressed. "Really? She sounds like she's pretty cool if she's into science fiction." My mind begins sorting through all the books I've read from the genre, trying my best to come up with a good recommendation.

Dakota shrugs, tucking his hands into the front pockets of his skinny jeans. "She's alright."

"Just alright?" I ask with a laugh, stopping suddenly and turning a corner as I guide him to the SF section.

"Oh." He exclaims, following me. "Well...we've always been really close and we were also homeschooled our whole lives so I've seen almost too much of her."

My heart hitches at his words and I fight to keep a smile on my face. "At least you have a sibling. And being homeschooled sounds awesome to be honest. Going through high school without someone who really understands you is hell." I laugh humorlessly, stopping at an isle of books to my left. "Here we are." I sigh, gesturing his desired destination.

I feel his eyes on me for a moment before he clears his throat and enters the isle, running his fingers over the spines. "Thank you. I probably would have been lost in here for days if you hadn't helped me." His deep chuckle brings a less forced smile to my lips.

"It's what I do." I shrug, hanging my thumbs on the belt loops of my vintage shorts. Standing there for a few more moments, I bite my lip and rock back on my heels. "Alright well...I'd better get back to work. If you can't find anything here, the romance section is back where we came. Just shout Marco and I'll Polo you in the right direction." My laugh comes out airy and I cover it up by clearing my throat.

His head turns, his hands pulling out a book with a bright blue cover as he releases an amused chuckle. "Thanks, Lillian. I'll be sure to do that."

"Only if you need help." I hold up a finger.

He shakes his head, smiling. "Right. Only if I need help."

I bite the inside of my cheek, looking back at him once before turning and beginning my trek back to my tedious job. His deep voice stops me in my tracks. "Wait."

"Yes?" I say in my happy employee voice.

The wink he sends in my direction catches me off guard. "Wouldn't it be easier to give me your number?" His voice is smooth but I catch the small blush on his neck.

I laugh, my hand tugging at my bun as a nervous habit. "You know where to find me." I jerk my thumb, behind me before walking away.

"So, no number?" He calls with his hands cupped around his mouth.

I turn, continuing to walk backwards before saluting him and making my way back to the loaded carts. The non-fiction and spiritual sections calling my name.

Dakota doesn't seem like a bad guy. I just don't have time to mess around and waste time. I've already waisted about an hour trying to help him and keep his attention on the task at hand. It's time to get back to work. Plus I hate working late and having to lock up and ride my bike home in the dark. It's just another opportunity for my wild imagination to run.

An hour and a half and a few paper cuts later, all of the books are organized and ready to be messed up again by disrespectful customers. I check my watch and groan, slapping my forehead. I only have about an hour and a half before the sun sets and only a half hour before my shift is over.

Pushing myself up from my kneeling position on the book store's carpet, I release a sigh as I pull the scrunchie from my now very loose bun and roll it back onto my wrist, tucking my hair behind my ear.

After I've collected all of the carts and pushed them into the second floor supply room, I close the door and pull the store keys from my pocket, locking it and shaking the knob to make sure it's secure.

I make my way towards the non-fiction mystery section to select a few of books that made my list now that I've finished my previous novel. A wide grin spreads over my face as my fingers slide over the hard and soft spines of each action packed story. "Which to choose..." I mumble to myself.

Just as I select one that looks like a winner, a loud voice stills me. "Marco!"

I close my eyes, pushing the book back into his previous place as I sigh for the millionth time today. "Today is not my day, is it?" I whisper.

"Marco!" Dakota calls again.

No, it is not.

"Polo." I call back dryly, stepping out from my place behind a bookshelf.

I immediately spot his blonde head, the sun shining blindingly through window behind him and causing my eyes to slowly shut. Holding my right hand up to shield my vision I call, "I'm over here." I call in my cheeriest voice.

His eyes scan in every direction but mine before they lock onto me, a grin overtaking his features before he begins sauntering towards me. "Ah, there you are."

"Here I am." I reply with a bored tone, my mind yearning to return to the wall of beautiful books.

He stops before me with confident expression. "You look very happy to see me."

"I do?" I ask with furrowed brows.

He laughs, shaking his head. "No. I was joking, you actually look very ticked off by my being here."

"Well then your suspicion is correct." I say honestly. I watch his face fall slightly and I rush to explain, "Look Dakota...it is Dakota, right?" My cheeks burn. I'm very aware of my inability to remember names and I find myself calling someone by the wrong name several before they correct me.

"Yes." He answers slowly.

"Well, Dakota, the thing is that I rode my bike here and I've already been here past my shift. It's Friday so we're only open until four so that's...right now." I laugh a little to lighten my words, "So I'm sorry if I seem a little tense but I still have work to do before I lock up and by then it might be dark." My explanation comes out fast and it seems to go right over his head, his confused expression giving it away.

His green eyes blink at me as he tries to process my words. "Wow..." He breathes, scratching the back of his head, "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to be a bother."

"No no that's not what I mean it's just that - "

"No, Lillian, it's fine. I'm used to being stomped on and treated like dirt. It's actually one of the many things people admire about me. I have an extremely strong tolerance for being miserable and mistreated. It's no big deal." He says dramatically with a sigh.

My eyes narrow at him as I begin to realize he's pulling my leg. "You're hilarious." I say dryly, my lips ticking to the side. "I actually started to feel really bad, you know."

"Okay, I'm sorry." His lips fight a smile but a few second pass before he can't hold on his laughter, chuckles spilling from his mouth. For a moment my eyes catch onto his straight teeth as they create that big genuine kind of grin before I pull them away, straightening my spine.

"The Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a great read and I'm guessing she'll enjoy it since they recently made a movie based on it. Have a great day." I shoot him a million watt smile before allowing it to fall and giving him a hard frown and turning on my heel, grabbing my book from the shelf and booking it to the elevator.

My finger presses the button over and over. "Come on, come on." I urge the doors to open with a whisper. I can't have him catching up to me just as I've made a dramatic exit.

I sigh in relief when the door slide open and I step inside, leaning against the wall with my book clenched to my chest when they start to slide closed again. Just as there's a small sliver still open, a hand is placed between the metal doors. "Ah!" I jump, startled for what seems to be the millionth time today, my hand on my chest.

The elevator glides open once more to reveal a smirking boy with cheeky green eyes. "Marco." He winks, sauntering into into the elevator with his own book in hand.

"Ha-ha." I deadpan, recovering from the scare. My eyes catch the cover of the novel in his slender fingers, my lips pulling into a smirk of my own. "I see you took my suggestion."

"Hm?" He says as the doors close before following my line of sight to the book, "Oh. Yeah I did, thank you."

"Sure sure." I reply quietly, pressing the first floor button. "How did you get that so fast by the way?" I ask him, looking up to his eyes with curiosity.

"I ran." He tells me casually.

"Really?" I laugh. "Why?"

"I'm having issues with my phone and since you've informed me of your never ending intelligence, I thought you could help." He tells me, hitting the third floor button. My eyes follow the movement with confusion. Since when does he have to go to the third floor?

"What's wrong with it?" I ask him, distracted by the doors opening and closing on the first floor before we start ascending back up to the third.

My eyes watch him pull out his cell phone from his pocket with a concerned expression before unlocking it and handing it to me. I take it with caution, the large iPhone looking even larger in my small hands. My eyebrows furrow at the screen, "create contact" at the top.

"Your number's not in it." He says so seriously that I almost don't do a double take. I sigh, handing it back and crossing my arms over my chest stubbornly. "Awe come on, Lillian." He chuckles, taking his phone with a look of disappointment.

The door open on the third floor and I wait for him to step off but he surges forward and reaches behind me, pressing the first floor button again. I step backwards to avoid getting bumped into but my back hits the wall.

"What are you doing?" I ask him with a confused laugh.

I look up at him in a mixture of annoyance and intrigue. He stands about six inches taller than me, a cocky smile on his lips. "Why won't you give me your number?"

I roll my eyes, pushing my glasses up before placing my hand on his chest and pushing him back slightly. "I don't know, maybe because I don't know you."

Dakota sighs, hanging his head back. "I swear I'm not a rapist, drug addict, or murderer." He holds his right hand over his heart and his left up in surrender.

I study him with pursed lips, fighting a smile. "You forgot member of the occult."

"Right. How could I forget?" He gives me a crooked grin right as the door opens.

I give him one last eye roll before making a move for the exit, holding my novel to my chest. I'm stopped by his chest in my face and I release a groan when he hits the third floor button once again.

"Dakota, please." I sigh, hanging my head back with a groan. "I'm not giving you my number!"

"But why?" He asks me with a scoff, crossing his arms with his sister's book in hand.

I study his stubborn stance with a feeling of amusement. My eyes stare into his challengingly as we stand there silently, waiting to see who will break first.

I'm the first to look away, his confident stare overwhelming me and making me feel uncomfortable. "Look, I'm just not looking for anything right now. I'm focused on work and saving up for a car and I'm happy with that."

He gives me a weird look. "Who said I'm looking to start anything with you? Have you ever thought that maybe I just want to be friends?" His voice sounds almost offended and my mouth opens slightly as my cheeks redden, embarrassment flooding over me.

"I...I guess I didn't think about that." I say in a small voice, feeling completely humiliated.

Suddenly, Dakota breaks out a cheeky smile and I watch him I pure bewilderment, feeling very lost. "No I am looking for something. I actually really want your number." He says bluntly with a laugh.

I scoff, looking at him angrily. "You're despicable."

"So I hear." He shrugs casually before freezing, looking around with what looks to be genuine concern.

"What?" I ask warily.

He swallows, looking at me with an apologetic expression. "The door hasn't opened. I think the elevator stopped."

"What?" I exclaim, panicked. I turn towards the control panel, pressing all the buttons but none of them light up and the elevator remains still. I tug at the roots of my hair. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my - "

"Hey." Dakota's large hands are placed on my shoulders as he steadies me.

"What?" I snap at him, smacking away him hands.

"It's going to be fine. It'll probably start working in a few minutes. Just stay calm." He speaks slowly. "Breathe." His voice is low and it feels condescending so I push him away with an annoyed grunt and begin pacing back and forth as I wrack my brain for a solution but can't think of anything even potentially helpful.

This is just great.