A Good Book has no Ending...

Ilyssa Kethers ran her long, delicate fingers through her dark blonde, wavy tresses. The stress to find Miles to Go by Miley Cyrus for some thirty-something women who claims it’s for her niece but her claims lost all value when her ringtone went off with “Best of Both Worlds”. Ilyssa sighed she rubbed her eyes tired from searching title after title the print getting smaller with each passing minute.

“Aha, found you, you little sucker!” Ilyssa exclaimed used all her willpower and self-control not to do a happy dance in the middle of the aisle. She heard a muffled giggle, a blush started to rise overtaking her pale skin quickly she strode in the opposite direction of the giggle to hand the book to the women.

Later, the nineteen year old girl sat at the cash registers business was slow at Lion’s Den bookstore/coffee shop. Ilyssa craved these quiet moments in the store when she could take in the old mahogany shelves, jam packed with books ranging from old, dog eared copies of classics like To Kill a Mockingbird or Alice in Wonderland to brand new copies of Twilight or Thirteen Reasons Why.

The tiny coffee shop sat in the back where you were free to sit in comfortable booths for however long you wanted. You could sit reading a book for hours and only order one coffee it didn’t matter at the Lion’s Den they never pushed or rushed you. The store was a popular place among the local college kids they could study until the wee hours of the morning, at the open twenty four seven, bookstore while drinking coffee with a small pastry.

Ilyssa glanced at her watch “Damn!” She needed to be at the hospital in forty minutes, it took thirty to get there. Ilyssa ran to the back of the store to the employee area to clock out and give a quick goodbye to her boss, Mr. Muller. She dashed out of the store to her silver Jetta; she estimated she broke about fifty speeding laws to arrive on time with three minutes to spare.

The young girl hustled down the bare, creepily white hallways until reaching her desired floor. Ilyssa seemed to fall into a new universe where the walls were a bright yellow with an animal banner around the edges. Pictures were hung up all over the place all were bright and lively they practically screamed “Happiness,” the receptionist sat behind a large, open, glass slider.

“Hello, Mrs. Rodney, how are you today?” Ilyssa smiled at the hulking, black lady behind the desk she looked anything but friendly. However the woman was a sweetheart and was the kindest person you would ever meet.

“Ilyssa I’m doin’ mighty fine today, how about yourself darlin’?” Mrs. Rodney spoke with a rich, velvety southern accent.

“That’s good to hear, how’s that back of yours?” Ilyssa questioned worry etched on her young face.

“Oh honey you shouldn’t worry so much it causes wrinkles. And since you’re askin’ it’s seems to be gettin’ better.” Mrs. Rodney chided kindly, chuckling she absolutely adored the young girl.

“You better be gettin’ you know how they get when kept waitin’, we can chat after alright, sweetie pie?” Mrs. Rodney said shooing her away with her hand.

Ilyssa laughed and made her way to another brightly colored room where twenty kids or so ages four through ten, sat anxiously awaiting something. Little knees bounced up and down in anticipation their chatter was hushed and scatterbrained, they couldn’t focus on one topic jumping topic to topic.

The young brunette chuckled at the palpable excitement in the air, “Hey what are you guys so excited about?” What happened next could only be described as a frenzied swarm of children’s deafening cries of elation broke out across the room as they rushed to Ilyssa.

Their bald head glistening under the florescent lighting, their smiles seemed too big for their faces, eyes twinkled with happiness. This scene was a foreign thought to most people when they heard Ilyssa read to the children at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. They assumed Ilyssa was faced with sullen kids with fear and sadness residing in their sunken in eyes. Frail lumps of bodies lain in bed hooked up to so many wires you couldn’t even count.

After hugging and saying “Hello,” to everybody the group settled down their eyes wide with eagerness as Ilyssa readied herself at the front of the room. She sat in an oversized rocking chair made of oak it was a donation from someone years ago. Her hand rummaged in her giant, leather; over the shoulder bag finally she extracted her hand when she found her desired object.

Her hand was wound tightly on a copy of The Giving Tree; it was the kid’s favorite book besides Green Eggs and Ham and The Outsiders. Ilyssa smiled widely making her hazel eyes with gold specs light up like Broadway. She held the book out in front of her as she read her voice lulled the kids into a haze.

Many stories later the kids had all been forced to bed they reluctantly said their goodnight’s to her as she kissed each and every cheek. Ilyssa skipped down to Mrs. Rodney, who was waiting for the girl with a giant green lollipop, Ilyssa thanked her and shyly started sucking on it.

“Well how were the little rascals today?” Mrs. Rodney asked smirking, her white teeth even whiter against her ebony skin.

“They were angels like always.” Ilyssa stated cheerfully, her eyes brimming with happiness at the thought of the kids. She didn’t notice the dark eyes that fell upon her with a loving gaze, she thought of the girl as a third child.

“Sweetie it’s alright I won’t tell no one if you say there the devil’s spawn, I promise.” Mrs. Rodney chuckled at the look of pure horror on Ilyssa’s face her mouth a perfect ‘O’ poised around the lollipop.

“Mrs. Rodney that is…” The southern woman put her hand up a smile on her face, “Shush child it’s all in good humor.”

“Mrs. Rodney that’s not nice to joke about.” Ilyssa should be used to Mrs. Rodney’s joking by now.

A small child clutching a tattered teddy bear hesitantly made their way towards the women. They lifted a tiny hand reaching, by only a small margin, Ilyssa dark blue t-shirt tugging lightly. The child let go of the soft material allowing Ilyssa to turn around with a bright smile plastered on her face.

“Hey Alex what are you doing up, baby girl?” Ilyssa asked softly no wanting to scare the timid girl away, as she crouched to Alex’s level. Alex pulled her old bear, Mr. RuggleBuggle, to her face, her mouth planted firmly on a bald spot in the curly brown fur.

“Icouldntsleeplyss.” Ilyssa couldn’t make since of the answer, “Honeybee you have to move Mr., RuggleBuggle so I can understand you ok?” Alex sighed her shyness showing its self once again.

“I couldn’t sleep Lyss.” Alex said softly, Ilyssa smiled happy the girl spoke to her with eye contact. “Well come on sweetheart lets go tuck you back in and read you a book again, alrighty sweetypie?” Alex giggled at Ilyssa’s rhyming the older girl stood and lead the girl back to her room.

After finishing up at the hospital, she made her way back to Lion’s Den. There were a few people in the back of the store textbooks and papers spread in front of them. In one booth there was a girl no older than seventeen, Ilyssa’s breath hitched she had never seen anyone as beautiful as this stranger.

Her jet, black hair was pulled back from the flawless, tan face in a messy ponytail. Her face held luscious, cherry red lips and eyes so dark they look like two pools of midnight sky. Ilyssa felt the blush rising on her pale skin she averted her eyes realizing her gaze had been held too long. She ran to the coffee counter nearly breaking her hip when she hit the edge of the counter.

Ryan, the current coffee shop worker, had to stop himself from laughing too loud. “Hey Ilyssa where’s the fire shortie?” Ryan stood at six foot eight versus Ilyssa’s five foot six and Ryan loved to make fun of Ilyssa.

“Yeah, yeah whatever Jolly Green Giant. The fire happens to be that girl over there. Do you know her?” Ilyssa quickly said out of breath when she finished, Ryan laughing at her expense. Ryan and Ilyssa had a strong relationship he and Ilyssa always helped each other out with girls. Ryan liked girls older than his seventeen years while Ilyssa went the other way.

Ryan just laughed, shaking his head “Fine, Caitlyn Jenners, seventeen, volunteer at the local vet clinic, lots of pets, I hear her parents are against her wishes to be a vet. They want their prodigy daughter to be a lawyer like them. She is beautiful as you can see a little shy, funny, and like I said mother fucking smart. The girl takes all college classes the only reason she’s still in high school is because she refuses to skip. And… of course the biggie an out and proud lesbian.”

Ilyssa nodded falling more in lust or lurve as Ryan talked about the girl. Her gears turning in her head thinking of a way to get the gorgeous woman on a date with her.

“You know you shouldn’t talk about people when they can hear you at any point.” Ilyssa was so red Ryan thought it might hurt to be that red. Ryan was shrugging he didn’t really care he was helping Caitlyn get an amazing girl.

Ilyssa turned around to apologize but was stopped by those dark eyes she flopped her mouth open “I’m… um….I’m…. uh….” Ryan couldn’t help but laugh out loud because of his friend’s helpless floundering.

“Sorry about that Caitlyn and sorry about my stuttering friend, Ilyssa Keathers.” Ilyssa would have blushed harder if she could. She lamely raised her hand as an acknowledgement to the stuttering friend. Caitlyn rolled her eyes and shook her head at the not so sorry boy, she knew him because of school.

The girl although she was bright red was stunning her eyes captivated Caitlyn. Caitlyn refused to let herself show her interest the dorky girl, she remembered her as the one who cheered as she found that book.

Ilyssa found the checkered, tile floor very fascinating, and her gaze so intense you would think the floor held the world’s answers. Caitlyn and Ryan couldn’t hold back their giggles at Ilyssa’s behavior she was too cute.

Ilyssa looked up sheepishly, her confidence returning when she saw Caitlyn wasn’t looking at her. Ilyssa took a deep breath and smiled, “Hi I’m sorry about that and as Ryan said so nicely I’m Ilyssa. It’s a pleasure to meet you” She stuck out her hand which Caitlyn took albeit a little confused to where the timid girl went.

“I’m sorry about talking about you. You are absolutely right it was rude but it was my fault I had asked Ryan about you. You were too pretty to not get your name.” Ryan started moving away waiting to help another customer knowing his friend was safe with Caitlyn.

“Well that certainly tells me something.” Caitlyn said angrily just about to turn and stomp off, Ilyssa ran her hands through her hair. “I’m sorry I upset you I should have come over but I’m too shy to just walk up to someone as cute as you. I am truly; sincerely sorry please let me get you a coffee and pastry on the house.”

Caitlyn was shocked was this girl bi-polar or something? Here personality was flip flopping everywhere first she was a bitch then shy then a cocky flirt and now a sorry, timid girl. What the fuck? The black haired girl was to confuse to do anything other than nod the cute brunette in front of her was baffling her too much.