iMate

Rose softly hummed as she stacked the books onto the shelves in their appropriate places. It had been a slow day, though everyday was slow, but it had been even slower that day. She had only a handful of customers that day, so she was surprised to hear the doors chime when it was near closing time.

“Welcome to Little Shop of Tales,” she stood up with a small smile on her face to only have it fall when she saw who entered. She cleared her throat for a moment before she slipped a fake smile onto her face. Her eyes lingered on the brunette that was hanging off his arm, and she licked her lips before she said, “How can I help you?”

“Oh hi,” the girl said as her eyes lingered around the shop, “his mother’s birthday is coming up, and we came to find some books. Can you point us towards the adults’ section?” Her boyfriend’s eyes were wide, and he seemed stunned to find her there.

With a nod, Rose lifted her arm to point towards the back where the shelves were lined up against the wall, “Right there.” The two started towards the back as she turned away to go to the counter, but she could feel eyes lingering on her for just a moment. She took a soft deep breath as she rubbed her hands together. She was trying to calm herself down and not cry because she didn’t want to go back to the way she was a few years ago.

“Louis!” his girlfriend said as she held a book in her hand, “Do you think she would like this?” Rose couldn’t help but watch as he walked over to her. His brown hair was still tousled to perfection, and his blue eyes that were filled with green specks still sparkled as brightly as ever.

She bit on her bottom lip harshly as she tore her eyes away. She couldn’t linger on him any longer. He was a customer, and he will soon buy a book, and leave. She will never see him again in person.

“Hey,” a familiar voice broke her out of her thoughts, and she brought her brown eyes up to him, “are there any books you can recommend for my mom?” He offered a small smile, and Rose nodded as she slipped around the counter and started towards the shelves. She slipped a few books off the shelves, and she went to step back to examine the shelves only to bump into someone. Hands went onto her waist, so she wouldn’t stumble and fall like the books had from her hands from fright.

“Um, sorry,” she muttered gently as she went to pick them up. She stepped away from Louis to find his eyes larger than they were when he had entered. “Has she already read these?” she asked the two. She was more focus on his girlfriend since she didn’t seem frozen like her boyfriend.

“Those seem lovely,” she grinned. “I guess we’ll get those,” she nodded. She grabbed Louis’s hand, not affected by what had happened only moments ago while both Rose and Louis were.

“Great,” Rose said, and she offered another smile before she slipped behind the counter to scan them. “Would you like me to wrap them? Wrapping is free,” she nodded as she glanced up at the both of them for only a few seconds before she looked away. She could feel her heart racing in her chest, and she bit her lip still as she set them down into a pile.

“Yes, please,” Louis replied. “We both suck terribly at gift wrapping,” he chuckled lightly as he wrapped an arm around his beautiful girlfriend, but Rose couldn’t help but see how awkward it was between the two.

She slowly nodded, though she wished that they had said no and leave sooner. Then, she could say goodbye and never see him again. She slipped into the back, and she could hear Eleanor complain about how she was horribly hungry. “You go eat, and I’ll meet up with you. Okay?” Louis asked her as he kissed her forehead. The brunette nodded before she started out the door and down the street. That left the two in a very awkward silence.

“Rose,” he started over to stand in front of her, “it’s been awhile since we last saw each other. I thought you would have moved by now.” He chuckled softly, and she sighed as she wrapped the books up.

“I wished I had,” she said rather coldly, not sparing him a glance. She could only imagine the hurt look he would give her if she looked up. “Can we not make friendly chit chat?” she looked up at him as she stopped what she was doing. “We both know what happened the last time we saw each other, and I don’t want to forgive anything. I don’t want to be acquaintances, friends, or anything like that. I’m just an employee, you’re a customer, and you will leave once I give you these. We will then never see each other again,” she nodded before she returned to the wrapping.

“What if I want to be friends?” he asked her in a sincere voice. “What if I want to be more than friends because I know how badly I messed up? I realized my mistakes,” he told her.

Rose couldn’t help but dryly laugh as she finished up and stuffed the wrapped books into a bag before she shoved them to him. “Sure, you did,” she scoffed. “You think I’m going to be the other girl and hurt your now boring toy?” she asked. “I’m not going to do that. Now, if you can please leave, we’re closing.” She started towards the door and pulled it open for him to exit. He let out a tired sound as he slipped out the door and down the street.