CHAPTER ONE
Lily Evans was an adult. And as an adult, it was perfectly acceptable to get totally gubbed and have a casual shag with a stranger. At least that's what she was telling herself at seven in the morning when she woke up naked in a bed that wasn't hers. She tried to sit up, but immediately laid back down, her hand pressed tightly over her forehead. The throbbing behind her eyes, along with her fuzzy memories of the previous night's affairs was a sure sign she'd had way more fun than she should've.
She slowly crept out of the bed and gathered her scattered clothing, trying very hard not to wake up the naked man still asleep on the bed.
She managed to put herself back together and exit the building without disturbing her companion and was soon on her way home. Once oriented with her surroundings, she found that the place she had ended up the night before was only a few blocks from where she lived. She decided a brisk walk in the cool morning air would help clear her thoughts anyway, so she continued on foot.
Although her brain rattled with every step she took, she managed to clear some things up. She remembered events in pieces. Marlene daring her to do shots, dancing to the thump of the bass, talking with a guy, then dancing with a guy, then snogging a guy, then leaving with a guy. After that things had gone pretty quickly. Lips had been on necks, clothes had been removed and she had woken up in a stranger's bed. She was quite relieved to remember details of the man's face and find that he was indeed, attractive. Very attractive, but that was beside the point, I mean she had already shagged the guy.
When she reached her small flat, she took a look in the mirror. What she saw was what she expected. Staring back at her was a zombified version of the pretty girl who had left the night before. Her makeup was so smeared she looked like she had bruises, her hair was oily at the roots and tangled at the ends, and she looked pale enough to scare a ghost.
Tired of seeing herself in such a state, she put on The White Album, popped some painkillers and hopped in the shower.
Cleaning herself up made Lily feel better and gave her a sense of satisfaction. She was starting a new job today and she did not want to have her new boss thinking she was some sort of alcoholic.
She made herself some toast and set out to go to work.
The exterior of the bookstore was in shambles. The building had to be a hundred years old judging by the cracking bricks around the faded wooden door.
The interior wasn't much better, it smelled of must and old paper and the walls were so packed full of shelves which were packed full of books that anyone could feel claustrophobic.
Despite its flaws and dusty atmosphere, Lily felt at home in the place. She had stumbled upon it on her way to university one day and took quick note of the "help wanted" sign in the window. Two weeks later and she was starting a new job.
Her boss was a shriveled woman who appeared to be as old as the shop she owned. She was barley tall enough to see over the counter and wore long floral dresses with her white hair in a braid down her back. She looked up at Lily through glasses resting on the tip of her nose as she laid out her duties for the day, most of which were simple and doting tasks that Lily mostly enjoyed.
The morning went by quickly and without many customers. Eventually Elkah, Lily's boss, announced that she could take her lunch break as soon as her replacement came in.
Fifteen minutes passed before she heard the jingle of the bell tied around the door and Elkahs shrill, crackling voice conversing with a velvety tenor.
She picked her way through the stacks of books to the front of the store, her stomach rumbling with anticipation of her nearly reached lunch hour.
She reached the end of the stacks and stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes went wide with shock and she thought she might've stopped breathing. There, standing in front of her, in her place of work, was the man whose bed she had woken up in earlier that morning. She heard the old woman's voice, but she didn't exactly comprehend the words. She thought briefly that it was some kind of introduction before his eyes locked with hers and a smirk spread across his face. So it was him. Yes, it was definitely him. She recognized the shape of his glasses and the way his thick, dark hair stood up in all directions, but most of all she noticed his arrogant posture. She scowled.
"Lily?" Elkah asked, a worry lacing her voice. She turned to the woman and smiled, Elkah returned the smile and continued with a gesture at the man in front of her, "this is your coworker, James."
