The bell chimed as his customer exited the store, and Bellamy leaned against the back counter and reopened his book. When he had decided a few months ago to pile all his savings into this small book store, his friends had called him insane, but until now, he had never had so much time for research and writing. There was another reason he couldn't quite articulate, and didn't want to.
He just needed to be here.
It felt… right.
He rolled his shoulders and continued to read about Helen of Troy- of the war that shook the earth. He wondered about the sanity of heroes who would fight over a woman just for her beauty. Surely there was something more worth their lives- some value that outshone beauty. But he continued to read. The lives of demigods and gods were too fascinating to put down.
The bell chimed again, and when he looked up and saw Miller, he grinned. There was only one person Bellamy trusted to help run his shop, and ever since he met Miller, Bellamy had felt like he had relied on him for centuries. It also helped that they met in pre-k.
"Oi, Bell, how many of those history books do you think you've read?" Miller grinned, walking towards the counter. Bellamy rolled his eyes, but closed the book anyway.
"Reading is good for you, makes you smarter, you obviously need to try it, Miller. Try not to burn down the store while I take lunch." Bellamy grinned, and Miller snorted, shouldering past him to recline against the counter.
Bellamy rolled up the sleeves of his brown shirt as he left The Lost Alexandria, revealing his two tattoos of Vesta and Mars. It was hot outside- 90 degrees, but the sky was beautiful and the breeze was forgiving. His strolled down the street, and smiled at the sight of his favorite Chinese restaurant. He paused before he walked in, a sign across the road catching his eye.
Grand Opening, The Nine Muses
He eyed it, but then looked back at the Chinese restaurant. Maybe he'd check the store out after lunch. He was a man of principle.
There was no waiting for eggrolls or egg drop soup.
He entered the restaurant a minute later and he smiled as he made his way to the counter. He waited patiently behind a woman with black hair- his mind lost in the details of the Trojan War, and then he heard her say "The Nine Muses". He perked up and eyed the woman in front of him with more interest, but she was already done heading towards the door, a plastic bag full of food tucked safely under her arm.
"Bellamy!" Mrs. Hu greeted, and Bellamy smiled in return. She was an older woman, maybe in her 50s, and ever since he got Monty to fix one of their electrical issues so they wouldn't have to hire a technician, she's been like a mother to him (at first he thought he would owe his new friend, but then Monty had met Miller and… well. He thinks they're even.)
"How are you doing today?" He asked, and he beamed as she smirked and pulled out a hot to go box of food.
"Not as good as you'll be after you're done eating. You come in everyday at the same time, young man, it's time you change it up a little bit." Bellamy laughed and pulled out his wallet, pulling out his card.
"I can't help it. It's your fault the foods so good." He snuck a few dollars in their tip jar while she was swiping the card and he thought she wasn't looking, but she pursed her lips and shook her head at him all the same.
"Go on, go and enjoy your food. Maybe you should take Monty and Miller to go to the new store that just opened up. That nice girl in front of you was telling me all about it- art classes and a gallery of local artists. Get your head out of the book, you hear me?" She pointed at him, and he held his hands out in surrender before grabbing his card back and the bag.
"Your wish is my command, ma'am." He laughed as he left the shop. He eyed The Nine Muses as he left, and he frowned slightly as he glanced down at his take out box- maybe after he finished eating…
He made it back to his shop to find Miller talking to two customers, and Bellamy smiled as he made his way to the back of the small bookstore and found half a dozen other people milling about.
He never did have a chance to visit the store after he finished eating. Wave after wave of customers blew in, asking for specific titles or suggestions, and he loved it, he truly did- even if he was fully and desperately taking into consideration O's idea of a coffee maker in the store.
He rolled his shoulders as he looked at the clock- nine o clock. He'd probably go and check out the store tomorrow. The bell chimed again, and he grimaced, never enjoying telling a potential customer that the store was closed, but his eyes widened at who he saw.
She was gorgeous- light blonde hair wrapped up in a loose bun, loose hair framing her face. Her eyes were blue, and her The Nine Muses shirt was covered in various paint splatters. He opened his mouth but no words came out.
He suddenly had flashes of wars, and armies- the ending and rebuilding of cities. He remembered forests and laughter, of warm fires and warm houses, but also crushing coldness, and when she smiled at him, something inside him relaxed, uncoiled.
"Hi, uh, I'm Clarke, I own the new art store just down the street." She held out her hand and he took it, quickly closing his mouth and swallowing. Her hand was warm in his, and he smiled a little as a small blush blossomed on her face.
"I'm Bellamy," he responded, his voice a little raspy at what this girl was doing to him, "I uh, I meant to come and check it out if the rush slowed down a bit, but it's been a bit busy." He grinned, and he rubbed the back of his neck. She beamed.
"No I completely understand, you should come check it out tomorrow though." Her eyes glanced at his forearms and she cocked her head. He didn't appreciate how much he liked her looking at him. "Is that, is that Hestia and Ares?" She asked, and he lowered his arm and more fully rolled up his sleeves to display the tattoos.
"Sort of, it's Vesta and Mars- the roman versions." She smiled and absentmindedly ran her fingers along the line work. His eyes widened at the sudden contact; it felt like electricity wherever she touched.
"Maybe we could exchange store tours," he ventured, not wanting her to leave any time soon, "I show you around here right now, and then we go to yours and you give me the run down?" She looked up at him and then blushed prettily when she realized she was touching his tattoos. She smiled though, coyness in her eyes, before she was backing away.
"Maybe you'll have to stop by tomorrow and persuade me." She grinned. His mouth went dry, but he smirked, knowing the game she was playing, and excited for it.
"Wait a minute, didn't you come here to persuade me to visit yours?" He shot back, and she leaned against the door, slowly pushing it open as she smirked and gave him a once over.
"I think I already have." And then she was gone. He leaned against the wall and shook his head, his heart was thumping, but it was excitement. It felt like-
"Damn, she got you." Miller said, and Bellamy jumped.
"Fuck, Miller," Bellamy frowned.
"I like her." His friend grinned, "And you seem to be feeling something a little more than that." Bellamy grinned and looked back out the door. Images of warm Sunday mornings, laughter, comfort, and rainy days flashed through his mind, and he vaguely wondered if he really did need to stop reading. But… it all felt… familiar. His eyes found her as she crossed the street, her eyes trained up at the few stars in the sky before she entered her store, and he finally realized what it was he was feeling- he was ready to come home.