Author's note: Yes, I realize that I shouldn't be writing another story. But the two I've got going right now are both kind of sad, and I wanted to write something light hearted for a change. And We'll Never Hide Our Love Away will be updated either tomorrow or the day after. This is my first time writing a story in which HongIce is the main pairing, and so I apologize if everyone's horribly OOC. Anyway, leave a review if you think I deserve one, and more importantly, enjoy the story.
The golden sunlight pours through my window curtains, therefore waking me up. Too lazy to just get up like a normal person, I literally roll out of the bed. Today is the first day of summer break, and I'm celebrating it by sleeping in. Or rather, I planned on sleeping in, an idea which was thwarted by the sun. Stupid sun.
After throwing on some clothes and brushing my teeth (I don't bother to shower because I'm fairly clean.), I head downstairs to the kitchen, where my older brother, Lukas, is... cooking? That's kinda weird. I ask him why he's doing this.
"Mom asked me if I could make lunch. She had errands to run or something. Did you just now get up?" My reply is a nod.
Lukas rolls his eyes. I know that being a virgin and all, I don't have room to talk, but he needs to get laid. Seriously. Maybe I should tell Mathias that. I'm sure he'd be willing to do something about it. Anyone with a semi-functioning brain can tell that they like each other. Although Lukas would never admit to having any sort of romantic feelings for Mathias, 'cause that's just how he is. And Mathias wouldn't either, because while he's a nice guy and everything, he's also an idiot, meaning that he can't seem to figure out that Lukas is into him. It's sort of complicated. But enough about them, they're boring.
"Why are you making lunch, though? It's like, nine AM."
"Emil, it's eleven thirty."
"No, it's not."
Lukas sighs and points at the clock. Sure enough, it says that the current time is eleven thirty-two. I guess I slept later than I thought.
Just then, my phone goes off. I grab it off of its resting place on the table. It's Lars. I answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Emmy. 'S me. Are you busy right now? " I hate the nickname Emmy. I put up with it, though, because if it weren't for Lars, I'd have no friends whatsoever. And plus, he's a pretty cool guy, other than the 'Emmy' thing.
"No, why?"
"Oh, I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out or something. I need to get more books. I've either read all mine or Bella's stupid dog ate them again. Figured we could get ice cream or something afterwards." Bella is Lars's sister. He's very fond of her, don't get me wrong, but he hates her pet daschund, Sprinkle, who eats everything, and I mean everything. This one time, I went to his house after school and she ate seven of the pencils in my backpack. And another time, she ate one of Lars's mom's guitar picks. The dog has major issues.
"Okay, sounds fine. I'll meet you there. Bye." I proceed to hang up the phone.
"Who were you talking to?" Lukas questions, eyeing me. In addition to being uptight, he's also ridiculously overprotective of me. Did I mention that he needs to get laid?
"Relax, it was just Lars. I'm going to go hang out with him for a while. Tell mom that I'll be back in about an hour."
"Couldn't you just see him after lunch?"
"Yeah, but I'm not going to." And with that, I leave the room and head out the back door.
The bookstore isn't far away, so I walk there, since I don't have my own car and don't feel like asking to borrow Lukas's, despite the fact that it was ninety degrees outside. By the time I arrive, Lars is standing outside the entrance, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans.
"Took you long enough."
"I'm sorry. Lukas was being all... Lukas-y."
"Lukas-y?"
"Shut up, it's too humid to think," I say as I open the door, wanting to escape the heat. I'm met by the coolness of the air conditioned store, which I'm extremely grateful for.
Lars and I are greeted by Elizabeta, who seems to work at Beilschmidt's Used Books twenty four seven. According to Bella, the rumor around town is that she's dating the owner's son. It's common knowledge to everyone at Carlisle High School that Bella van Houten is kind of a gossipy bitch. She's generally pretty nice, though.
Elizabeta knows us well due to the fact that Lars comes here about every week, and he usually drags me along. Coming here with him has become sort of a ritual for me. I've been doing it ever since we moved to Carlisle, which was back when I was a socially awkward seventh grader and Lars was the only thing keeping me from getting beaten up by the so-called popular kids. The guy probably reads a novel a day, and I'm not really sure why he doesn't just go to the library, which is what I do. I don't question his actions because he's weird. (In a good way, but that depends on your point of view.)
After chatting with Liz for a while, I browse one of the shelves to see if there's anything worth buying. The door opens, and the little bell meant to notify us of it dings. I don't bother to look at the person who's just come in. I'm aware of whoever it is being in the same section as me.
And then, it happens.
It's just like something you'd see in a corny movie, really. I reach for a book on one of the higher levels of the shelf at the same time that the stranger in the aisle does. It's the same book, and our hands brush against each other as we both touch the spine.
"Oh, sorry," I tell the guy, pulling my hand away. Only then do I get a good look at him.
And holy flying fuck, he's stunning. I'm vaguely aware of him saying that it's alright, but I'm too mesmerized to be sure. Dark hair, creamy white skin, need I go on?
Then, I trip. Over nothing, no less. I wasn't even aware that doing so was possible, but if it was going to happen to anyone, it would be me.
I hit the shelf, which not only hurts but also causes books to rain upon me and my newly discovered dream man as though it's a torrential downpour.
All is perfectly quiet for a moment. Then, Elizabeta breaks the silence.
"Emil, what on Earth did you just do to Leon over there?"
Leon. So that's his name.
"He didn't do anything," he says. "I tripped, that was all." Why is he sticking up for me?
Meanwhile, Lars is finding this whole situation I've gotten myself into absolutely hysterical. And I suppose that it would be, as long as you're not the one it happens to. Currently, he's biting his lip so hard that it may start bleeding in an attempt to keep himself from laughing. I shoot him a look.
Elizabeta and Leon are kneeling on the floor, picking up the books that I knocked over, and so I help them by putting everything back on the shelf. When we're done, I drag Lars to the counter and have Liz ring him up, regardless of whether or not he was done shopping. It's not like he can't come back later. It's utterly impossible for me to even look at Leon, who probably thinks I'm a complete spaz now. Which I am, but that's not the point.
On the way out, my already not-so-smooth departure from the store is ruined by the fact that I don't see a rack of romance novels by the door and crash into it, sending even more books flying.
I've never wished so hard that Nora Roberts novels could open up and swallow klutzy, love-struck teenagers.
