Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC

Chapter 2

I was what people would call a 'people person'. Maybe that was only because I talked so much. Whatever the case, I was never without something or another to say. That's why my uncle had hired me for the store, sometimes I'd spend hours talking to some of my customers, even taking tea with a few of them once our conversations had outlasted the period of daily chit-chat. My uncle said it made the store brighter, whatever that meant but I was glad that my endless chatter had landed me a job.

Sure, working at the bookstore wasn't my end goal but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I went to school to become a teacher, an elementary one at that. I loved working with kids, their brightness and innocence was refreshing, I could never fathom a better profession for myself. I had graduated college but I was still going through the training program at the local elementary school, working there half of the time and at the book store the other half.

I was currently squinting down at the workbook in my hand, flipping to another page with exasperation, the words were just so small and I refused to get my glasses prescription checked. The entrance bell rung and I looked up from my reading behind the register to glance at who it was.

"Hello, again" I said, placing the work book on the counter. It was the blonde-haired man from the day prior. I hadn't expected to see him back, at least not so soon anyway. He gave me a polite smile, one that most certainly sent all the girl's swooning. "What can I do for you today?"

"It's actually for my son, again, he's asked me to purchase a book called 'Mating Rituals for Creatures in the Dark'." I gave him a questioning look, almost afraid to ask about the reason behind his son's slightly strange reading habits. He looked down, smiling slightly but supplied no explanation.

I shook my head, clicking on a few of the computer keys, typing in the name of the book while the man stood, looking around the store before keeping his gaze on the counter.

"We actually have it" I said, looking up from the screen. "I'll just go grab it" I hopped off

the stool, my boot covered feet clunking to the ground as I walked down the aisle. It had only taken me a year, but I finally felt confident enough to traverse the deep seas that were the shelves. Joe never had a comprehensive sorting system, he sometimes had no apparent order to the madness that was shelving. Other co-workers and myself had tried tirelessly to organize the books according to some sort of system but found our efforts fruitless as Joe would return the store to its previous sorting system, if it could even be called a system. Eventually, all of us had surrendered to the disorganization, learning to work around it or just giving in and memorizing certain areas.

I wandered around the last isle of books, I swear that I had seen it somewhere around here. Pushing my glasses up onto the bridge of my nose, I crouched down on the floor, scanning my eyes over the spines. A thin green book caught my eye and I pulled it out, looking at the cover with triumph.

"I found it" I called out, bouncing to my feet. The man's eyes flickered over to where I stood, holding the book up. "Sorry about the wait" I said, going behind the register to ring the book up. He gave me a slight smile but said nothing, bringing out his brown wallet.

"That'll be $7.99, sir"

He handed me a $10 bill and I quickly opened the cash register, grabbing his change. I was so focused that I almost jumped when he spoke.

"It's Carlisle" My hands stopped moving and I looked up, giving him a confused look. "My name, I mean, it's Carlisle"

I looked at him, my hands still holding his change. I knew that name, or at least I had heard it before. Cullen, that's the last name that his son's order had been put under. So, it was Carlisle Cullen, I just couldn't place my finger on it. I shook my head, realizing that I had been staring at him without reply for just a tad bit too long.

"Sorry, I just swear I've heard that name somewhere"

"I can't imagine where"

I shrugged, dropping his change into the palm of his hand, holding his book in my other.

I held out 'Mating Rituals for Creatures in the Dark'. "I hope your son enjoys the book."

"I'm sure he will" As he said the words, my brain sparked up in recognition. I did know him, not personally but I knew of him.

"I've figured out who you are" I blurted out, a smile upon my face. He raised a sleek eyebrow, giving me a questioning look, prompting me to go on.

"You're the 'hauntingly handsome doctor' that had ensnared the minds of the entire staff at the hospital" I said, using air quotes around 'hauntingly handsome doctor'. It was words that I heard whenever I'd have coffee with my friend Dee. She, like the rest of the staff, were positively smitten with the man, I had heard stories that had centered purely around his jaw-line.

"Town gossip really does spread everywhere" he said, amusement lacing into his tone. I'm sure he had heard it all before.

"Well, you're quite the town celebrity, I hear that there's a whole herd of fangirls down at the hospital"

He shook his head, a smile planted on his lips. "The town is just reacting to a new face, that's all"

"That could be true, how long have you and your family been in Forks?"

"Three years"

I couldn't help but laugh, "I don't think three years qualifies you as a new face to the town anymore, Doctor Cullen"

"Perhaps not" he conceded, his bright eyes looking into my brown ones for a moment before I looked away.

"I suppose I shouldn't keep you long, Doctor Cullen"

"Please, it's Carlisle"

"Well, I suppose I shouldn't keep you long, Carlisle" I repeated. He turned to leave, swinging the door open before turning back to me.

"I suppose it's not fair that you know my name but I don't know yours"

"I'll tell you next time" I said with such confidence that it almost shocked myself. He said nothing, a hint of a smile playing on his lips before walking out the door.

I couldn't deny that he was charming. He wasn't the pompous type that survived on his looks alone, at least not from what I could see. I had only met him twice, how good of a grasp on his character could I really have. I wasn't going to turn into a fan. I couldn't do that, I had more self-respect for myself than to pine after someone who I'd only just met. No, it was decided, I would never develop romantic feelings for the good doctor.

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Hey, I finished two chapters in one day! Anyway, tell me what you think.