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(2 P.M. - The Traveling Book, Co.)

Few people had come in the store all day, so Lauren sat with her feet propped up on the desk, earphones on listening to Violent Turn's demo, eating donut holes while skimming through a Vogue magazine. Moving her booted feet to the beat and lightly bobbing her head, she didn't hear the bell jingle when the door opened.

Trent walked in and stood in the middle of the hardwood flooring and watched with a bemused smile as Lauren bobbed her head to whatever she was listening to, and took a bite of a donut. He walked up, and leaned his forearms on the counter, watching her.

Lauren stopped moving the minute she saw the shadow move across her magazine. Before looking up she sat up completely, put the donut down, and took her headphones off, and then looked up. "Can I help you, sir..." Her words froze in her throat, and she stared at Trent. "Hi, Trent."

"Hey. What're you listening to?" Wearing a dark gray beanie and a forest green hoodie that had Violent Turn's logo in black across the front, Lauren wanted to melt.

"Uhm... Your demo, actually."

Trent was quiet for a moment and looked down at her CD player before looking at her again. "Where'd you get that?"

Lauren dusted her button down blue and white striped shirt off as she stood up. "Mandy gave it to me actually. She took me out for lunch and we ended up talking about you, well, the band a bit." She knew it was somewhat a lie, but she ignored it and looked at him.

Trent seemed to relax a little. He considered asking if Mandy had told her anything he might want to know about, but he figured that would just pike her curiousity and she would start asking questions. "Oh. Okay. Well, hey. I just wanted to stop by and tell you thanks for your help with Mandy's gifts. She really loved them. And I need to buy something else."

"Oh, it was no problem. I remember her mentioning something about that, she was all excited. What can I help you with, though?"

Trent stared at her for a moment, and then realized he didn't /i anything. Just to see her. So he quickly skimmed his brain and said, "I need a book for, uhh... Zeek. He's thinking of buying a ticket to Italy to spend that much time over there. He wanted me to stop by and get one because he was 'too busy' or something like that."

Lauren gave him a confused look before laughing and stepping out behind the desk. "Okay, well, the books are still in the same place." She motioned with her hand and they went to the back of the store.

Skimming through the titles of the books with her hands, she didn't see Trent as he came up and stood half a foot directly behind her. His face was close to her hair, and he breathed her in, wanting to close his eyes and sigh. Why didn't he just let this take itself somewhere? Obviously there was attraction, if they slept together and never saw each other again... well, then... The sleeping together part would be good, but not so soon, and the thought of never seeing her again... Trent clenched his teeth and balled his hands into fists and shoved them in the pocket of the sweater.

"Here we go," Lauren said as she turned around, a book in her hand. She found herself pressed against the bookshelf because of Trent's body and suddenly his arms were placed on the bookshelf on either side of her head. His head was bowed, so he was face to face with her, and he was searching her eyes.

"Lauren, do you want this to go anywhere?"

Taken aback, she pressed the book to her chest before letting the hand drop and she slid it on top of some books. "What's this?"

"Us, whatever you're trying to get from me. I don't... I'm having a hard time getting what your doing. What ARE you doing?"

Lauren could feel his breath softly on her face and down the unbuttoned part of her shirt. She was silent for a moment, "Trent... Ever since I first met you, I've been drawn to you. I'll be blunt about it, I am attracted to you. And I want to get to know you. I know you have underlying emotional baggage, scars, whatever, but I'm okay with that. I can handle that." She wanted to touch him but was somewhat scared of how he'd react since his face had gotten a degree harder with every wood. She could now completely see the outline of his cheek bones and the hollows of his cheeks from how thin he was. "I want you, and I don't see anything wrong with that. Do you?"

Trent looked down for so long that Lauren wondered if he had heard it. She opened her mouth to speak but suddenly felt his right hand cup her cheek and his lips press down on hers. Smiling, she had a sense of déjà vu. She rested her hands on his lean hips, and felt him press his body against hers. Finally, his tongue met hers, almost shyly, as though he were afraid to get any deeper, any more intimate.

Trent pulled away, his breathing quiet but heavy. He looked at her, pulled away, and shoved his hands back in his pockets. She tasted better than anything, and he wanted her, but it was too soon. It seemed she may want something more than casual sex, and he felt the same way. Coming back a little closer, he rested his forehead on hers, and said quietly, "We'll just take it slow." He pulled away from her, gave her one last glance, and walked out of the small area and out the door.

"Trent, you... forgot the book." Lauren said as the door closed. Smiling, she picked the book up and brought it with her to the front of the store. Well, what a beginning.