Listening to music while reading the instructions of a book adding a few drops of patchouli oil to a vile with an eye dropper it was easy to tell we were having yet another slow day. My wide rimmed brown glasses keep sliding down my nose and my bangs continued to flutter into my greens eyes. I blew a puff of air trying to move them as I stayed eye level with the counter. My knees were less than thrilled from the hour I have spent studying the book. Reason number 543 I shouldn't be able to access to books when bored; however, compared to some of the weird things I have done this wasn't too shocking
The music carries on to an old children's folk song. I sing along studying the diagrams swirling the liquid and add amber. The sweet earthy fills the space giving the store a pleasant aroma. This seemed to be heading in a much better direction than my failed attempted with lavender. Why anyone thinks it smells like "Lover's Embrace" is beyond me? I put a couple drops on my neck massaging it in. The chain of bells I hung above the door chimes causing me to look up. He enters with grace and a certain degree of arrogance. I only call him He because he seemed to believe he was something be known. I put on my best smile and jump up dusting my skirt off.
"Hello, anything you need help with?"
He turns startled obliviously not realizing I had been behind the counter. I wince laughing.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." I apologize tossing my hair from my eyes. He smirks.
He was devilishly good looking. Satan in a Sunday hat if you will. His sandy blond hair had a slight curl and he wore a gaudy purple coat with white trim.
"I was wondering if you could help me with some quotes dearie?" Gosh, even his voice was that of a bad boy.
"Oh, of course. Quotes are one of my many specialties." I smile leaning on the corner realizing how flirty the ladder part of the sentence sounded I clear my throat and stand up shifting my feet. He steps close picking up one of my bottles of oil. Glancing up at me his blue eyes sparkle. My cheeks burn a nice shade of red despite my best intentions.
He reaches into his pocket pulling out a neatly folded piece of paper. He slides it over to me still smirking. I open it noticing his penmanship. The letters curved with grace and malice. There was an edge to them, much like his air his handwriting also revealed more of him than I believe he knows.
"If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does." I read aloud smiling at the quote. Lewis Carroll.
"You know this one little sister?" The term of endearment makes me grimace, but I look up with a light smile.
"It's from Lewis Carroll. He wrote Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, Jabberwocky."
He nods as I speak observing me with great interest, his hand inching closer to mine on the counter. I read the next one moving my hand away.
"The next one is from Theodore Geisel." I slide the paper back to him. He gives me a quizzical look. Realizing he had no idea who I was talking about I try again. "Dr. Seuss?" He lifts a brow still at a loss. I raise both of my eyebrows.
"Seriously? Cat in the Hat, Fox in Socks..." I hunt his face for any recognition. Nothing. Not even a glimmer of awareness.
"Oh..." I murmur to myself. Coming around the counter I hold up a book "Let's start with the basics. These are called books." I point to it receiving a sour look from him.
"You're mocking me." He narrows his eyes. I felt his demeanor change, but shrug in return.
"Okay, you're coming into a bookstore and you don't even know the most prolific children's poet. Next to Shel Silverstein that is. You kind of had a few insults coming your way." I stroll into our children section picking out a Seuss piece.
"Here." I hand it to him. His fingers brush over mine. Soft and warm compared to my cold ones.
"Thank you little sister. You have been a very helpful and also quite beautiful." He shifts nearer closing the space between us.
I draw back flabbergasted, yet cannot suppress my mirth. He seems confused the sudden comment caused me to express amusement.
"Um, does that commonly work for you?" Despite my hardest attempts I cannot seem to stifle the giggle coming from my throat. He comes close again stroking my cheek. I slap his hand away scowling. His smirk returns once he realizes the contact irritated me. I scoff rolling my eyes and going to walk away, however he grabs my arm.
"Your name? You haven't told me." He loosens his grip and lingers.
I glare shrugging his arm off in annoyance, but mull over his request.
"Sir Hunter you persist." I sigh, thinking before I respond "Call me a fox, for that is all I am to you."
He smiles handing me the money for the book and saunters out without another word.
HI…
I hope you enjoy. I intentionally quoted a famous quote from A Knight's Tale because Atti seems like the nerdy type of girl who could pull things like that out of her head and it really seemed to suit her. Now you have seen how Atti and Red interact with Alex. I decided he probably wouldn't speak Nadsat with just everyone because I vaguely remember him not doing it in to the working in the record shop or in the prison.
Please review and much love to my reviewers.
okay.
BYE