"Alright Mr. Maple Tree what the heck is going on with you?" I mumble nibbling on some almonds enjoying the saltiness as I study my bonsai tree guide. I hold one leaf frowning at its yellowing color. Flicking on a song I sing along reading the book.

"I've given you sunshine
I've given you dirt.
You've given me nothing
But heartache and hurt.
I'm beggin' you sweetly.
I'm down on my knees.
Oh, please-grow for me!"

I continue humming as the door dings turning my heart drops.

"Welly, welly, well if it isn't the lovely fox?" He smirks twirling his cane. His voice caused me to cringe and his condescending fashion made me want to knock him off his high horse. How can his mere presence disgust me so thoroughly? Surely, he deserves an award for this accomplishment?

"You are strangely troublesome." I sigh brushing my bangs from my eyes.

He smiles blocking my path as I move to shelf some books. I was willing to do anything to avoid being around him. I move again, but he mirrors my movements.

"Such antics do not amount to a man." I roll my eyes slipping under his arm. He catches it leaning me against the counter. Coming close to my ear he whispers two words in my ear.

My eyes widen in horror, but I remain un-phased.

"I do desire we may be better strangers." My voice felt raw as I shoved him away lifting a brow.

He smirks again. That fucking smirk, like he was so sure of himself. I place my hand on my hip staring him down. He bows his head and steps to our door calling out

"Viddy well, Atticus." His voice full of ridicule as the sound of his cane hitting my hardwood floor echoed in harmony with the bells above the door.

I watch him leave leaning on my desk rubbing my arm where he grabbed still tender from before. Sighing I place my head in my hands feeling my stomach contort. He was bluffing, he had to be bluffing. There was no way. Absolutely no way he knew.

The bell rings again putting me on edge. I stand quickly seeing Gatsby. He takes in my current position and comes over pulling me into a hug. I yelp my ribs being crushed in his bear hug.

"What's wrong old sport?" He runs his fingers through my short hair. Shaking my head I hold him close not wanting to let go. "Atti, I know when you're lying." He reminds rubbing my back.

I smile kissing him rougher than usual. He raises his eyebrows amused walking us to the couch returning my affection, the sensation in my chest relieving my worry.

We sat on a park bench waiting for the rain. I had my book opened on my lap ignoring the world around me while he wrote in his journal. Every once in a while we would sneak peeks at each other. He was so beautiful to me. His blackish brown hair wore in a modest part and his bangs sleeked out of his face. He wore his adorkable thick framed glasses or spectacles as he insisted. He had on suspenders. What normal sixteen year old guy wore suspenders all the time because they "made him feel spiffy"? He was my perfect bookworm nerd. I loved him as a brother and like a crush. It was the most dysfunctional relationship.He looked over at me giving me a skeptical grin. I roll my eyes wrinkling my nose face flustered because he caught me staring. Again. I smoothed my floral dress with green cardigan. He nudged my shoulder with his own causing me turn. Without warning he kisses me. I draw back before melting. It felt like I had always dreamed. Nothing like kissing your brother. We constantly denied liking each other saying we were just best friends.

Lies, all of it.

We both knew it, everyone knew it. I move from his lips sighing.

"Damn it Gatsby..." I whisper blushing.

He was also quite flushed and perplexed

"Sorry... I shouldn't have done that." He mutters looking the other way.

"No, you shouldn't have," I state touching my lips trying to figure out if what happened was real. His taste still lingered. I smile, taking his hand causing him to turn "because I knew the day you kissed me would be the day I lost all sense of self control. Gatsby, I've loved you since you let me eat the cherry from your Sundae even though I knew you loved them."

He laughed a nervous laugh and we sat awkwardly not sure what to do next.

"What are we suppose to do now? I'm at my favorite part of this book and your pen has been scratching the paper so hard you must be somewhere important." I smiled.

He hands me the journal and I read,"Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her, kiss her. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever since. Kiss her."It must have been scrawled over a hundred times. Each one bolder than the next.

I grab his suspenders and yank him into my arms and kiss him. I wanted to kiss him a hundred times. Make up for lost time and just kiss him forever.We part, I bite my lip turning back to my book and he returns to his writing. After a few more moments he takes my hand and we continue our afternoon.

He pins me to the couch with his legs and runs his fingertips over my collar bone. He rubs my cheek with the other as if rubbing away all the negativity.

"Found you." He smiles kissing my nose holding my ribs too tightly. I wince and he loosens his grip resting his forehead upon my own.

It never dawned on me to tell him about the fear gnawing away in my stomach. I kept my mouth shut. He worried enough; instead I held him and kissed him another hundred times.

HI.

My work schedule got all messed up this week so I have not had normal days off (silly tourist season messing with my writing schedule…)

I really like how this story is coming along and hope you guys do too.

DemonBarber14: I don't like switching up Atti and Red when I write because of that reason (along with some other major reasons, but we will get to that later). I'm glad you like my fight sequences. I've never been too good with writing them. I usually just Google "self defense combat" and hope for the best.

Nova Sinfonia: Hello, and welcome! Thanks for all the reviews on everything and perhaps I'm eating oysters the wrong way because I've never looked very attractive whilst eating them.

TheWeasleyBoys: I try, I try… But, yes I do try to make it as realistic as possible.

Okay…

BYE

Hazel (which is what we can use if you guys are tired of having to type bibliophilechild)?