~Jem's POV~

I stared at my feet as I walked back home, carefully placing one before the other atop the concrete. I don't know what I was expecting. It was nice to be in Seto's company, and I had always enjoyed it because he ignored me, so why was I suddenly wanting his attention?

I sighed and looked up, deciding I should actually look where I was going. A man was about to pass me, and I noticed him eyeing me. As casually as I could I looked away, pretending that something in the passing shop caught my eye. But then I didn't have to pretend.

Inside the wide windows lay books. Lots and lots of books. I came to a stop, looking up to the sign. Ophelia's, it read in old, worn print. "Hm," I hummed, interested. I looked back down to the books. Though the light inside was dim, to me it appeared to glorify them, and to me, it appeared more welcoming. This was perhaps the first store that had ever drawn me in. This was a place I could get lost in.

I paced back. As I went to push open the door, I noticed a small sign that said, "Please watch for Kasper." There was no more information than that, so I simply lowered my eyebrows and continued. The bell above the door dinged quietly as I entered.

I could see much more once inside. What I had seen before was a small section with low shelves, and the best lit area with some natural light. The short, long shelf was deep and double-sided. Behind that was the counter, and behind that was a somewhat frightful person. I couldn't tell if they were a man or a woman. He or she was very old, their hair sparse and frizzy. He or she was pale, but not like me, and with hollowed-out eyes. They were somewhat egg-shaped from what I could see, and wore a dark green shawl over a white blouse. Directly in front of me were piles and piles of books, which the worker, and I would assume owner, seemed to be sorting. I liked this person, though. He or she kept the store in complete silence, not bothering me at all. That was always the worst part of stores, when the clerk approached.

Beyond them was an aisle, leading to small sections partitioned by high shelves against the wall. I walked through the low isle near the window, glancing at the books and realizing this was the children's section. But I was headed for the back.

The store closed around me as I went deeper. It was heaven. The tall, numerous shelves were overflowing, books stacked in piles at the end that were taller than me. These piles spilled everywhere, narrowing the aisle and enclosing the sections. One section of a pile, just at eye level, caught my attention. It was stacks of different copies of my beloved Divine Comedy. I couldn't help by smile, pulling one. It was old, worn, and loved. Almost all of these books seemed to be, and they filled the store with the scent of aged paper.

I returned the book and wandered into the nearest section. This one in particular carried books on places and cultures around the world, but they weren't travel guides. I pulled one on Mexico that was far from commercialized. It was written in a coherent narrative, squarely filling each page. I came upon a hand drawn, colorful illustration on the Day of the Dead, then settled down on the old carpet to study it some more. By the time I had moved to the Aztecs, I had a visitor.

He was quiet as he jumped down from the nearby pile and stretched. I glanced at him, not moving. He was old, grey, and fluffy. This was the first time I had ever seen a cat in person, and was somewhat interested, though I remained frozen. He came over to me, stretching his neck out to sniff me. I apparently passed the test as he set his paws on my book. I didn't understand this cat. He acted as though he was being very sneaky as he climbed atop the open book, but must have known full well that I could seem him as he settled in. Then he was happily covering my book. Perhaps I did not like cats.

I gently pushed him off, and he seemed more offended than I expected an animal could be. But he came back, this time going further and somehow making more room than I thought possible out of the small, unoccupied space on my lap. I sighed, supposing I could allow this.

I didn't need to move from there to find more books that intrigued me. I decided on a small collection, then moved on. The cat was very content, and I knew it would not be easy to move him.

After a time, I petted him once as a peace-offering, only to discover a collar hidden under his fluff. Out of curiosity, I pulled at the tag. "I see. Sorry Kasper, but I have to go," I apologized as I pulled him from my lap.

As I was paying for my books, now closer to the entrance, I started to get pulled back into reality. I realized it was time to hurry home to Jude.

"Hey, sis," Jude greeted when I walked in the door. He had been waiting for me. He spotted the books in my hand. "Was your project on Egypt?"

"No," I answered, putting my stuff down. Kasper had somewhat limited me to the Mediterranean. "I found this old bookstore on the way home. And I saw a cat."

"You saw a cat?" Jude echoed. "What does that have to do with anything?"

I shrugged. "I've never seen one before."

"Ohhhhh... and?" he still didn't seem to understand.

"I think I'm more of a fish person," I concluded.

He laughed, heading back into the apartment. "You would say that." Then he spun around, opening his arms to gesture around, accomplished. "So, I got you stuff. It's not everything seeing as I didn't have much time, but you can work with it."

I looked around as I settled in, but I didn't say anything.

"What do you think?" he prompted.

"I'm not sure I'm a neon green couch kind of person, but I'm very glad to have furniture," I answered.

He got excited, sharing, "It glows in the dark," in reference to the couch. "I thought you could use some fun."

I didn't know what to say. All I could come up with was, "How am I not surprised?"

He went over and hopped, spinning in midair to land on his back on the couch. "So," he asked mischievously, "you ready for whatever trouble we're getting in tonight?"

I became apprehensive, cautious, removed. "Um..." I began. I still had fun with Jude, but I had no plans to return to the craziness from before. I was more excited about my new books, but I didn't know how to break it to my brother. I was searching for a compromise, but having trouble finding one.

"Come on, don't tell me you were planning on staying in, it's Saturday night!" he exclaimed.

I opened my mouth, searching for the words, and without really meaning to, shook my head. Jude's smile faded. "I should have known. I should have known you wouldn't go out with me." He covered his face and shook his head, then let out a laugh of disgust. I knew that ever since I came back, he had tried to be upbeat, trying to find the energy to deal with having a completely new twin. But I had never figured out how to help him with it.

He took his hand away. "You haven't been the same since you went to that fucking boarding school-"

"Jude, stop-"

"It's him, isn't it? He's the one that changed you. Your fucking best friend-"

"Jude it's not like that. I found myself there. I thought you could see and accepted that this-"

"This is not the Jemmie I remember." He got up, going to the door. "I'm still going out, I don't care if you're not coming." He peered back over his shoulder at the door. "Why don't you give Orion a call, I'm sure you'd rather talk to him. Tell him I hope he comes down with an incurable disease and that I fucking miss my sister," was his last blow before he slammed the door.

I choked up, far too many things running through my head. He had just broken my heart. What's more, his wish made me remember just why I had never called, of the fear I had of the news asking for him would bring. I was abruptly overcome with unwanted sobs.

If Jude didn't know who I was, then I was truly alone.

Next Chapter: Sick

He had fallen to his knees, hand still on the doorknob, which he pulled to help him back to his feet.