Hi everyone! Here we are again, with another chapter of dear Pitch and Sandy~ Hope you like it! Here we go!
The shuttle bus into the city was a short, five-minute ride. Several people were heading out already, so Sandy and I had to stand while it drove, but all that meant was that he was incredibly close to me as the bus swayed through curves and over bumps. I fought to keep a blush off my face every time he happened to push against me.
When we had woken up (which had been quite early as we'd gotten used to our school schedule) we'd talked our options over. I felt bad about freaking out on his surprise, and Sandy had seemed like he had wanted to go, so we decided to plan for a day out in the city around St. Lunar University. I watched him peer attentively through the bus's windows, taking in all the details he could see as we passed by a growing number of buildings.
"Sandy," a thought occurred to me suddenly. "Have you ever really been into this area before?"
Sandy shook his head no. I bit down a smirk at his wide eyes and thoroughly impressed expression.
We got off the shuttle at a stop between an art shop and a clothing store. It was still early morning, and many businesses were just opening, but at least it wasn't very crowded yet. Sandy marveled at the landscape around him, and I realized that I had never asked where he was from initially. A small town, perhaps?
As I grew lost in my thoughts, Sandy began to walk toward the art shop. He tugged on my arm.
"You want to go here first?"
A firm nod was his answer. We went in.
It seemed more like an antique shop in the front of the store. Vintage sculptures and paintings were collected in the windows. An elderly man sat reading a magazine at the checkout desk. Journals and postcards rested on metal racks around him. He didn't spare us a glance when we came in. Sandy was already gravitating to the back of the store, where there were shelves upon shelves of paints, pencils, and sketchbooks. He picked up a container and showed it to me, grinning joyfully.
"Sand art…?"
He nodded enthusiastically. I bit back another laugh. Why did he have to be so cute all the time? I felt like he was doing it on purpose, knowing full well what kind of effect he had on me.
"Well, it looks interesting, I suppose."
Sandy began to look at several other kits and books, and I moved on to the books and journals. I was pushing through several sketchbooks when I found one with a peculiar cover, decorated with music notes and treble clefs. Slowly, I pulled it from its stack and opened it.
A songbook.
Blank composition paper in the front, lined paper in the back. I stared blankly at it, feeling strangely warm and cold at the same time. My throat tightened and I fought tears back from my eyes.
Sandy's hand touched my wrist. I looked up sharply, snapped the book shut and pushed it back where I had found it.
"Sorry. Did you find what you wanted?"
Sandy nodded, albeit hesitantly. He fixed me with a concerned gaze. I sighed.
"I'm fine. Ready to go?"
The man at the counter checked us out cordially, but just as we were about to leave, he called to us:
"Either of you boys looking for some part-time work?"
"Part time?" I turned around. The man had put down his magazine and was shining his half-moon glasses on a small cloth.
"I've been meaning to do some rearranging upstairs, expanding the merchandise options here. But these old bones've been a might rickety lately. If it's not too much trouble, would either of you be willing to help?"
"Er…well, we could think about it. We're from the University, so…"
"It could only be on a couple of weekends," the man continued. He put his glasses back on and gazed at us expectantly.
I had only been trying to be polite by offering to consider it. But now this frail-looking old man wanted an answer and I could see Sandy frowning with concern for him. I sighed.
"Would it be next weekend or after?"
"Next weekend is plenty of time. You'll really do it?"
Something was just so sad about an old man sounding so hesitantly hopeful.
That's all I have for today, everyone. I'm sorry it's so late, there was a lot to do today! I hope you enjoy this chapter and anticipate all that's to come! Now it's bedtime for me. It's raining out, so here's to a peaceful sleep~