"Spring? Where are you?"

I looked up from my plate of buttered toast to the olive green eyes of my mother, who sat across me at the breakfast table with a mug of camomile tea in her hands.

"I'm right here, Mom."

My mother gave me a small smile, and said in a sing-song tone, "You don't seem to be here. Only your body is. Where has your soul wandered off too?"

I rolled my eyes in amusement and replied back jokingly, "My soul has wandered off to Neverland, where enchantments happen and I do not grow old."

I chuckled. But for some reason, my mother stiffened as she looked at me weirdly.

I stopped my laughter and asked, "Mom? Is something wrong?"

She shook her head as a weary smile appeared on her lips. "Nothing is wrong, dear Spring. I just realized how long it has been since you've spoken of Neverland. If I recalled, the last time you read or watched Peter Pan was when you were seven."

She paused to take a sip of her tea, before continuing. "You always said you wanted to be forever young like him and play to our heart's content. It was nice to see you dream so freely."

I picked up the last piece of buttered toast and munched on it. As I chewed, I said thoughtfully, "It was fun. But then reality set in…"

My mother gave me a gentle slap to my hand that was resting on the table. "Don't talk with your mouth full, Spring!" she scolded me with a smile. "Manners. Have you forgotten?"

I giggled and swallowed before wiping away the crumbs on my lips with a hand. "And use a napkin!" she exclaimed again, looking at me with shock and disgust.

Rolling my eyes, I said, "Mom, please. It's not like a few crumbs would contaminate the whole house. Anyway, I got to go."

As I stood up from my chair and brushed away any remaining traces of crumbs on my blouse with one hand while the other hand held the toast that I was still eating, my mother asked, "Where are you going?"

I picked up my plate and walked to the kitchen as I answered, "To Mrs Edridge's bookshop. I want to pick up some new reading material."

I ate up the last bit of buttered toast and washed my plate as my mother walked in with her now-empty tea cup. Putting it into the sink for me to wash, she commented, "You certainly are a bookworm, aren't you? If more books come in, I would have to buy another shelf for your room."

I chuckled at her statement. In my room, there was one wall that was for nothing but bookshelves, and all nearly filled to the brim with books. Many genres of books like paranormal romance, adventure, mystery and biography were housed there. But majority of them were books about Greek mythology.

"What can I say, mother? I am a bookworm," I said as I wiped the plate and the washed tea cup dry. Putting both on the dish rack, I walked out of the kitchen to the front door, where I grabbed my cardigan off the coat pole.

She walked in just a few seconds after and opened the door for me. As she watched me put on my flat shoes, she asked, "Is it alright if you go to the store and pick up some more tea? We're nearly out. Get some chocolates too if you can."

I nod my head in answer, and gave a swift kiss to my mother's cheek before I walked out of the house and told her that I'll be back soon.

The sun was out, but many clouds hung in the sky. Even as the warm light rays hit my face, it still felt a bit chilly, and I was glad that I had worn my cardigan.

I walked out of my cul-de-sac neighborhood to Main Street, which is the biggest part of Heatherton. Since the town was not really big, everything was within walking distance, and there aren't many cars around here, except those belonging to tourists.

The distance between my house and the bookshop was only about thirty minutes, so I walked briskly, gazing at the windows of the shops. There were many nice things on display, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to afford it. Even with the flower shop's good business, I had to sacrifice majority of my money to the evil things known as taxes and bills.

After about thirty minutes of admiring items on display, I finally met with the familiar window of a shop called 'The Book Room'.

The little bell above the door chimed as I walked in. The middle-aged woman behind the counter looked up and saw me through her metal-rimmed reading glasses.

"Hello there, Spring," she greeted with a smile, putting aside the romance novel she was reading. "How are you today?"

I smiled back politely, and greeted back, "Hello, Mrs Edridge. I'm fine. And you?"

As I made my way to the counter, she answered, "I'm very fine too. And how is Demi?"

"My mother is alright. Anyway, I'm here to collect my books."

Her eyes widened in realization and she exclaimed, "Oh yes! You're right on time!"

She hopped down from her stool and went to a private room next to the counter. I waited patiently at the front, looking at all the new books that were on display. Some had caught my eye, but I had not enough money to get them today. So I made a mental note to pick them up the next time I'm here.

I hear a stack of books placed on the counter and I turned to see Mrs Edridge looking at the titles on the book spines. As she totalled up the price, she commented, "As usual, more books about Greek myths. You're a real sucker for them, aren't you?"

I pulled out my purse from my jeans pocket and produce a small stack of cash. "What can I say? They're interesting," I replied nonchalantly.

Mrs Edridge totalled up the price, and I handed her a stack of cash in the exact amount. As the register printed out my receipt and she packed my books into a paper bag, I looked out the window and watched the people walk past the store.

But suddenly, my heart skipped a beat when I laid my eyes on him.

The first things I noticed were his hair and his eyes. He had black hair that was short and messy, but really attractive-looking. The blackness of his hair was impossible; blacker than black. Very dark, very fathomless. His eyes were the same; pitch black and bottomless. Is black even a natural eye color? Especially black that is so very dark?

He looked a few years older than me, but gosh, he was handsome. His facial features were chiselled and perfect; high cheekbones that were well-defined, a slender nose and his slim but masculine lips

If I wasn't wrong, he looked like that French actor, Gaspard Ulliel. Only more attractive.

But no, that wasn't what made me notice him. It was a different reason.

It was as if… I know him.

I don't how, but I felt like I remembered him. But from where, from when and how?

Seeing that stranger made me feel weird on the inside.

"Spring? Spring?"

I broke out of my stupor, and it was then I realized that the mystery man was now gone.

I slowly slid my eyes away from the window and looked at Mrs Edridge.

"What happened, Spring? You look as if you have just seen a ghost," she asked me.

I gulped, and I realized that my throat had somehow gone dry. I shook my head and grabbed the paper bag, only muttering, "Nothing. I thought I saw someone I know."

Author's Note:

Alright. First chapter. Pretty short, but so far so good. Story still developing in my head. But like I said; so far so good.

On a random note, there's a reason as to why I mentioned Gaspard Ulliel ;)

Muse of Fanfiction