I woke up early and with a smile on my face. A smile that had no doubt been there all through the night.
I stretched out and sat up on the bed when... "Hello Roomie, good morning. How are you?" My smile instantly dropped. Yeah, Sienna's faux cheery and friendly voice in the morning could that to anyone and any smile. I let out an annoyed breath because how on earth was I supposed to deal with her? "What do you want from me Sienna?" My voice mirrored my annoyance. "Ooo would you look at that, our shy little strawberry has finally grown some balls. How old are you feeling now, I bet you're feeling pretty matured now, aren't you?" I rolled my eyes, good thing I ignored her last night. I didn't even acknowledge her after that, just got up and out of bed, and went for a long soothing shower. By the time I got back into the dorm, Sienna was laying down and on her phone. I ignored her and went about getting ready for my day. I had a class at eleven and it was only seven, but I wanted to study before the day started, so right after getting some breakfast, I went to study at the library. I was so focused that by the time I lifted my head to scan my surroundings, it was nine thirty and the library had more people in it now than it did when I came in. Among the sea of students though, I caught a pair of familiar dull brown eyes framed by huge red rimmed glasses. An uneasy feeling settled over me when I looked at Virginia. I looked away as quickly as my eyes met hers. I wasn't quite certain why I felt that way towards her, but I just did. Feeling like I didn't want to be late, I rounded up and by ten I was heading towards my class. Midway I turned and stopped short when I saw Virginia following me, it could be that she also wanted to get to class early, but I didn't like how she seemed to follow me stealthily, it just added to the whole unease. For a second I was indecisive about whether to stop and confront her about it or just leave her be and go to class. After a few seconds, I decided to just ignore her and go to class, after all she could always say she was just going to class too, so I just let it go and got into the class. I sat in my usual middle seat and soon Virginia was walking in and making her way towards where I sat, I watched with bated breath, hoping she didn't decide to plop down beside me. Thankfully, she sat two seats behind me and I finally released my breath. I didn't hear anything from her from the time she sat till the class ended and I rushed out to avoid her and get to work early. I walked to my dorm to change, and all the time I kept looking behind me to see if she was following me, she wasn't, but I really didn't like having to look over my shoulder all the time. I would definitely talk to dad about it after work. I got out of my white shirt and trousers and replaced it with a yellow knee length dress with sandals. Then I released my hair from the high ponytail I held it in, shook it out and gave it some breathing space and then held it up into a bun. Satisfied with my looks, I took my bag and threw two novels in, my purse with money and my water bottle. After that, I was out of the dorm. Locking it behind me and taking my key with me. ~~~ After more looking over shoulder sessions, I was soon at the shop. Surprisingly, Mr. Potter was already there. "Good afternoon Mr. Potter." I greeted with a smile which he returned. "Hello Rosette. How are you, darling?" He said while neatly arranging some new books onto specific shelves. We must have gotten some new deliveries while I wasn't around. "I'm fine Sir, and you?" He turned, beaming at me and spreading his arms out. His kind eyes crinkling at the corners. "I feel wonderful dear, like I'm twenty years old all over again." I laughed at that. "I'm glad you feel that way." "Yes, yes. But tell me dear, how was the game yesterday?" I sighed and dropped my bag on the front desk. I informed him about the game when I was asking if I could take the day off to go to the game, and he readily agreed. "Well while it wasn't as nightmarish as I thought it would be, the game is still not going to be on the top hundred things that I'll spend my time doing." Now it was his turn to laugh. "There's no way to convert you, eh? Or should they try just a little harder, maybe a little convincing will move it up the ranks?" I considered it for a moment and then settled on a no. I didn't see it moving up the ranks anytime soon, not for any reason. "Well that's understandable. I watch the game from time to time, but it's honestly not something I'd ever invest serious time into." I agreed. "So will you be here for long?" He usually didn't stay for long when I was around. "No, I just wanted to sort out these deliveries but since you're here, well it looks like I wouldn't have to go through the whole lot of them." "Oh don't worry about that, I'll get it sorted out. I should be done before I have to go, so don't worry." "Sure, but please Rosette, don't leave too late. I know the school is close by and the streets are always awake here, but I'd rest easy knowing that you are getting home early and safe." I understood, he had the same concerns as my family. I completely understood and didn't disregard it at all. "Yes Sir, I'll leave early." He nodded. "Good, very good." After that, he explained the process and what he wanted me to do to sort things out. Soon after, he left me alone to work. I was sorting some books out at the back of the room when I heard the door open, and since there was no one around, I immediately dropped everything and went forward but my blood turned to ice when I saw who was standing there, Virginia. "V-Virginia?" I squeaked, my voice shaky. I most definitely didn't like this, not one bit. She turned to look at me. She had a smile on her face, but even that didn't make me feel better. "Hi Rosette, I didn't know you were working here, how are you?" "Have you been following me around?" I couldn't help but ask. "No" she all but shouted, growing defensive. " I didn't know you worked here, I just wanted to get a book and this morning I was just studying in the library too, and then later I was just going to class. I'm not, I'm not following you around." I didn't buy it, but I couldn't prove she was up to something either, so I let it slide...again. "Okay, what do you want?" I asked, walking past her and going to the desk. No reply came, it was like she was thinking of what to say for a moment. I raised a brow at her and she blushed. "Sorry, I just want to look around. I wanted to get a book but I wasn't sure what to buy, so I'm here. Do you have any recommendations?" I may not like her at the moment, she may make me feel uneasy and I wanted her far away from me, but I had a job to do, I would do it no matter what. So I pasted a friendly smile on my face and spoke to her. "We have both fiction and nonfiction books, and there are a lot of genres under each. We have romance, fantasy, horror, sci-fi and the likes under fiction and we also have self help, motivation, religious, educational books and such under non fiction, so please feel free to explore." My voice was professional. "Um...what books do you like?Personally?" It took everything in me not to show my frustration. "I'm not picky with books." "Oh uh, I thought you liked romance, since that's what you always read." I blinked at her. You claim you're not following me and yet you know the type of books I like, you're clueless about what you want from my workplace yet say you came here to get books, and if you know I like romance, then why ask? "Yes, I read romance novels. If you'd like those, I can direct you towards them." "Oh sure, that'll be lovely. Thank you." I didn't respond, just took the lead and took her towards the romance novels, and before she could ask me to choose one for her, I left her there and went back to the desk. She came back not even five minutes later and laid down three books by Nora Roberts; Savor The Moment, Daring To Dream, and The Next Always. I didn't comment, just scanned them gave her the total, took the money, kept the change like she'd asked and said goodbye. It was only after she left that I could let out a breath of genuine air. I had to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible, I didn't like what was going on and I didn't want it going on for long, or even at all.After Virginia left, I spent what seemed to be hours sorting out the books, I also had a few people coming to pick up some books. Generally, it was a really good business day. By the time five rolled by, I was in need of food, but I had about three customers, a group of girlfriends choosing their books from the romance and fantasy sections. I could hear them giggling and commenting on the various books. They didn't seem like they were in a hurry to go anywhere, however my stomach was trying to stab me from the inside out. As I was contemplating going over to tell the girls that I needed to eat so they needed to hurry, my phone pinged, notifying me of an incoming message. I picked up the phone and instantly smiled, my stomach pains temporarily on hold. Alexander: I'll bet my right arm that you're currently on all levels of hunger. My reply was immediate. Rosette: It's a bet you're not going to lose on any level.Alexander: Anything specific you'd want to eat?Rosette: There are st
"Packed and ready to go." My dad said, patting the hood of the car as the last of my boxes were packed into the back of the worn out red pickup truck. His voice lacked its usual enthusiasm, and he sounded sad even though he was trying his best to sound happy for me, excited. It's not that he wasn't...well the whole family wasn't excited, it's just that...I sighed. Ever since my acceptance letter from the North Seattle College came in, there had been this blanket of sadness over the whole family. They wanted me to stay and go to a local college, and then help them on the strawberry farm, or at least use my degree in Business Administration to run the shop, and I honestly didn't want that. I wanted more than strawberries and little shops, a small town with a handful of people that you see everyday, I wanted more. I didn't know what I was going to meet out there in Seattle, but I knew I wanted it, and I was ready to go, my mind was made up. "Promise me that you'll be fine, Rosie." my
The problem with moving to a new place when you know no one and are expecting someone is the annoying brick called anticipation residing in your stomach layered with cements of skeptism. I was laying on my made up bed after packing all my stuff, making my side of the dorm room honey to me and taking a shower. The walls were white washed, and while my roommate's side of the room was covered in posters of some boy band, my side was clear, I had some of my novels neatly arranged beside my bed, beside them was a framed picture of my family at the farm, and a digital clock that doubled as an alarm in the shape of a strawberry. Then nothing else. My sheets were white with little pink flowers, and everything about my side was neat and tidy. I liked my space neat and tidy all the time, but that's not all, I wanted to make a good first impression. Something my roommate will appreciate, I hoped she would like me, or at least she wouldn't have issues with me. She certainly didn't have i
Over the next few days, I went everywhere I possibly could on campus, I didn't want to get lost especially on my first of class come Monday. After orientation, I would go around and find out where different things and places where. After my in campus tour, I begun to go out of school. It was weird, the difference between my home and school, it was like two different worlds. There were so many people around, and even more different things to see and do. It was refreshing and addictive. Had I not been out looking for a part time job, I would have spent much more time exploring. But I needed to get looking. By the end of the week, I'd secured a spot for myself in a bookshop not too far from school. I was elated, I guess Lizzy's dream was coming true, just in a different form and place. The owner, Mr. Henry Potter (funny as that sounds) was a jolly old man who had the bookshop overflowing and had no help around the place because people thought the bookshop creeped them out. For some re
I was nervous, wringing my arms in front of me and straightening my white shirt all over again. I woke up early today and got ready for my first class. My hair was held up in a neat bun, and I was wearing a neatly straightened white shirt with form fitting jeans paired with black flats and a black handbag. I looked good on the outside,but inside was a different matter all together. I was a nervous wreck, my stomach was all tied up and in knots, and...yeah, it wasn't pretty.I was just standing in front of the double doors of the lecture hall,hoping I can rewind and be back in bed. I just didn't know what to expect. Everything was so different from things at home, and I didn't know what to expect.I'd never had a panic attack before, but I was certainly seconds away from one now, and even though it was a little chilly, it seemed I was going to break into a sweat. I wasn't even sure I was breathing right at that point.I turned, ready to bolt and go take care of my nerves before openi
He was sitting at the front desk, nose deep in a...my brows furrowed, was that my book? Rude. I just studied him as he sat there reading my book. He was indeed handsome, and while he didn't look too old, he was also wasn't so young. Probably somewhere in his thirties. He kinda reminded me off one of the male protagonists from my romance books, lots of money, matured, handsome, true his word, because he definitely stayed when he said he would, and we'll... I didn't know him yet, so I couldn't tell who and what exactly he was. I took a step forward and suddenly his eyes snapped up to look at me. I like his eyes, like melted chocolate. My mouth watered, even though I'd just consumed a whole meal and my drink was still in my hand. He stared at me with a lazy smile on his face, and I think I went weak in my knees. I should have hoped he gave me a guilty smile for going through my stuff and reading my book, but my knees almost gave way under me for that lazy smile that just looked glo
"Mom, you don't need to worry about it, I'm studying, I promise. Besides, it's not like I'm having any extra curricular activities or anything, aside school and work, I have nothing to do." I whined to my mom over the phone, she was constantly telling me to focus on my studies and not give my attention to anything unnecessary including my storybooks, her words, not mine. I sighed, it's been twenty minutes since we started talking and I was all in for giving an excuse and hanging up. I shut that thought down though, it's still only been a few weeks since I left, not even a month. If I started doing this now, then by the time I go a year, I wouldn't even be calling home at all. She was just worried, I just left, and my mom has always been a tad bit overprotective, coupled with what happened with Felix, it was just a normal reaction, nothing extraordinary. Suck it upWe spoke for a few more minutes before she had to go check on her stew and hanged up. I almost told her to save some for
I think I look like one of the zombie's from Hotel Transylvania, because I undoubtedly felt like one. I was supposed to be rushing off to my early morning class for a quiz, but I honestly couldn't find it in me to walk without dragging myself around because I just felt tired and drained, sluggish. The reason? Sienna.It's as simple as that. I could say it was lack of sleep, but the root cause of that lack of sleep was Sienna. She was slowly trying to make life unbearable for me, I could just feel it. I couldn't feel it before because I thought she just didn't like me, but the small devilish smile she gave me when my alarm woke me up this morning was nothing I could overlook. I don't believe I hate people, but after last night, I was pretty close to it.Sienna's friends minus one left well past 1am when I was already struggling to keep my eyes open. At least I was glad I could got back to my bed and sleep...only, I couldn't.I entered the room and God knows if I could bleach my eyes