wallflower

I’m fucking fine.

Cadence carefully placed another book into the empty slot on the shelf.  She knew the shelves of the store better than she’d ever know the back of her hand and always knew when something was missing and had to be returned to its place or restocked.  That’s why the bookstore had hired her.  She was a loyal customer with a terrifying knowledge of their layout who had refused to take no for an answer when they had originally declined her application to work on the grounds that they did not need another set of hands.  But she had proven her skill and agreed to work part time during the summer, and they had agreed to accept her.

She needed the money, so even a part time summer job was better than nothing.  Her parents had been bickering about money and who could blame them.  With eleven people in their family and a dream of sending nine daughters to college, every penny was needed and Cadence was desperate to relieve some of the pressure.

Holly stood inside the small bookshop, gripping tightly onto the cover of a book. She could do this, she could survive maybe an hour or two more. Her jittering nerves told her otherwise though and she tried to steady her breathing and her quick beating heart. This was her last stop, she told herself, then she could go home and relax, maybe even cook something. The prospect of being home so soon made her feel a bit stronger and she let go of the book she'd momentarily had grabbed onto.

Slowly drifting through the isles Holly stopped several times to check the titles of books. She was looking for some novels that had been part of her summer homework and some books that the rest of the family asked for or would enjoy. One book her sister had wanted caught her eye and Holly grabbed it off the shelf. It would make a nice present for her, or some sort of bribe if the case ever came. She knew the former was probably more likely since they never really got into any disputes.