~Her Head Stuck In A Book

Thick lips got another gloss over with his tongue. The air often chapped them and in that moment it was more an awkward tick. Affected like her by that old dynamic between them now like a veil around them. “Good crazy things, I hope.” Even with the passage of time, he still wanted her to thrive and have the best. His head going back to look at the ceiling, briefly, then went back to her. “You could open another section of the store? Get into games maybe? A cafe? Or just move up there, if you want.” A few ideas off the top of his head he passed with a shrug. “Oh, you know…” His line of work called for discretion, Hardly able to discuss details, but, “It’s been good. Winning cases like always. Champ is learning some new tricks, too!” Did she even remember the dog? “You know, going through my routines, like always.” It’s been a year… That thought echoed a few times in his head which he nodded as if having to agree with her on that note.

Naomi looked down for a few seconds, feeling like she was out of breath. “If you have the time, we can talk about that”, she said raising her head abruptly. “Good things always derive from bad things and vice versa”, she said with a sad smile.”I’ll probably create a studying place upstairs-it’s one of the things I’ve been thinking about. But, definitely need an assistant first, because I did all that almost by myself”, she waved her arms around the place. “But, yes another section probably”, she nodded, smiling. “Awwww”, a smile spread across her face. “Do you have pictures or videos of Champ doing them?”, she said, not holding back her enthousiasm. Her eyes trailed off around the place, seeing not many people were there. “I can order some coffee and we can catch up if you want. Or you can wait for me to close and we can go somewhere for that”, she raised her eyebrows.

“I hope that‘s a Cuba Libre and not just Coke on your glass.” Pax didn’t know much of Naomi since they weren’t close, but what he did know was that she needed a little push to have some fun. “If you wanna let loose, a virgin drink is not gonna help. Alcohol, on the other hand, is always a good ally for that.” ( @naomimargctreeves​ )

Naomi jumped on her stuhl-it was her second drink of the night and she definitely didn’t expect someone talking to her. Once she turned around, she couldn’t help but laugh, as the man continued talking. “Right right-it’s my second Cuba Libre and it doesn’t really seem to work”, she squinted her eyes. 

Naomi moved slowly around the place, waiting for her new clerk to arrive. She was thrilled that she had finally found someone to help her around. Always remembering how she was on her first days of work, she tried to make everything feel comfortable for the other. She even got a couple of coffees, for her to choose. She took a sip of hers and remembered that she had woken up at 5.30am and suddenly, she felt too buzzed. Leaning in on the counter, she went through a leaflet of the upcoming books, hoping that everything will turn out to be great.

“Isn’t it! Ugh I just want to get a pair of white sneakers and doodle all over that!” She snapped her fingers as she got fired up about the prospect of that. She bounced a bit as aa giggle slipped pasted her. “Ugh, wouldn’t that be soo cool. Would you be into having graphic novels or comics from local artists? I know that there would be a few people in my inner circle that would love to have their stuff at your shop. She leaned against the counter a bit and smiled at the woman. “Thank you for entertaining my enthusiasm.” 

Naomi smiled wider. “That’s also awesome. I can buy white sneakers for you to draw anything with these pens”, she encouraged her. “Imagine illustrating a certain comic book series and have illustrated sneakers as merch”, she said excitedly. “I did get slightly overboard”, she chuckled. “Are there? Really?”, she raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Really now?”, she widened her eyes. “Honestly, yeah-I’d love to have local artists in here. All they have to do is ask. I definitely need one thousand assistants to help me with the shop and my ideas for it. At the moment, I am trying to figure stuff out and make it have an online shop as well, since customers are pretty satisfied with everything else. Maybe, I’ll need a web designer for that but...for now encouraging people to ask me to order books that I don’t have is a good option”, she said with a smile. “You’re welcome”, she smiled back at her. “I’m always here for that”.

Kit looked over at the other woman with a warm smile. “Id even argue it is a song that was ahead of it’s time.” Kit wiggled her brows with a playful hum. She looked up at the other woman as she tapped her pen on top of her notebook. “I think Galentine’s day can be whatever you want it to be. Some gals celebrate with brunch and a spa day, some celebrate with a bopping dance party. Just depends.” She shrugged her shoulders as she folded her arms across her chest and leaned back. “A pinata? What shape?” She giggled at the thought of it. “A little No Doubt, a Dolly Parton Song, and maybe something else we will see.” She saw her cheeks get a little rosy as she nodded to the seat across form her. “You can sit if you don’t have to take off right away.” 

“It is, truly”, Naomi nodded at that and watched the girl react. It was a nice but random way to get to talk to a stranger. She nodded at the girl’s statement. “I found a llama one that was quite cute...I didn’t hesitate to buy it”, she widened her eyes for a moment. “Nice choices”, she smiled lightly and took a small step away, when she heard the woman’s suggestion. “Oh...can I?”, she took that step back, assimilating the situation. “Sure’, she nodded. “But I don’t know if I can help you with your playlist. My music taste is pretty lame”, she chuckled, sitting on the chair across her, setting the cupcake box and coffee on the table.

“Oh man…I can’t believe this shit,” he laughed as he watched an intoxicated woman yell at the bartender for not topping off their wine glass. Milo was out having a good time after having been gone for the past week and a half. It was back to business with his team the next day and he just wanted to enjoy the evening for what it was with his company. “How much longer do you think they’ll hold out before calling the cops? I’ll put a $100 down that it’ll be another thirty minutes.” @cityofdreamsstarters​

It was just another night in one of New York’s bars after a very tiring day. She was very used to brawls and turned to look at what the other man was talking about. She pouted, trying to roll her eyes in the most subtle way possible. It wasn’t exactly a brawl, but still a common occurance. She sipped her cocktail a little before answering the other man. “Ding ding ding...I’d bet the same thing, because I think I’ve seen her before doing something similar in another bar”, she chuckled, shaking her head. “It took them about 30 minutes to call the cops-I hope the security has noticed her”, she commented.

                        she’s  sun  kissed,      she’s  light  blonde  hair  in  the  warm  californian  breeze,      she’s  strawberry  ice  cream      &&      heart-shaped  sunglasses,      she’s  not  rain,      cold  coffee      &&      skyscrapers.      she  doesn’t  like  the  city,      her  flesh  feels  so  pale,      she  used  to  be  sunshine,      now  she  feels  as  dull  as  the  grey  skies  of  the  city.      pastel  pink  nail  polished  fingers  push  open  the  door  of  a  beautiful  little  library,      clear  orbs  look  by  the  window,      watching  the  drops  rolling  down      –      she's  not  going  out  of  here  soon.      it’s  warm  and  there  are  books,      reading  has  always  been  something  she  loved,      she  thinks  as  her  fingers  trail  on  the  covers.      jack  used  to  fill  her  head  with  poetry,      she  misses  that.      eyes  go  wide,      head  turning,          ❝  i’m  looking  for  poetry,  ❞          she’ll  find  love  in  words,      between  pages  while  waiting  to  finally  find  the  boy  who’ll  take  her  heart      &&      care  for  it  like  she’ll  do  for  his.

Naomi smiled at the girl in front of her. “I’m going to be very predictable, but I had to restock those, for the few months I’ve opened my bookstore.”, she said and looked at the shelves, rechecking if she had placed them on the right shelf. “ The princess saves herself in this one and Milk & Honey”, she said and took both of them off the shelf and handed them to the blonde in front of her. “They’re pretty good-I haven’t finished them, though. One of my favorite poetry books...from the newest ones is...I Wrote This For You, though”, she mumbled and turned to look at the shelves to check if she still had that, as well.

“That’s the hope,” he crossed an arm across his chest, stretching a bit as they spoke. “But if I get a shite time, then they’re why,” Kit added with a grin. “Hmm, why not go for five? That’ll loop us back closer to here than four, and we’ll be one mile closer to finishing the loop.” Kit had finished it before but since he enjoyed running with Naomi, he didn’t go at such an intense pace as he might’ve on his own.

Naomi watched Kit stretching for a moment and smiled lightly, shaking her head. “I don’t really mind, honestly”, she shrugged. “I’m not the right person to talk about running or training in general, so I’m good with it”, she chuckled. “We have ran slower, anyway, maybe if we picked up pace, it would be like getting on a new level, right?”, she asked him.

Ollie’s smile stretched wider, if that was possible, when the woman moved to be at eye with them. As much as they loved people, there were times they could become easily overwhelmed so this was something that was making them feel more comfortable. Almost like a child who had an adult on their level. They gasped when she mentioned having more books like the one they were quickly becoming obsessed with and nodded. “Yes please! You have more Disney ones? What about….. a Frozen one? Like the new one! I really really love that movie!” 

They bounced their legs where they had them crossed, and for a moment they bit their knuckles before nodding again. “Yeah! Adult ones are cool too, the pictures are a little smaller and takes more time! But I can do it! It just takes longer!” They covered their mouth and giggled then. “I have a lot of favorite animals but whales are some of my favorites especially beluga whales!” They paused, their eyes widening in curiosity at the encyclopedia and they bounced in their seat on the floor. “I need, I need! I wanna look! Maybe there’s facts I don’t know….. they can also swim backwards too! Gosh, I’m like a spoiler for the sea world encyclopedia for you sorry!” 

Naomi’s glance kept going back and forth around her shop, just to check if others needed her help and smiled at the individual in front of her. “I have too many Disney ones”, she answered, widening her eyes and turning to the shelf above her to take a pack of them. She had some more than twice and she gave them one of each to check. “Frozen...yes...here’s two of them. Different ones. There’s too much hype, again”, she giggled as she handed a few more of other Disney movies.

Humming and still checking around, she smiled at him again. “There are on a different section. Would you like to get them for you? Or like come with me?”, she asked. ‘I forgot to ask”, she chuckled, “Do you usually paint with color pencils, markers ...or?”, she asked them. “The encyclopedia...you’ll have to either wait or come with me”, she finally sat on her legs. “Maybe...”, she nodded. “Maybe you don’t need it. You must like the sea world a lot and don’t worry, I’m fine with spoilers”, she said.

“Kinda. I mean, it was a very abrupt decision from my part to break up, but at the same time, I didn’t think much of it, until I’ve met him recently. Even if he was an important part of my life then, he wasn’t more important than my parents and what happened to them. Sad but true. But, I realized that I have missed him and I’m not going to deny that at any point. I’m willing to keep contact with him and I also hope he understands me, once I explain to him what happened”. 

Hands shoved themselves into his pockets so he wouldn’t just leave them out with nothing to do. Sparing looking as dumbfounded or idiotic as possible or as much as could be spared during an exchange with your ex could be. “Wow, no kidding?” She had talked of such a goal with him in the past. Remembering a few conversations where she would ramble preciously over details she’d like for her bookstore to have. It had him wanting to look around more, if he were honest, to see if he could spy them. Though, it might make him appear to be some sort of creep which he wanted to avoid at all costs. “Well, damn, congrats, Nay. It looks like a nice little place, here.”

She gasped out a laugh at his reaction and shrugged. “I kid you not...I’ve done a lot of crazy stuff the last six months and this one..”, she made a pause to wave her hands in a round motion to show the shop, “...is one of them”, she said with an awkward smile. “Uhm...thanks”, she chuckled. “I’m already thinking of changing some of the things here and it has a second floor, too that I don’t know what I’ll do with yet. And...”, she took a deep breath, just to pause herself from rambling. “Anyway-how have you been?”, she asked him. “It’s been...a year...?”, she asked, sucking on her lower lip.

Tatum sighed, glancing at the various books before following the woman towards the front counter. “I mean, unless you have a book on how to raise a six year old, and prepare for a new baby while your husband is deployed.” The woman snapped, before pausing. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to unload on you like that. It’s just been a stressful couple months.”

Naomi widened her eyes and supressed a chuckle-not that the other woman said something funny. But, because she always burst out laughing, when she tried to shake off any kind of awkwardness. “That’s oddly specific”, she chuckled and left the book on the counter. “I can check if I can order something for you. I have a list of children books that have to do with their new siblings”, she said and looked through her laptop. “It’s alright”, she waved it off with her hand. “Congratulations, by the way”, she said with a smile and turned her laptop around for the other woman to check the book list.