by Erin Danzer
Chapter Five
After church, Andi came home with Ronnie and her family. They ate sandwiches for lunch and discussed the second part of the Pastor’s sermon, which Ronnie thought was very good, about the choices people make in life. After lunch, Ronnie brought up the poetry reading at The Reading Corner that night.
“Mom, Billy asked me to come hear him read some poetry tonight at The Reading Corner. Would it be okay if I went? It starts at seven and he said it shouldn’t last more than a couple hours,” Ronnie said. Her stomach quivered with nerves when she saw the look her mom exchanged with her dad and quickly added, “Andi already said she would come along, so it’s not like a date or anything.”
“Well, if it’s not a date, I don’t see how we can make you stay home,” her mom agreed slowly. “But I want you home by ten-thirty because it’s a school night.”
Ronnie nodded, grinning. “Yeah, of course. Thanks, Mom.” She kissed her mom’s cheek before she and Andi ran up to her bedroom, giggling the entire way.
Ronnie and Andi left for The Reading Corner an hour early. Ronnie still had some birthday money left over and wanted to get the new book she promised herself when she walked by the store yesterday. She decided to wear a pretty white eyelet dress and flat white sandals. Her black hair cascaded down her back to hide her tattoo. A strand of chunky turquoise beads adorned her neck. Matching earrings dangled from her ears and a ring sat on her right hand. Andi wore a pair of khaki capris and a teal colored peasant shirt, the bell sleeves billowing around her hands. She curled her short bob into ringlets that bounced around her face. Ronnie grabbed a little beaded purse she sometimes used when she went out and the girls left her house.
“Don’t forget your curfew,” her mom called as the girls left and Ronnie promised not to.
The five-block walk to The Reading Corner took them only ten minutes. Ronnie checked her cash stash and her cell phone before entering the brightly lit store. She reached for the door handle, and paused when her tattoo tingled and the creepy feeling of being watched shot down her spine. Frowning, Ronnie turned away from the door and looked out into the street. The setting sun gave everything a reddish-orange glow, reflecting off of car windows and buildings. She thought she saw something black across the street before it shimmered and was gone. Ronnie squinted as she willed her eyes to look into that space more closely.
“What are you doing?” Andi asked. Ronnie blinked and looked at her, then shook her head.
“Nothing. I thought I saw something, but it must have been my imagination. Sorry. Let’s go in,” Ronnie replied and reached for the door handle again.
The Reading Corner was one of Ronnie’s favorite stores, right up there with The Shop Stop. She loved books as much as she loved clothes, sometimes even more so if she really needed to escape. She walked in and bee lined for the teen novel section. The latest Vampire’s Notebook came out last Tuesday, though she wasn’t completely sure that was the book she wanted. The Vampire’s Notebook by Lady Mirielle was a series about a sixteen-year old-boy, Alan, who finds a notebook from a classmate in his book bag one day after school. This wouldn’t be unusual except that the notebook chronicles several murders done by the notebook’s owner, the mysterious new girl in his class. Lo and behold, the girl is a vampire and they fall in love. The latest installment to the series was called Scourge and Protector, and was about Alan’s change into a vampire.
“You know, that’s getting kind of lame,” Andi commented when she saw the book in Ronnie’s hand. Ronnie sadly nodded as she looked down at the book.
“I know,” she sighed. “I just wish they would get to the end of the series so I can see if everyone lives happily ever after or not.”
“No kidding. Lady Mirielle really needs to end the series soon.”
Ronnie sighed again and put the book back on the shelf. Her eyes perused the other offerings, but she already owned most of the vampire novels that were out. Andi said she was going to look at the graphic novels and wandered off. Ronnie barely waved goodbye as she continued her search.
“Maybe I need to read something else,” she murmured as her eyes fell on another novel. This cover featured a girl with long dark brown hair streaming out from under a space helmet in front of a sky full of stars. It looked like the girl stood on top of a hill. It was titled Into the Stars and was written by Rick Goodyear. Curious, Ronnie pulled it off the shelf and read the back cover.
“Janet Redding has always known there’s something special about her, but it’s not until her sixteenth birthday that she finds out how true that is. At the exact moment of her birth, her home is invaded by a group of grotesque blue aliens. After her initial gross out, Janet discovers that she already knows how to fight these aliens and soon sends them away from her house. Her parents finally admit that Janet is from another planet, and is a very humanlike alien. Her destiny is to combat evil and keep the peace in the universe. Her powers prove to be stronger than anyone has seen before and Janet must be sent to her home planet to learn how to master them. Will Janet step up to the call of her destiny and become the Starfighter she was always meant to be or will she ignore it and return to her life as a normal sixteen-year-old girl?”
“That’s a very interesting book,” a deep voice spoke up behind Ronnie and her head shot up. Her eyes widened as she continued to raise her head to look up at a very tall man looming over her. He wore a pair of black cargo pants and a short sleeved black button up shirt with burgundy pinstripes. His golden hair glistened in the overhead lights. His eyes, the same teal as the lake on a hot summer’s day, warmly appraised her while he waited for an answer.
“How would you know?” she asked as she stood up, the book still in her hands. Even standing, he still hovered a good six inches taller than her. She tried to guess his age but couldn’t decide if he was closer to her age or Billy’s. He gave a boyish grin and she decided he was closer to her age, maybe eighteen or nineteen.
“Let’s just say I know the author pretty well,” he replied, lowering his voice as he leaned down towards her. Ronnie somehow managed not to giggle as her heart pounded in her chest. He was so handsome and he was flirting with her.
“I would highly recommend that book if you’re looking for something new to read,” he added. She nodded, her cheeks warm.
“Are you looking for something new—to read, I mean?” she asked and blushed at her own boldness. His gaze locked with hers for a moment and Ronnie felt her knees weaken.
“I’m always looking for something new,” he replied and straightened as Andi came into the aisle with them. “Enjoy the book.”
“Thanks,” Ronnie replied breathlessly and fought to keep her mouth from falling open as he walked away.
“Who was that?” Andi asked as Ronnie leaned against the bookshelf behind her. Her knees were still weak.
“I don’t know,” Ronnie admitted weakly. “But he said this is a really good book to read.”
Andi set aside the graphic novels she’d found, took the book from Ronnie’s hands and read the back. With a shrug, she handed it back. “If you’re into that kind of thing, I’m sure it is.”
Andi’s unenthusiastic comment snapped Ronnie back to reality and she frowned at her friend. “Well, I’m going to try it. It’s only a few dollars so I won’t be out of a lot of money if I don’t like it.”
“Okay, but you might want to pick up something else just in case. Oh, and I think I just saw Billy walk in, too; you know, while you were flirting with that other older guy.”
“He wasn’t that old.”
“He was at least as old as Billy. Come on; let’s go say hi before the reading starts.”
“Okay.” Ronnie straightened and followed Andi over to the small café where the reading was being held. Billy spotted them right away and grinned as he made his way over.
“Hi. I’m glad you could make it,” he said to Ronnie, and her cheeks warmed again. She realized she was doing a lot of blushing tonight and hoped it made her look pretty
instead of ridiculous.
“I said I would be. My mom gave me a ten-thirty curfew so if this doesn’t go too long, we might be able to get coffee afterwards,” she replied with a smile. He nodded.
“Or we can always leave early. I’m somewhere in the middle, maybe at the end of the first hour. We can leave after that and get coffee before I walk you home.”
“That would be great.” She beamed as the emcee stepped up onto the small stage and said the readings would begin in ten minutes. Ronnie looked down at the book in her hands and said she was going to pay for it before the readings began.
“Leaving so soon?” a somewhat familiar voice asked as Ronnie stepped into line. She smiled as she turned around, holding her book up for him to see.
“Gotta pay for my book,” she told him. As he smiled at her, she wondered if she ever saw anyone with such perfect teeth. She sighed and then blushed when she realized she was swooning. He must think I’m ridiculous, she thought and rolled her eyes.
“Are you staying for the readings tonight?” he asked as she stepped up to the next available cashier.
“Yeah, a friend of mine is reading tonight,” she replied as she handed over her book to be scanned.
“Oh my goodness, Mr. Goodyear, we didn’t know you would be here tonight,” the clerk behind the counter gushed. Ronnie looked up at the man standing next to her. This was Rick Goodyear, the author of the book he recommended? No wonder he thought it was such a great book. Rick smiled as he stepped up to the counter and leaned on one elbow, bringing him closer to the clerk. Ronnie watched his teal eyes dart to her name tag as he spoke.
“Yes, Cheryl, and I would like to keep it that way. I want it to be a surprise,” he stated quietly. Cheryl grinned foolishly as she nodded, her brown curls bouncing around her head.
“Yes, Mr. Goodyear; whatever you want, Mr. Goodyear,” Cheryl continued, eager to please. Ronnie couldn’t believe how excited the cashier was, especially since Ronnie had never heard of Rick Goodyear until picking his book from the shelf. It wasn’t like he was famous or anything. Well, anything other than cute.
“Cheryl,” he warned with one eyebrow raised. Cheryl blushed and immediately stopped talking. She mimed zipping her mouth and throwing away the key, making Ronnie giggle. It was just too funny to watch this woman make a fool of herself over some guy. Not that Ronnie had been much better, but at least her age allowed her to act that way on occasion.
“Not a peep from you either, my dear,” Rick warned as Ronnie handed over the money for his book. She grabbed a pen from the desk and opened the book to the first page.
“Only if you’ll sign my book,” she bargained. He smiled as he took the pen from her. Their fingers brushed and Ronnie gasped as an electrical current shot up her arm. She looked up at him with wide eyes but he acted like nothing happened. Didn’t he feel it? She didn’t know how to ask and the emcee was asking everyone to take their seats for the reading.
“This will be our little secret,” Rick added as he handed her the book. Ronnie nodded as they walked away from the counter together.
“So, are you reading tonight?” she asked as they crossed the store back to the café.
“Why; will you be here to listen to me?” he replied and she blushed.
“Depends on how long after my friend you read. If you’re last, I can’t guarantee still being here.”
“Then I can’t guarantee reading anything tonight. I won’t do it unless I see you’re still here.”
Ronnie blushed again as they stopped next to the first row of seats. Andi appeared at her side and asked what took so long, oblivious to Rick still standing next to her.
“I was paying for my book,” Ronnie told her friend.
“And flirting again,” Andi mumbled as she grabbed Ronnie’s arm and pulled her towards two empty seats next to Billy. Ronnie looked back to say something more to Rick but he was already gone, disappeared into the crowd milling around the store. Hopeful to see him later tonight, she sat down between Billy and Andi as the emcee introduced tonight’s first reader.
“Everything okay?” Billy whispered to Ronnie as the first reader, a skinny sixteen-year-old girl totally into the Goth look, took the stage. Ronnie nodded and showed him the book.
“Yeah, I just had to pay for my book,” she replied. She glanced over her shoulder as Rick sat down in the last row. He smiled and she smiled back.
“Okay, well, I got moved up to fifth reader tonight, so we’ll have plenty of time for coffee afterwards,” Billy continued and Ronnie’s smile faltered. She didn’t want to go out for coffee if it meant she would miss Rick’s poetry.
“What if I want to stay?” she asked. A pang of guilt shot through her as Billy’s face fell.
“Well, if you really want to, we can stay,” he agreed sullenly. She took a deep breath as she laid her hand on his arm.
“Let’s just see how things go,” she suggested. A gleam of hope returned to his eyes as he nodded. Ronnie glanced back at Rick and felt uneasy to find him still watching her. Could he hear their conversation? Did he know she was only going to stay for him? Warmth crept up into her cheeks as he nodded and gave a little wave; she was positive he had heard her conversation.
She twisted around to face forward and tried to ignore Rick the rest of the night, but that proved nearly impossible. Every two minutes it seemed he made some sound or gesture to get her attention, and she ended up missing one of Billy’s poems because of him. By the time Billy returned to his seat next to her, Ronnie wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or jump the rows of people and strangle Rick for being such a distraction. Of course, then she felt guilty for paying more attention to some random guy than to the guy who invited her to come out tonight. So when Billy grinned and reached for her hand, she let him take it. She knew she would have to tell him later that there was no future for them because she had her eye on someone else, but at least for now she decided she owed this much to Billy.
“Let’s go,” she whispered to Billy five minutes later. He grinned as he stood up, his hand still holding hers as she stood with him.
“We’re going to get coffee,” she whispered to Andi, who also stood up and followed them towards the door. Ronnie tried to ignore Rick as they passed, but her eyes sought him out anyway and she didn’t miss the little wave he gave as she passed him.
“Another time then, my dear,” he muttered under his breath. Ronnie blushed as she walked with Billy out of the book store.