"I'm so bored."
"Me too."
"What time is it?"
"Not time to go yet."
There was a heavy sigh.
"How long?"
"Three hours. Just like it was two minutes ago."
There was a frustrated growl.
"Oh hush, you can last three hours."
The woman who was now groaning was draped over the counter of the city's third-favorite used book store. Her straight brown hair was spread out over the counter like a fraying blanket. Her light hazel eyes that matched her hair where half-shut in a fighting attempt to not fall asleep. Her conversation partner was reading a book behind her, leaning back in her chair. She shook her bangs out of her eyes, and turned a page; blue eyes zigzagging over the page.
"What are you reading Lilly?"
"If you turn your head a bit, you can read the binding for yourself Jess."
"Or, and I'm just throwing ideas out here, you could tell me the name of whatever vampire-romance novel you're reading so I can stay in this comfy position!"
Lilly laughed. "Does your sloth know no bounds?" she said with a residual chuckle.
Jess smiled. "No, he's always getting in my stuff! I tell him to stay out of my room, and he barges in any way!" Lilly was bent over with laughter, and Jess had picked up her head to look at her friend.
"She's so pretty when she lau- No! Bad train of thought! Stop that!"
Jess quickly shook her head to clear her head of those kinds of thoughts. "
They aren't going away as easily anymore
."
Lilly managed to form a sentence through her laughter. "That's why I keep saying you should move in with me! I keep all my marsupials on the deck."
Jess laughed, mostly because she thought it was hilarious, but partly to conceal the feeling in her stomach at the idea of living with her best friend.
"
If only I could trust myself enough, I would."
Jess mentally sighed with her morose remark, but her practiced façade didn't flicker.
The bell on the door
ding
ed, and the first customer of the day walked in. The two girls laughed for a couple seconds longer, but tried to suppress their remaining mirth and take on a somewhat business-like manner.
"Hi there!" Lilly, as always, was quicker to reign in her emotions and was able to greet the man who walked in first.
"Hahaha, yea, hi!" Jess energetically followed.
The man smiled kindly. He was wearing a dark green jacket covered in pockets and long jeans. The only thing that kept him from looking like a serial killer was his face. He looked like the poster for The Great Dads Alliance: he had a close-shaved beard, and brown eyes that were as dark as a fine lager. His smile made them both feel a bit calmer; almost reassured that they were ok, even though this wasn't a bad part of town. They both sat up a little straighter, and Jess ran her hands through her hair in a vain attempt to manage the mass of unruly brown strands.
"Am I interrupting something?" The customer's smile never left his face as he joked with the giggling girls. He looked them over, and Lily could almost swear he smiled wider when his eyes jumped from Jess to her.
What is that about?
She asked herself silently
"Naw, just two bored girls joking around. Can we help you find something?" Jess stood up, and moved to walk around behind the counter.
The customer raised a hand. "No thanks, I should be able to find what I need on my own." He turned around and started browsing through the various romance books.
"Looking for a specific book?" Lilly asked.
"Not right now." He almost completely turned to the counter, and said, "If I need any help I'm be sure to ask."
Jess smiled. "Hey, that's our line!"
The customer fully turned at this remark. He looked at Jess, then at Lilly, then just shook his head, smiled, and turned back to the shelves. The two girls looked at each other nervously. Lilly subconsciously moved closer to Jess. They weren't in a bad part of town, true, but upper-middle class people are just as capable of robbing two lone, apparently defenseless girls in a non-traffic heavy part of town. Jess was a black belt in at least one type of martial art: she never said all that she knew because "Ya gotta keep em guessing!" Lilly smiled a small smile at the thought of her friend.
The customer's cell phone rang, playing a series of atonal beeps, and he answered it.
"Hey there. I just got here. No, not yet, you impatient imp. Yea yea, did you need something? Not particularly, I do have a plan though. In a manner of speaking. No, but I enjoy your company. OK, see you here. You too."
A few seconds later, the bell above the
ding
ed, and in walked the most beautiful woman that Jess or Lilly had ever seen. She was perfectly formed: her beautiful face lead to her kissable neck that lead to breasts that were bigger than a handful but small enough to handle, and down a waist that didn't make her seem too thick nor too tin, and down legs that could launch navies, armies, and the air force. She walked with a confidence that only added to her natural beauty, her every step bringing focus to each of her best features (i.e. all of them) through the course of the simple step.
She turned to the girls and smiled a hello. Jess managed a wave, and Lilly struggled out a squeak. The woman just giggled, and walked... strode... bounced... made her way over to where the man was. Neither woman could accurately describe the method in which she moved herself to one place or another, and neither woman could say that they were looking anywhere other than her perfectly sized ass.
Both girls managed one thought each.
"Her eyes don't compare to Lilly's."
thought Jess.
"Jess' hair is so much better than hers."
thought Lilly.
The man looked over the bookcase at them, like he had heard their thoughts on a loudspeaker. He didn't say anything, but he smiled a wide smile. The woman grabbed his arm and pressed her body against him. They spoke in hushed tones, so the two girls couldn't hear what they were saying.
Jess was able to squeak out an "Oh my god."
"I know! She is gorgeous!" Lilly fiercely whispered to her friend
But she's not as beautiful as you
.
The man's head shot up above the shelves like it was on a loaded spring. He rubbed his eyes, grabbed a book, and headed to the counter. The woman was still hanging on the man's arm.
"Just this."
Jess stood up, and looked at the title of the book.
Just Tell Her
Jess blinked. She could have sworn a woman's voice had said the title in her head as she read it. She blinked again. Completely on autopilot, she scanned the book and took the man's money.
"Keep the change." He smiled, the woman smiled, and they left. Jess put the change in a small jar underneath the register.
Lilly looked at Jess. "Hey, you ok? You look all shaken up."
Jess shook her head. "Hmm? Oh, yea, I'm ok. I'm gonna go get a glass of water from the back." She started walking away.
Lilly sat down on the stool, and looked at Jess, her eyes full of concern. "Ok." The door to the back room closed, and she whispered quietly, and just a bit sadly, "Come back soon."
Outside the store, the man and woman walked down the street.
