Ink and Instincts...I guess you hate me.

Chapter 9- Bookish Beginning: An Informal Date

Shirley woke up late that day and thanked God for this holiday. No Ron's evil sarcasm and mocking laughter today. She sat up but didn't get out of bed. She gazed at the beautiful sight the sunlight made when it shone on her bookshelf. She looked away when her favourite person entered the room. Sharon, her twin soul, older sister and confidante. She's the most amazing person Shirley has ever had in her life. Sharon offered Shirley a ride to Bookania, her favourite bookstore. So Shirley agreed and got ready to go to Bookania. 

The bookstore was a haven where she could drink her favourite black coffee read her favourite books and forget everything else.Trevor woke up late today and took his only chance to escape house arrest when his mom went out to buy groceries. Trevor just wanted to get some fresh air so he would go to his secret-only-me place. A quiet road with trees on both sides, less crowded and small cosy cafes on both sides. He could also drink his favourite black coffee there. He knew where Shirley lived but didn't intend to stalk and creep her out. So going to his favorite spot was the best for now. 

Shirley Pov:

 I've been going to Bookania since I was a child. Mrs. Caroline, the owner, is my mom's friend. I call her aunt. The librarian, Miss Betty, is my friend. Bookania is a book lover's paradise. When you enter Bookania, you enter the cafe first. It's white and yellow inside with soft yellow hanging lights, round tables and a single seating area with a view of the greenery through a big glass window. You can smell the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and chocolate cakes. On rainy days, the glass window creates a perfect setting with raindrops and the smell of black coffee and it's like paradise. A sliding glass door separates the bookstore from the cafe.

 As you enter the bookstore, rows of bookshelves are decorated with fairy lights and small potted plants. You can even smell the scent of fresh pages and only hear the sound of a reader flipping pages in the silent reading areas. The end of the walls has big windows from floor to ceiling to let in the warm sunlight. Instead of benches and tables, the reading area has bean bags and comfy sofa chairs with small tables beside them. I suggested this idea when Aunty was planning to renovate the place. It was a hit among the book lovers who visit here.

 I took my favourite spot, a light green sofa in front of a big window with a grey table beside it. It's so silent and comfy that I often doze off during my afternoon hours here. Betty wakes me up whenever someone comes to get me. I took out my favourite book, "Pride and Prejudice" and the specific copy with the same serial number as my birthday. The lending cards in this book are mostly signed by me. It's the same book that Trevor got

 I blushed like an idiot when I recalled touching his hands. I started reading the parts of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth. I don't know when I dozed off on the grey table with my specs on and the book in my hands.

Trevor Pov:

I entered my favourite cafe and enjoyed the greenery through the glass window. I often come here. I know it has a bookstore, but I hardly read my textbooks, let alone novels. Last year, I brought my book lover and sister from another place here. She sat for hours on the green sofa at the end corner of the bookstore. I had to register myself as a reader so she could lend out her favourite book, 'Pride and Prejudice.' I suddenly remembered, isn't that the same book Shirley was reading when our hands touched? I felt an urge to borrow that book. So I went into the bookstore and asked the librarian, Miss Betty, where to find that book. It was placed somewhere near that green sofa.