For the love of books (Ivan tags any)

[Ivan Demarco]

If there was one way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon, it was going to the mall and browsing the bookstore. The workers didn't seem to mind as long as you were quiet either put the book back where a person had found it or else hand it over to them.

And thats just what Ivan was doing. He had slipped into a white beater, an opened royal blue button shirt, jeans with big rips in the knees and sandals which had seen their better days.

Before he got settled in with any books, he hit the cafe and ordered a hazelnut latter with an extra shot, a cinnamon raisin bagel, warmed, and with cream cheese.

As he waited for the bagel, he went to the area where the book he wanted was waiting. He snatched up a copy and headed back to the cafe just in time to get his bagel.

The tables were full with the people's who's lives were connected to lap top computers. He found a small group of chairs close together with a small table next to them. He saw someone sitting at one of the chairs. He decided to ask permission before just sitting.

"Hey is anyone else sitting here?"

[Abigail Winchester]

After a big breakfast and an enlightening Sunday congregation, Abby dropped her younger siblings at their respective Sunday classes before parting ways with her parents under the guise of finishing her school work. Of course, her parents knew she had done her homework in school and also Friday evening. But they let her go anyway. It was just so much easier to give permission to a daughter who actually listens to her parents without much questioning.

So after changing out of her Sunday best into an original Abby Winchester outfit consisting of a black and moss green tie dyed skirt that swayed around her knees and a cropped black blouse that clung to her curves and showed off slender shoulders and arms. She messed her hair up from the hair band she had put on to create a wholesome image in church to let it flow down her shoulders freely. Slathering on thick eye make-up, a little rouge to colour up her pale skin and completing the whole look with bright red lipstick, she was ready to hit the mall.

Driving over, she received a text from Winnie Jones, one of the cheerleaders for Silver, saying that they were going to meet a little later than scheduled which disappointed Abby so when she arrived at the mall, she scoured the place until she ended up in a bookstore with a tall cup of cappucino frappe with a blueberry scone and strawberry jam along with a book she thought the synopsis was interesting.

She was almost halfway through the three hundred odd page book and down to her last bite of scone when a deep voice interrupted her from her fascinating read. Although slightly annoyed at the interruption, her face was a complete opposite of her emotion as she turned to look up at who was talking to her. He looked vaguely familiar but no one she knew by name. "No please, sit." She scooted over to her left and went back to her book, trying to ignore the fact that the guy was insanely good looking and so ripped but she found it pretty hard to go back to where she was reading, repeating one line over and over again just to try and understand what she had been reading the past hour.

[Ivan Demarco]

Ivan took the seat next to the girl. She was cute enough but a bit much on the eye make up. "Thanks." he replied, getting himself comfortable before slathering his bagel with cream cheese.

The aroma was heavenly to him. It didn't slip past him that he was being an unintentional distraction to the girl, he didn't want to say anything at least not right away.

He opened his book to a short story called 'Jim Hensons' Cthulhu Babies' a work very much spoofing HP Lovecraft and the great one who was not to be named.

He casually flipped the pages as he slowly had his breakfast, which some might argue was not really breakfast but it was still morning and people did have their coffee and some kind of bread product in the morning.

He mused for a bit over the writing, he admitted it was well done. The part that had really struck him was the chase scene in the hallway between the bedrooms, it reminded him of scenes from 'Scooby-Doo' or 'Josie and the Pussycats'. Now was a good stopping point.

He placed a napkin in the book to hold his spot, ate a bit of the bagel and enjoyed the crispiness of it. Finally his mouth was cleared to speak.

"You know, by the time I finish his story, you might have that sentence finished." He smiled.

[Abigail Winchester]

If Abby had been absorbed in her reading, she would have been insulted by his comment. As it were, all she could do was blush and discreetly turn to the next page, clearing her throat.

"Wouldn't that be a miracle," she replied as smoothly as she could. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of the very attractive boy who might even go to her school. That would be humiliating. She was a cheerleader, and she was seen reading a book. It just wasn't cool.

Again she tried concentrating on her book, hoping he wasn't looking at her while her cheeks turned red. She sat up right and tossed her hair over her shoulder before sipping her icy drink and taking a bite of her scone.

She had no idea what else to say and she knew if she opened her mouth, it would show how inadequate she was feeling so she left the conversation between them hanging after her quite self-depricating comment.

Which, in truth, was a first in her book. She could have given him an earful for being so cheeky, implying that she couldn't read or thinking that he was so interesting that she just gave up on her reading. Though the latter was probably closer to the truth, in her opinion. Not that she was about to admit it.

Now to see whether he had the balls to continue the conversation or just write her up as a bitch in his books and tell his friends about her tomorrow in school. She had a sudden itch to know if he really did go to her school. She had to do control damage after all. Only to make sure her reputation wouldn't be ruined even if this boy had a sudden urge to blab about her.

[Ivan Demarco]

Ivan grinned, he had hit a small never. "Now the page turns, only because someone said something. Don't worry I won't say anything that your reading something other than sparking vampires or that Chuck is seeing Serena behind Blair's back." He sat back in his chair, semi smug.

And there it came.

The slight rosy color to her cheeks, the same look his brother got when he was flustered about something. "Has anyone ever said how cute you look when you blush?" He queried. "I only ask because its the truth, in fact its rather adorable." He wanted to reach over and give her cheeks a light pinch. He knew better than to do that, she'd probably scream sexual assault which would put his family on the front page and not in the best way.

He sat back in his chair, taking a couple more bites of bagel, waiting...wondering if she would say anything else. If there was something his father taught him that was quite useful, try to use as few words as possible and see how much your opposition spills.

The was cracking, ever so slightly, he would have to wait patiently to see how much farther she would open.

[Abigail Winchester]

She wanted to just turn and smack his well-toned arms for being so blunt. And right. She slammed her book shut and slid it across the table before crossing her arms over her chest, leaning back on the chair to turn her head to face him with a well-crafted smirk. "The fact that you actually know Twilight and Gossip Girl's entire plot is slightly endearing. Note the sarcasm."

Kicking her chair back slightly, she deliberately crossed her legs in front of the boy and slid down her chair. "I don't much prefer the term cute as I do hot, sexy, well-built or just plain mind-boggling." The smirk deepened before she reached out to grab his bagel and took a bite out of it. "You shouldn't make stuff up in your mind about a person unless for some miraculous reason you actually know them." She handed his bagel back to him before leaning forward and lifting his chin up with one finger to make him look at her.

"You're lucky I just finished Sunday mass so I'm supposed to be a very nice girl for the rest of the day. According to the Winchester way anyway." The smirk turned into a grin even she wasn't sure was genuine. Slowly she removed her finger from under his chin.

"Are you done with whatever it is you're doing? Because I need to ditch my friends and do something fun. You know how to have fun, surfer boy?" she grinned, liking the deliberate stab she made in response to his earlier assumptions of her.