Amber leaves flew through the air, looking like vibrant paper airplanes as they were buoyed by the wind and sent sailing past Remy's head.

Remy shifted her backpack and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her narrow nose as she pulled open the wooden door, leaving the tornado of color behind. The hushing sound of pages being flipped and fingers typing away at keyboards drifted through the bookstore. 

Humming quietly to herself, Remy moved through the store, her fingers dancing over the tops of books. Her boots resounded off the linoleum floor of the break room. Stashing her backpack away in a far corner, she moved to her locker, twisting it open, her reflection flashing at her. 

She brushed down the strands of hair that had become disheveled by the wind and adjusted her glasses. Her hair was undecided between whether it was light brown or dirty blonde and so sat somewhere awkwardly in the middle. The locker door clanged shut, as Remy grabbed her badge from the rack and slipped it over her head. Still humming she moved across the store to the children's section, a slight bounce to her step as she moved.

Remy bent down and started to collect discarded and forgotten books. She was down on her knees reaching under a table when a throat cleared itself.

"Excuse me?"

Remy jerked up and smacked her head hard in the underside of the table, the bang ringing in her ears as she fell to the floor.

"Miss, are you alright?"

Remy's eyes fluttered open, the light sending a halo over the man crouching beside her. His lose brown hair swept across his expressive forehead.  He had lightening blue eyes and a smile that could pierce a heart. He gave just such a smile to Remy and she felt the arrow hit home. He gently cupped her hand, pulling her into a sitting position. Remy felt her mouth go dry as his intent, worried gaze floated over her face.

"I'm alright, thank you for helping me," Remy said, her voice coming out light and airy.

Another smile and a flash of his blue eyes.

"I believe it was my fault that you hit your head in the first place, so I should be the one to apologize. Forgive me, dear lady?" he asked, bowing his head slightly.

Heat rushed into Remy's face and she smiled gently, her eyes fluttering to the floor.

"Of course."

"Miss, excuse me, miss are you okay?"

Remy rubbed the spot on her head, while backing out from under the table. A stout man with beady eyes and a round face was looking at her with mild concern.

"Are you alright? I didn't mean to startle you," the man said, his voice high and reedy.

Nodding, a little dazed, Remy stood, straightening out her cardigan and adjusting her badge that had come off- kilter.

"It's fine," she said, her head throbbing gently.

Her gaze lifted to the man's face and she smiled.

"What can I help you with?"

The man's concern vanished and a lost look darted into his eyes.

"I'm looking for a book for my niece's 5th birthday and I was wondering if you could help me?"

Remy nodded and led the man to row of books, gesturing to some of her favorites. An excited tone came into her voice as she talked about each one and which she would suggest him buying.

By the time the man left Remy, his arms were loaded with five different books, now convinced his niece couldn't live until she had read them. Remy turned back to the books laying about and started retrieving them once more. She hummed as she settled them back into their homes, her eyes glancing over the covers as they slipped between their friends, their stories bubbling up in her mind.

Remy trotted down the center aisle, fingers dancing over the oval, wooden table, laden with all the best sellers. The front door opened and a guy strolled through, his eyes glancing over the bookstore, before they landed on her. He walked forward, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, a messenger bag slung over his shoulder. He had a mane of unkempt black hair that looked wind blown, as if he had just stepped from a convertible, classic features and dark brown eyes, almost black.  A small flirty smile slipped onto his lips as he paused in front of Remy.

"Hi, can I help you?" Remy asked, her voice cheery.

Amusement flashed across the guy's face.

"You don't know who I am?" he asked.

Something about him did seem familiar but Remy wasn't sure what.

"Sorry, I'm not remembering."

"I'm Asher, we have 4 classes together." His expression went little puzzled. "Seriously, I sit adjacent to you in English," he said.

A bright smile zipped over Remy's face and her blue eyes brightened with recognition.

"Right. Asher. What can I help you with?"

"I'm looking for a book."

Remy bounced slightly on the balls of her feet.

"Well, then I say you have come to the right place. What can I help you find?"

Asher's gaze roamed over the bookstore. His attention landed on the table beside Remy, covered in romance novels and a sardonic smile jumped to his lips. Remy turned to the table, glancing down at the colorful covers and vague titles. Asher shook his head.

"Why are there so many romance novels?" he asked.

"Because love is the best thing in the whole world," she said. "It's the one thing everyone on this planet wants. It's the reason to get out of bed in the morning." Remy's eyes took on a distant, euphoric expression, her cheeks flushing with color.  "It's the hope in this world that keeps people going. It's the promise that one day you will find the person that will not only be there for you in the good times, but will hold our hand through every trial, tear, failure and celebration. Action novels might be fun for the moment but it doesn't keep you warm at night."

"Romance novels don't keep you warm at night either."

"I guess so." Remy said, her smile shrinking. "What can I help you find?"

"An action novel."

Remy flushed and she turned.

"I think we have some of those," she said, trailing back through the bookstore.

Asher trotted to keep up with her, settling beside her as she wound her way through wide rows of books. Her pace slowed as she reached the desired section, her hand tracing over the spines of the books lovingly.

"Okay, you might like this one."

Remy pulled out a thick book with a dark blue cover.

"It's about a spy and his work with the CIA until he gets burned and as to fend for himself." 

"No. What else?"

Remy quickly stowed the book away, her fingers already reaching for a thinner paperback.

"This one's about a deep sea diver who searches for treasure but his crew is attacked by another team while he..."

Asher was already shaking his head.

"What about Fantasy's?" he asked.

Remy put the book away and gestured for him to follower her. At the next section her hand instinctively reached for one book. Turning, she held it up for Asher.

"This one is great, and it has one of the best love stories as well..."

Remy trailed off at the blank look Asher gave her. She blushed and turned to put the book away.

"Right. No, love." 

"Unless the story ends with them having a broken heart, joint custody and a divorce settlement, then really its not that realistic," Asher said.

"You want realistic in a fantasy?" Remy asked, her lips quirked with amusement.

"Fine, I want plausible."

Remy shrugged and picked out a dark green book and handing it to Asher.

"Here, this is about a man who fights the king to save the people about him. It has no love story and is all about how he conquers those around him using his wits and a bit of magic."

Asher took the book, glancing down at the cover and then nodding.

"Thanks," he said, holding it up and giving Remy a short smile.

She returned the look and they spun away from each other, moving down the aisle in opposite directions.

**************

A long sigh escaped Remy as giddiness raced through her. The white haired man in front of her stepped up to the counter and the barista's friendly deep voice said hi, asking for his order. A warm flush flooded Remy's cheeks at the sound of the voice, her head ducking as she took in a deep breath.

"I'll have the usual," the white haired man said.

"You got it, Steve. It will be ready in a second," the barista said.

"Thanks, Drew."

The white haired man moved to the side and Remy felt herself suck in a breath, unable to release it as Drew came into view.

At the sight of Remy, Drew vaulted the counter, coming to stand before her. His light blonde hair was pushed roughly to the side, pieces still managing to drift back against his forehead. He had eyes that held the color and the depth of the ocean. Remy felt herself swaying as if she were lost at sea, emotions crashing over her.

His hands came up and held her arms, as if he could read her thoughts and knew she needed the support. A smile so warm and loving it belonged to a prince slide onto his face. His eyes held her, as if he too was lost in the clouds as he looked into the sky blue color of her eyes. He leaned down, his breath brushing against her face, his lips centimeters away from her own.

"Hello, can I get you something?" Drew asked, leaning forward on the counter.

Remy blinked herself alert and stepped up, releasing the held in breath. Drew cocked his head to the side, his hair tumbling down. He carelessly brushed it away, looking at Remy, the question sitting his eyes. Suddenly aware that he was waiting, Remy blushed and pushed her glasses up.

"I'll have the usual?" she said, dropping her gaze.

"And that would be?" Drew asked, a cup and pen poised in his hand.

"A tall camel macchiato."

Drew nodded and scribbled on the cup.

"Name?"

Remy's expression fell, as Drew's eyes darted to her name tag.

"Remy," he said.

Her smile jumped back up as Drew set aside the cup and looked at Remy expectantly.

"That will be, $3.68."

Remy nodded and handed him a five.

Their hands touched and their gazes darted up, locking onto each other as words were caught in their throats, escaping into their eyes, expressing what their hearts felt but they knew they could never say.

"Here's your change," Drew said. "Have a good day."

Remy blinked and accepted the change, then wordless walked away, settling at a table, still in his line of sight. Pulling out a book, she flipped it open. She fell into the world before her, leaving the one round her to blur into the background.

A warm laugh punched air and Remy jerked up, a small smile sliding into place as she watched Drew, his eyes beaming with a hidden joke. The smile still in place, she lowered her head again, and kept reading.

"Remy?"

The voice pulled her from a storm of adventures unfolding beneath her fingers. She blinked once and stood, moving over to accept the cup from the smiley girl barista and walking quietly back to her table.

Drew's voice rolled over the counter pulling Remy's attention to him, his gentle tones, slipping into her ears and teasing her thoughts.

She looked up, their eyes meeting, the glance that lasted mere seconds, holding within itself the thoughts and feelings of a life time.

A muffled cough, that concealed a laugh, snapped Remy's attention away from the counter. Her gaze drifted to the table in front of her. Asher was slouched in his chair, a computer open before him and notebooks scattered on the table. His eyes were downcast, focused on the book in his hands, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. 

His gaze darted to her's for a single second and laughter raced through his eyes before he dropped his head again. Remy felt her cheeks grow warm and she hunched over her book, resting her head in her hand, blocking out the world and Asher.

*********

Hey troublemaker!

Do you ever feel like Remy? Jumping into stories and picturing them all in your head? Fantasies coming to life? *silence* Whaaaat?! Yeah....ha...me neither....crazy....weird....🤦🏽‍♀️

This story is about a girl who is in love with the idea of over-the-top romantic love butting heads with a guy who doesn't believe there is such a thing as love and how they change because of each other.

This story idea was flipping annoying! I got it when I was trying to fall asleep. It's late at night and pieces of dialogue are poking me to get up and write it down. The entire story came to me in a flash. Who the characters were and what were their back stories and what was the plot. I'm happy to have a new story but at the time I was very annoyed with not being able to go to sleep. But that's how is goes!

What did you think? Let me know if you have an idea where you think it will go?

Vote, comment, follow!

Also help me decide which cover you like the most. I'm leaning towards the one I put at the top but I want your opinion, so let me know!