[Human Au]

It was just another antique, rustic bookstore down the narrow and dull lane, the ambiance woody, like a little cottage.

From the wooden interior to the classic books and pretty butterfly peas planted outside just at the entrance of the little shop, Sophie loved every part of this little bookstore.

It was as if it had been waiting for a book lover like her around, begging for her to visit every day, not that Aunt Marg minded. 

In fact, the old and jolly woman loved Sophie's company in the bookstore ever since Sophie was only tweleve.

Sophie would help out with the store every day if she could, just that her parents wanted her to spend more time with friends like other teenagers.

She hated social interaction though, mostly because the attention was pressuring.

She would choose to study in a quiet shop listening to music over that any day.

She had no idea what made her so attached to this place, but she loved the ambiance around it, the way she could just relax and let all her problems sink into the pages, and close the book feeling energised.

Aunt Marg would always keep a copy of the latest book for Sophie too, and that too added to the list of reasons why she loved this place.

That was also to compensate for the help that Sophie would give, including the flowers she planted outside.

"Honey, you should go and mingle with friends! Not just stay here all day," Aunt Marg would laugh as Sophie stopped by after school.

"Aunt Marg, you know I don't like it," Sophie smiled as she set her bag down at the reading table, taking out a stack of homework to do.

Aunt Marg came over to give Sophie a hug like she would always do as she patted her back.

"Same thing dear?" Aunt Marg asked, standing up.

Sophie nodded. "Extra whipped cream too!" She reminded as Aunt Marg laughed.

"Take care of the shop, I shouldn't take long!" Aunt Marg waved as she went out.

Sophie waved back as she sank back into the comfy chair, sighing as she started with mathematics.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

The bells chimed as the door swung open, and Sophie glanced up, to see someone who was definitely not  Aunt Marg.

In fact, the boy with disheveled blond hair and a pretty pretty pair of ice blue eyes looked pretty familiar.

Sophie squinted at him, trying to remember where she saw him before as he looked around the shop, as if trying to find something.

She stood up, trying to channel her confidence as she went forward to him. 

"What are you looking for?" she asked, hoping that the restless butterflies in her stomach would come down as his lips moved into a crooked grin.

"Hey I saw you before," he stated, peering at her a she felt her face flush up.

So, they did meet each other before, but Sophie couldn't really remember when.

"In school I think, were you the one who almost burned Lady Gavin's scarf?" He asked, his tone excited.

Sophie's flushed even deeper now, remembering the awkward situation were she accidentally left the bunsen burner on in Chemistry class.

"Keefe by the way," he smirked again, and she had to admit, he did look pretty cute.

She took a better look at him.

The way his hair was messy, but somehow making it look good, and how he left on of the buttons of his jerkins unbuttoned demanded some attention, and Sophie couldn't help but think he was pretty cool, popular even.

So, why would a cool kid be talking to a nerd like her?

Her mind was suspicious, and she raised an arm to shake his.

"Sophie," she said, smiling.

Whatever, if he wanted to play bring friends she could entertain him for awhile.

"So... back to the main topic, are you looking for something?" She asked, and he shook his head.

"Any recommendations though?" He asked, and her eyes lit up immediately, having dozens of books in mind already.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

"And this is awesome too, the plot twists are amazing! If you love that kind of stories with a different world, this is for you."

Sophie continued with the fifth book already, and she was pretty taken aback when Keefe seemed to be genuinely listening.

"This is one of my favourites," she smiled as she took out 'Alone on the Wide, Wide Sea', "really simple, but its amazing."

She beamed, holding it out.

Keefe took it and read the preface as he asked Sophie.

"Did you read every book here? You seem to know where all the books are," Keefe teased, and Sophie smiled.

"Kind of, there's still more to read, but most of them, yes," she sat down on her cushioned seat, tapping the seat across her table for Keefe to sit.

"So, you work here?" Keefe asked, and Sophie shook her head.

"I'm just helping out Aunt Marg. Wr aren't related, but I love this place, and I guess I just started hanging out here ever since," Sophie smiled, the wave of nostalgia hitting her.

Keefe listened on as Sophie started explaining about the work here, and how she would help Aunt Marg pack the books.

Somehow, she was explaining her whole life story to a complete stranger, and it doesn't matter if she knew him from school.

He was a great listener though, not even interrupting her or seeming to be bored of her story as she talked.

It seemed like forever before the bells chimed again, and Aunt Marg came in.

"Oh Sophie! Who's that friend of yours?" Aunt Marg quickly asked.

"This is Keefe, Keefe, Aunt Marg," Sophie smiled as Keefe gave her a smirk and Aunt Marg returned a smile.

"Well, you two continue whatever you were doing, don't let me interrupt!" Aunt Marg winked before she walked off, and Sophir felt her cheeks burn.

Keefe smriked at her again, and she slapped his arm.

"Stop doing that, it's annoying," she laughed.

And that, was how their story started.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.