Saturn
• • •
I'd been thinking about returning to the bookshop since the moment I'd left a few days prior.
Zaire had been too busy to pick up his books, and it was now the date of the deadline. He'd ask me to meet him there. It had worked out quite nicely.
There were four readers in the bookshop this time, one in each chair. Perhaps I should have left and returned later, as I really was looking for somewhere quiet to read. I supposed I could look through some of the other books and find some to read on the side of those I needed for my studies.
As I wandered the shelves, I wondered where Calvin was today. He hadn't been at the register when I came in. Maybe his mother was working, or he was on his break.
I snapped myself out of the thoughts. I didn't care if he was working, that was a ridiculous thought. I was at the shop to read, not befriend employees like Zaire was hoping to.
When I had a nice collection of interesting reads, I went to the reading nook. I laid out my books across the rug. I counted them. There were only eight. I could manage to finish at least one by the time the shop closed at seven.
I pulled the book with the most vibrant cover from the arrangement, and read the synopsis. I smiled to myself. I would enjoy this book indeed. It appeared to be about an orphaned girl finding solace in true love. She sounded like a warped version of myself. Yes, I may have been orphaned, but unlike the protagonist, love was not on my radar.
"You've made quite a mess over here."
I glanced up from the comfort of my book. Calvin smirked down at me. I struggled to compose myself under his intense gaze. "Are you going to kick me out?" I asked softly, only half serious.
Calvin looked stunned by my response. "No, but you do intend to purchase the books, don't you?"
"No," I shrugged, glancing back down at the book which I did not intend on paying for.
"Then perhaps we may have an issue," Calvin replied smoothly.
All of a sudden, I felt a strong urge to argue with him. "If you finish a book in a bookshop then you never have to pay for it," I said, "and I haven't got any money. This is my solution."
Calvin smirked again. I'd proved him wrong. "Very well," he muttered, turning his back on me. I sighed a breath of relief. His presence was heavy.
Just as I returned to my reading, Calvin turned back around. "What if I could offer you a job here?" he mused. I quirked an eyebrow at him. That was unexpected. "That would solve your financial predicament, would it not?" he added.
"Yes, I suppose so," I said, "but it depends. Are the other staff more inviting than yourself?"
Calvin's smirk returned. Why was this amusing to him? "I'm sorry, have I not just invited you, a complete stranger, to work here without any implications?" he asked.
"What gives you the authority to do that?" I wondered aloud.
"It's my Mum's shop," Calvin replied, "I have the authority to do as I please."
It all made sense now. He didn't look like a person who would choose to work in a bookshop, because he hadn't chosen to.
"Fine, I'll accept the position," I said, "when do I start?"
"How about now," Calvin offered, "you can start by cleaning up this mess." He glanced down at my book stash with displeasure. I scowled. This boy had a knack for pissing me off.
I set my book aside on a coffee table and picked up the rest. I scanned the room for a place Calvin would approve of me storing them. The door to the back room was open, I noticed. I spotted a row of carts just inside. They would do the trick.
I wheeled one of the carts out into the reading nook and piled my books neatly on top. I tore a page from my sketchbook and wrote in neat letters "Saturn's Picks". Many bookshops back home used this strategy to sell more books. I, on the other hand, was using it to claim the books as my own.
Calvin wandered over to me. I felt my cheeks grow warm once more. I was on my knees, adding a few more books to my collection.
"What on Earth is 'Saturn's Picks'?" Calvin questioned. He did not sound pleased. I didn't care.
"Saturn is me and these are the books I have picked," I said, "you told me to find a place for them. I have. Happy?"
"Is Saturn some sort of pet name?" Calvin asked, ignoring my question entirely.
"No," I said slowly, trying not to become irritated.
"Strange," Calvin muttered. He left me alone. Thank goodness. If I was proving to be such a nuisance to him, then why would he offer me a job?
Feeling a bit flustered from our interaction, I began reorganizing the books on the shelf. I started at the front of the store, hiding from Calvin's gaze between the shelves. I didn't wish to be stared at as I worked, it may cause me to reconsider my choice to work in the shop at all. I wanted this to be a place of calm, not a place for Calvin to take amusement in my presence.
As I sorted through the shelves, I quickly noticed that they were sorted by author name, not their genre. Sorting books by genre made it much easier to find what you were looking for, in my opinion. But perhaps I had just read too many books. I knew all of the authors and titles by heart and their genres. I assumed those in the English Program as Kenton likely did as well. Therefore, I was not messing with anyone's method of finding their books.
I sorted through the books, placing them on the floor before being rearranged. By the time the hour passed, I had only finished the first shelf.
This was going to take a while.
"Saturn."
I turned around. Calvin beckoned me to come. I went to the desk.
"What?" I asked.
"You're Jupiter Grey's sister, aren't you?" he asked.
"I am," I replied. He was now the second person to recognize me because of my brother.
"He's in my year," Calvin said, letting me know he was one year older than me, "did your Mum have a thing for planets or something?"
"She was an Astronomy professor," I replied, "so yes, I suppose so."
Calvin's eyes narrowed. Was it the being named after planets thing or the fact that I'd referred to my mother in the past tense that was confusing?
Suddenly, the little bell dinged, interrupting us. I grinned at the newcomer.
"Do you know him?" Calvin asked.
"Zaire!" I called his name, waving from across the store. That must have answered Calvin's question nicely.
"I see you've already made a splash here," Zaire commended me, noticing my "Saturn's Picks" display.
"Guess what, I work here now," I said, "isn't that great?"
"Yes, it is indeed," Zaire replied, glancing at Calvin, then at me, then back at Calvin, "you must be Mrs. McKnight's son."
"I am," Calvin replied.
"Do you think she'd mind another employee?" Zaire asked, giving me a look. I hoped he would work at the bookshop as well, it would be nice to have someone other than Calvin to keep me company.
"She allows me to select the employees," Calvin said, "I'll consider your offer." He gave a false smile, then stalked away.
"Hey!" I exclaimed, following him back to the desk, "you gave me the job on the spot, why not Zaire?"
"I've been managing the shop fine on my own," Calvin replied, "taking you on was a courtesy. You should be grateful."
I scoffed. He was being so unreasonable. I turned on my heel, returning to Zaire.
"He is insufferable," I muttered.
"He'll come around," Zaire grinned, not appearing to be too concerned about not getting the job.
"I don't understand why he's so rude," I said, still fuming with frustration.
"He makes up for it in his looks, don't you agree?" Zaire mused, leaning on a bookshelf and watching Calvin.
I analyzed him. He was typing on his laptop. It was aggravatingly loud. "Not really," I said softly.
Just then, the bell rang once more. Henri and Liana were here. Henri swung his arm around Zaire. They left, off to dinner.
"What a nice place to work," Liana said, admiring the shop after I'd told her about my new position.
I caught Calvin watching us. He beckoned me to him again, and I rolled my eyes. He gave me a testing look. I blushed. Why did this boy keep making me blush?
"I need you to sign some things," Calvin said, "give these to your friend. I've decided to give him the job."
I signed the paperwork quickly, and then left the shop to catch the five o'clock bus. Why had Calvin been so quick to change his mind about Zaire? As Liana and I boarded the bus, I pondered it more thoroughly than I should have.
I couldn't help but wonder, had he viewed Zaire as a threat before seeing him with Henri?
When I returned to my room, I had messages from Zaire himself;
Liana told me I got the job! I can't wait to see you and Pretty Boy fall for each other.
I sighed. Hadn't Zaire witnessed our bickering? It would be a miracle if I remained working at the bookshop for more than a week under Calvin's watchful, stubborn eye.
Don't hold your breath. I'll see you at breakfast.
I shut my phone off and closed my eyes. What was I getting myself into?