Shy Bite Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Old Books1

Ow, my head. What happened? I gently open my eyes, staring at the stars. But I wasn't outside; I was still in my room. The lights were turned off and the stars glowed a neon green color; Yes! They do glow! Come on Michelle, focus! I rose up from my bed, wait. I thought I fainted or passed out on the floor. I looked at my surroundings, same as I left it. Except the books that were on the ground, were now back in their rightful spots. On my bed I found my Ipod and Toby sleeping so adorably. Maybe I didn't pass out...did I fall asleep listening to my Ipod? I don't remember sitting on my bed grabbing my Ipod in my bathrobe, then falling asleep. All I remember is hearing something fall, coming out and running into that shadow thing, I then pass out when it runs right through me. A cold chill runs down my spine at the thought of when it ran through me. All I felt was ice and emptiness. I don't know how you can feel emptiness from a shadow but that's what I felt.2

I glide my legs off the bed and onto the floor, walking to my open window. The curtains still continued flowing in the breeze; I shut the window. I glance at my other window by the door that looked off at the woods, it too was open. I walk over to the window, glancing at my bat cage, which was swinging from the wind that glided in from the window. I push the curtains over and reach for the edge of the window. I glanced down to where the trees start to form the forest. I saw three black figures, two were standing side ways toward the third figure, that figure was facing its body toward the house not looking at me but at the ground. I notice one of the figures nudges the other. I tightly shut my eyes and tried to focus my eye sight, if I was seeing the right thing. I opened my eyes and the figures were gone.3

I stared at the same spot; I started to get woozy for some odd reason. I shut the window and walked to my bed, I'm surprised that I didn't fall this time. I then realized that I was still in my bathrobe. I ran to the bathroom with new clothes.4

Minutes later I come walking out of MY bathroom in a pair of black sweat pants and a black My Chemical Romance t-shirt. Walking in front of my mirror on my dresser, I looked like a normal girl with out my eyeliner on; it all washed away when I took a shower. I walked over to my bed then something in my brain hit me. The box and the items; were they still in there. I turned my body toward my desk, opening the drawer. There sat the purple box on a few folders that held pictures I drew and stories drafts I wrote, it was the most beautiful box I have ever seen. The edges curved inward, in a wonderful style. The color was a misty purple, it was almost the shade of pink. I sat on the bed, grabbing my laptop on the way. I slid my legs on the bed when Toby jumped of the bed and laid on the ground. I guess he was getting annoyed with me moving.5

I shrug.6

I lift the lid on the purple box, there laid the spider necklace and the piece of paper. NOT! My heart sank, the box was empty, and I then touched the pink fabric inside. Ah man, that sucks. I turn the box and face the back. To where the key to turn the music on was. I turned the gold key clockwise and then the divine music played. The melody was soft and yet flowing. It was a song that made you dance like a ballerina. Next to the key a name was written.7

Donna.8

Donna...Donna, I guess that was the name of the last person that lived here, but a good question is why would they leave this eye-catching box behind. It didn’t have any scratches or any dents; it looked bran new, besides the items being gone. Hahaha. Also the melody was breathtaking.9

The music stopped and I then sat the box on my desk. Flipping my laptop up, a sticky note stuck to the edge.10

We Love You!11

Mom & Dad12

Password: Purple13

That password has to go, I love purple, but not much security.14

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One thing I know is that I'm almost 16 and that means two things. Work and driving. Yes to the driving part. I've been dieing to jump into a car and drive. Without my parent’s tagging along, temps...16

I wonder if there are any places here hiring in Blackrock for a 15 year old girl? I really need the money, to buy more clothes and books. But were should I work? Once Upon A Child, Pizza Hut, United Dairy Farmers (UDF), or maybe Little Mary Marlers (its like UDF, but a little more old fashion, little carts, mostly sell bread products, sweet snacks and soda.) That's what I'm going to do; I'm going to try out for a job.17

I run down stairs in a purple, black zebra stripped shirt, skinny jeans with two belts hanging on the sides and a chain. Also I was wearing my 1in high-tops. My mom greets me with a smile and the sweet smell of pancakes. Yum, my mom's famous strawberry pancakes with a hint of cinnamon. I smiled at the plate that sat on the table, calling my name. I quickly jerked the chair back, sitting my butt on the seat, digging into the non syrup covered pancakes. I liked them better that way. Syrup sort of drowns them, all you taste is the syrup and soggy pancakes that don't have flavor. With in seconds, the two pancakes were now in my stomach...yum; I didn't get to eat last night. Speaking of last night, I wonder if they heard me scream.18

"Aaaaaa mom?" I started. She turned to me with a plate in her hand and a washrag in the other.19

"Yes?" She wondered.20

"Did...did you hear a scream at all last night?"21

"Nope" She smiled, turning back to the sink. "Why?"22

"Oh, no reason, I guess that scream was part of my dream..."23

"Or from your crazy music" She giggled. I glared at her, dropping the fork on my plate.24

"Well, I'm leaving..." I told rising from the chair.25

"Where are you heading off to?" She asked, turning back to me. I stopped in my tracks; I was so close to leaving the kitchen.26

I mumbled something under my breath so my mom wouldn't hear...well she is half deaf and the crazy thing is my dad is half blind. Weird huh?27

"Michelle Hailey Conner, you know that I'm half deaf, you need to speak up loader!" She yelled to me.28

"IM LEAVING TO FIND A JOB!" I screamed; hope that was load enough for her to hear. She gasped.29

"A job, my little darkness girl is getting a job" She shrieked, racing to me holding my face with both hands. I tried shaking them off but her hands are really strong when she's proud, well at least it wasn't a death hug. She finally let go, giving my I'm-so-proud-of-you kiss on the forehead. I backed away, wiping my forehead a million times, getting as much mother kiss off. She ran to the counter and grabbed a set of keys.30

"Let's go" Mom giggled.31

"Aaaaaa, what do you mean?"32

"I'm coming with you"33

"No your not, sorry but i want to go by myself"34

"You can drive" She told, handing me the keys. Hmmmm, drive. It won't hurt too much if she comes. I giggled in my mind. I looked up at my mom from the keys; she was giving me the puppy dog eyes.35

"Fine," I sighed. "You can come, but I get to drive"36

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Pizza hut was first, they are only hiring 16 year olds. Even though I will be 16 next summer in July. UDF, nope have to be 20, because they sell cigarettes there now. Once Upon A Child, I changed my mind when I entered into the store, messy and that means I will have to clean and organize it. Little Mary Marlers did not seem so exciting to work at anymore, I loved going to Little Mary Marlers but it went out of business after a month of UDF being made. Mom and I were walking to the car that was parked on the side of the road. She placed her hand on my shoulder.38

"It's ok sweetie, there will be a perfect job around here later when you are sixteen" She told trying to comfort me. We hoped into the car, driving up the road and then turning left and continued up the road and we then parked on the side. "I have to pick something up ok, be back in a few" She jumped out of the car and ran into the store we parked in front of. Plateo's Closet, great she will be in there forever. I looked at the outside around us when something caught my eye, well two things. 1. A book store parked across from the store we parked in front of called "June's Book Store" 2. A sign in the window that said, "Now hiring, looking for any kind of person." I jumped out of the car, crossing the street, walking upon the wooden door. The window that opened in the front that had a few stacks of books on display. I placed my hand on the door knob, opening the door and a little bell went off from me opening the door. I expected a "Hello, thanks for coming are you looking for anything special" but all was silent. I walked in the door way and the book shelves came into view, plants laid on the top of the lower shelves, classical music played in the background and the smell of old books and for some reason soap fluttered the air.39

This place was colder then a meat locker, i continued walking upon the carpet floor, then the smell a coffee entered into the room and so did an old lady that looked oddly familiar. She stopped in front of the counter, glancing at me and placing her coffee mug on the counter. She then turned to me.40

"You are looking for a job Michelle?" She slowly spoke to me. I stepped back, how she knew my name. "You probably don't remember me; this will probably jog your memories."41

She rose her old hand and grabbed mine, looking at my lines on my hand. I kept hearing her say "ehmmm, ehmmm, ehmmm" I was getting annoying. "You will have a crazy adventure and find true love" It was the old physic woman I saw when I was little.42

"Oh, now I remember" A smiled appeared across my face.43

"Ok, well any ways, you’re hired"44

"What?"45

"You start next Monday" She told me, walking out of the room. Cool, I got a job and in one of my favorite places to be around my favorite things. Books. I awkwardly walked out of the store, finding my mom in the car with a bunch of bags in the back seat. This is why we don't have much money; mom is the problem and her shopping for things behind dad's back kind of problem. I sat in the passenger seat and smiled at my mom.46

"Got a job"47

"Really? At June's Book Store?" She asked looking at the store before she said the name, making sure she read it right.48

"Yep"49

"That's great sweetie, when do you start?" She wondered, starting the car up and driving up the road.50

"Next Monday"51

Before I knew it, it was Monday. I was deep in trouble, "my boss" never told me what time to head in. So my mom dropped me off at 12:00 p.m., she then told me "Good luck" and then speeded down the road. I turned to the door and tried opening the door.52

It didn't budge.53

I then felt like I was being glared at.54

"Hold your horses," I heard a voice tell me. I then turned me head looking down at the old lady; she had a blue button up shirt and a name tag that had the words, "Hi my name is June, how may I help you?" June? That didn't really sound like a name for an old lady, then again, parents don't spend so much time thinking about names that sound good when your a kid and when your an old person. I giggled in my head, not at her name but what was written on her name tag. June and the word 'may' were both in it, months hahaha, June before May. If you don't get what I'm saying, look back in the sentence and try to find two months written in it.55

I wonder if my name sounds ok for when I get old.56

"I didn't expect to see you so early," she stated, putting the key in the lock of the door.57

"Well, I didn't know what time to come in, so-"58

"That's quiet alright, you can leave and come around 5 today" She sighed. "Nobody really is interested in books much any more, I have a few customers, but that’s all."59

She swung the door open, with the bell ringing on the way. The smell of books and soap hit my face.60

"I don't have to go, I can work right now and help" I told following behind her, she was a little slow but that was ok. "I actually have a few ideas to bring in more customers"61

"Is that so..." She grumbled. She walked past the front counter and into a little kitchen area that hid behind a wall; I guess this was the employee’s kitchen. She walked over to a coffee dispenser, pushing a red but with a pink coffee mug under it. Coffee poured into the pink mug and she then walked over to a table, sitting down. I sat across from her.62

“So, darling, what are some of your ideas?” She asked taking a sip of her black coffee and looking at me, placing it down.63

“Aaaaaa well, one thing is this store, it sort of blends into the back ground” I stopped.64

“Continue”65

“If we add a little color then it will catch people’s eyes, like posters, flowers, a little toy area for the kids, ads in the newspaper-”66

“That will cost a lot of money…”67

“Do we have enough for poster, paint and fake flowers?”68

“…”69

“I can make the posters myself, no charge” I smiled. She’s a tough nut to crack, a walnut.70

“…fine, cheap paint and fake flowers”71

“Deal” Finally! She tougher then a boulder at a rock fair.72