I looked up from the book I was reading and stood. My break was over and I had to get back to work.

I loved my job. I worked at a really nice used and new bookstore in the quiet part of town next to all of the quaint little shops. It was the perfect job for me, being the bookworm that I am. And my knowledge of literature really did come in handy when people just weren't sure of the book they had in mind. I had found my niche.

And I must have had the coolest boss ever. Mrs. Cullen, or as she insisted everybody call her by her first name, Esme hired me when she learned of my love of reading. I told her that I didn't have any experience at all running a bookstore. She then proceeded to make it very clear that if she wanted somebody who was taking this job to put the inventory in order, she would have hired an accountant. And that was that. Afterwards, I started working there on Wednesdays through Saturdays. Today, though, was going to change everything.

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

Ding! Somebody came into the store. Oh, no. Jessica was here. How did she know I worked here? I definitely wouldn't have mentioned it to her. And she wasn't alone either. Floating behind her was Lauren, Jessica's groupie. They really were a package deal; if you saw one, the other was close by. And close they were.

"Bella! Oh my god! I didn't know you worked here!" Yeah. Umm, are you sure you're not lost? The bookstore that was 3 blocks away from all of the high-end boutiques you practically live in. Okay, I'll go with it. "Well Jessica, I didn't know that you knew how to read". No, I didn't actually say it. But I wanted to. Instead I replied, "Yeah, I've worked here for a while now". I know; really witty, right? Out of all the sharp comebacks racing through my mind, that's what I came up with.

"Oh, well we're just gonna take a look around".

"Sure. Uh, the YA novels are in the back".

They giggled, "Thanks".

Since when had Jessica and Lauren been interested in books? Ok well. I just shook it off. I needed to get started on unpacking the shipment of books that arrived yesterday. As I was walking to the stockroom, I heard some strange laughing and odd sounds coming from the other side of a book shelf. What were they doing?

Just as I was about to go check and see what was going on, Jessica and Lauren quickly scampered across the store and out onto the sidewalk.

What just happened? I ran over to check where they were standing. Oh. My. God. I couldn't believe it.

Every single book from the middle of the shelf was torn at the edges and had something written in red sharpie on the cover. It read, SLUT. My breathing sped up. Why would they come to my work just to do this? I've never been anything but tolerant of their ridiculous treatment of me.

Just as the first tear slid from my eye, the little "ding" that sounded whenever somebody came in made the noise. Ugh…I was so not ready to deal with another customer right now. I planned to tell whoever it was to come back later and close the shop for a lunch break. I got up from where I slid down to the floor earlier and walked to the front of the store, behind the small wooden counter. I had to pull myself together.

Before I could even take a look at the person, I said, "Look, we're closed for lunch so if you want you can come back in about an hour". And then, I heard the sweetest sounding voice that has ever come across my ears. "Oh. Well I was really hoping to pick up a book I ordered last week, but I guess I'll come back later". Wow; apparently my magical blushing powers have the ability to flare up just at the sound of a voice. And, was this a voice.

I turned around, completely willing to postpone my lunch just to hear a bit more of that wonderful sound, and froze in place. If I thought the sound of his voice was attractive, his face may have been too much for me to handle.