Black and Silvered-Chapter Two (standard:drama, 2453 words) [3/3] show all parts
Author: Ember	Added: Sep 05 2004	Views/Reads: 2427/1886	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
After making a friend for the first time in ages, Ember is starting to feel a little like her old self. But what still awaits her?

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

quietly by Eve's feet. "What about Angel?" Eve asked, following Irene's 
gaze. "She can come back with me." Irene decided, "Don't worry, I won't 
lose her." "Yeah," Amy said, "you can trust Irene." "Uh-huh," Eve 
replied, grinning and standing up, "suuuure." "Here," Amy reached into 
a pocket of her apron, "for your muffin." "Thanks." Eve put her muffin 
in the bag, "By the way, I'm Eve." "Nice to meet ya," Amy grinned, "Now 
scat." 

Amy shooed Eve out the door.  Once outside, Eve decided the quickest way
to get back to the shop would be through the alleys. 

------- 

After the first two blocks, she had finished the muffin and was half way
through her mocha.  When she got to the next block, she went back onto 
the main street.  At the first trash can she passed, she threw away the 
bag which had held the muffin, chugged the rest of the mocha, and threw 
the cup away as well.  That done, she looked at her watch once more, 
she now had ten minutes. 

"I can make it with time to spare," she thought, "I'll just need to
sprint a bit." 

She sprinted off.  After two blocks she stopped to catch her breath.  As
she started off again, she got a strange feeling that she was being 
followed.  She brushed that thought aside, believing it to be paranoia. 
 However, as she got closer to the shop, the feeling intensified.  
Unable to stand it any longer, Eve spun around.  She had expected to 
find Irene and Angel, standing behind her.  Instead, there was.nothing. 


"I'm getting paranoid." Eve thought to herself. "Maybe I need a day
off." 

Eve looked around once more, turned back towards the shop, and continued
walking. The feeling of being watched still didn't go away, but it was 
a lot weaker.  Again, Eve brushed it off as paranoia.  Besides, she had 
just reached the shop, and with seven minutes to spare.  Eve took the 
key out of  her pocket, unlocked the door, stepped in, and re-locked 
the door behind her. 

It was a nice little shop, it had a little of everything.  There was a
book section, a food section, and a section with odds and ends.  With 
her few extra minutes, Eve took the time to restock some shelves and to 
neaten up in  general.  Just as she finished putting the last book on a 
shelf, and began to make sure all the books were organized, the alarm 
on her watch went off. 

"Time to open up." Eve sighed to herself, fixing a smile on her face. 

She walked over to the door, flipped the sign to open and unlocked the
door once more. Then, she went over to the windows and pulled up the 
shades, letting the now late morning sunlight in.  That done, Eve went 
back to fixing up the bookshelves. 

A few minutes later, the bells above the door jangled, letting Eve know
someone had come in.  She put the last book in place, and went over to 
see who it was.  She had expected, of course, Irene and Angel.  It was, 
instead, a young man. 

"Hi," Eve said, walking over. "Can I help you?" "Oh," the man, jumped a
little, "hello, and yes, I think you can." "Are you looking for 
anything in particular?" Eve asked, heading toward the register. "Yes," 
the man said, "a book." "Does it have a title?" Eve asked, trying not 
to grin. "Oh," the man blushed, "it's called East from the Heart." "Ah, 
yes," Eve looked through the supply list. "We have one last copy.  It's 
in the back, I'll get it for you." 

Eve went to the back of the store and through a door entitled Employees
Only, heading to the back of the room. Eve bent down over a box and 
took out the last copy of East from the Heart.  On the cover was a 
young woman, bending over a piece of paper.  The book had been selling 
like hot cakes.  Her boss, Mr. Pandoras, had given her one of the first 
copies as a birthday gift.  Not only had it been fresh, but it was also 
signed by the author, Summer Storms. 

To Eve, 

May your life be wonderful in every aspect, and may this book bring in a
little more joy.  Happy reading. 

-Summer Storms 

Eve treasured the book almost as much as Angel.  Almost.  As she brought
the book to the young man, she recalled her favorite section of the 
book. 

-------- 

I sat at my desk, staring at the letter I had just received.  It was
another one from Joyce, her letters seemed to be coming in shorter and 
shorter intervals.  There was a sense of urgency to them lately as if 
she was worried about something, but was unable to speak of it.  Well, 
write, technically.  Not only that, but she kept calling me Tib, my old 
childhood nickname.  No one called me that anymore, unless they really 
needed me, which she seemed to.  Her final sentence was Tibesha, I 
REALLY wish you were here.  Then she signed it: Your Lonely Friend, 
Joyce Borgen. 

I wasn't sure how to respond to that.  Maybe she was just lonely, but
she knew I couldn't go and see her it would be too dangerous to be 
seen.  So, I wrote her back, asking if she was alright.  Then, for some 
reason, I signed it as I had my letters to Donny; East from the Heart, 
Tibesha Kalcky. 

--------- 

"Would you like a name plate from the author?" Eve asked, snapping out
of her thoughts. "A name plate?" The man looked confused. "We send your 
name to the author with a request for her to make out an inscription, 
which we then stick inside your book." Eve answered, while continuing 
to walk to the register. "Yes or no?" "Sure," the man replied, looking 
normal again. "Alright," Eve said, "Your name?" "Levi," the man stated, 
"Levi Hansly." "Phone number?" Eve filled in the form she had pulled 
out from behind the counter. "So we can contact you." "248.163.2641." 
Levi looked at the book in his hands. "Do you think 'Summer Storms' is 
a pen name?" "Yes and no," Eve finished filling out the form and put it 
in a tray on a nearby counter. "Summer is her middle name, but Storms 
is her last name.  Oh and don't tell anyone about this name plate 
thing." "Why not?" Levi pried, curiously. "We only do it for the last 
book in each shipment.  And even then, only if we feel like being 
nice." Eve began walking back to the bookshelves. "When you're ready, 
just call me over to the register." "Sure," Levi wandered over to the 
snack aisle. 

Just as Eve started to take stock of  the books again, the bell jangled,
and Irene burst in. 

"Eve!" Irene cried, into the shop. "Wait till you hear the news!" "Calm
down." Eve sighed, straightening up. "Go get 'er Angel." Irene said, 
and Angel trotted over to Eve. "So," Eve said, patting the panting 
Angel, "what's the news?" "A famous Actor is in town!" Irene squealed, 
to Eve's rolling eyes. "I'm not sure who, but he's famous." "Um, excuse 
me," came a voice near the register, "I'm ready to check-out now." 
"Great," Eve began walking towards the register, leaving Angel with 
Irene once more. 

However, halfway there, Eve noticed the lack of sound emanating from
Irene.  She turned to see what had happened.  When she saw Irene, her 
eyebrows raised, Irene's jaw was hanging down and she was staring at 
Levi. 

"Are you okay Irene?" Eve asked, "I mean, I know he's cute, but still."
"Th-that's him!" Irene stuttered. "Who?" Eve quested patiently. 
"The.the actor." Irene managed. 

Eve turned to look at Levi by the counter.  He didn't look like any
actor she knew.  Then again, she hadn't seen many movies lately.  
Still, he seemed too nice to be an actor. 

"Are you?" Eve asked him as she got behind the register. "What, the
actor?"  Levi sounded a bit peeved, Eve nodded, "Yeah, and now the one 
person who didn't know, does.   You didn't even recognize my name.  Now 
you're gonna be all 'can I get your autograph'.  Oh well, it lasted for 
a little while." "What lasted?" Eve looked at him quizzically as she 
scanned the bar code on a bottle of Coke. "Being treated like a normal 
human being." Levi sighed, traumatically. "What? You're saying you're 
different from all other human beings?" Eve snapped at him. "NO!" Levi 
replied quickly, losing all suave gestures, "Only that everyone treats 
me like I am.  It bugs me." "I, for one, most certainly will treat you 
as I normally would any other.  And you certainly encourage people to 
fawn over you with those dramatics." Eve glared at him. "$15.35, 
please." "Glad to hear it, and shall take that into account." Levi 
handed over the money. "I'll make sure to stop by here more often 
during the shoot." "Here's your change." Eve handed him the money and 
his bag. "We'll get in touch with you about the name plate." "Great." 
Levi took his things and walked past the still gaping Irene, the 
stopped in front of the doors, "By the way, what's your name?" "Eve," 
Eve grinned, "and that statue is Irene." "Nice meeting you both," Levi 
said, going through the doors, "See you soon." 

Eve shook her head and walked back to the bookshelf, hoping she'd be
able to finish her work there.  However, when she saw Irene walking 
towards her, she threw up her hands and gave up on it.  Irene's jaw was 
still slightly agape and she kept looking back at the door.  Eve shook 
her head and laughed inwardly at Irene's reaction to Levi. 

"I cannot believe you did not know who Levi Hansly was!" Irene fairly
screamed at Eve, then composed herself. "Eve, tonight, we watch all his 
movies.  Or at least, all the movies that I know exist." "Whatever you 
say, Irene." Eve looked at Angel by Irene's side. "Did you think he 
looked like any actor we know, Angel?" 

Angel shook her head.  Eve smiled and walked over to the register,
again.  Angel followed her.  Irene merely stood where she was and 
stared at Eve, amazed. 

"Even after you knew, though," Irene said, awed. "You still treated him
normally." "He is normal." Eve sighed, and looked slyly up at Irene. 
"You have a crush on him, don't you?" "Oh, my god!" Irene whispered, 
"Am I that obvious?!" "Not to the inexperienced eye, like him." Eve 
ducked behind the counter. "Where are we going to watch the movies?" 
"Why not here?" Irene walked to the register, "My dad's got a HUGE 
screen TV and a nice new DVD player." "Ok," the bell jangled over the 
door and a small crowd entered, Eve straightened up, "now, if you'll 
excuse me, there are customers.  Oh, and could you put Angel in my 
room?" 

Eve patted Angel, then went over to a customer. 


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