I Fell in Love With my Best Friend

My alarm was blaring at me. I was late for work, however I couldn't bring myself to get up. It wasn't until my sister banged on my door that I got up and shut off my alarm. I put on a pair of jeans and a plain blue T-shirt before grabbing my apron and running out the door. I lived three minutes away from the store by car so I got there in time. It was a small bookstore whose English name was Books-N-Crannies. The inside was a maze of bookshelves and reading nooks as well as a coffee shop. I waved at the regulars as I came in. I heard the whisper of pages being turned and coffee machines whirring. It smelled like warm, rich coffee and new books and fresh ink. It was such a relaxing atmosphere that everyone enjoyed. It was September and rainy outside, plus school had just started, so it was a lot more crowded than normal. I put my apron on as I clocked in and began restocking the shelves. It was halfway through my shift when a group of people crowded in. At the back of the group were two girls that I had never seen before. The one girl was a petite blonde with hair pulled up into a ponytail. The other one? She was... different from the other girls I've seen. She had golden blonde hair like the first girl, however her hair was down halfway her back and wavy. Her cheeks were tinged pink as if she were blushing. Her ivory skin looked irresistibly soft and perfect. She was petite and of average height. She was wearing a pair of black boots that went halfway up to her knees, a pair of dark blue leggings, a dark grey ripped band tee that I couldn't identify the name of, and a black zip up hoodie with sleeves pulled all the way down covering her hands. She looked hurt and scared and over all beautiful. I watched her walk farther into the store with the first girl. The first girl said in English, "Li, I'm going to go get the books we need for classes. You okay? We can go home if you want?" The beautiful goddess responded, also in English, "I'm fine, Lilly. Go get what you need. I'll be over here." She pointed in the direction of the fiction aisles that I still had to restock. Her melodic voice continued, "I promise." The first girl, Lilly responded hesitantly, "Alright, Lilah. If you're sure." A regular customer came up and I smiled before saying in Russian, "Hey, Sergei. Back again?" He grinned. "I saw you, Jackson. She's a pretty one." I laughed softly. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sure you're right, Sergei. Have a good one!" He smiled and waved as he left the store. I checked a few more people out and then grabbed a box to resume restocking. I walked down the aisle that I needed and saw her yet again. She was muttering to herself as she walked down the aisle, fingers trailing across the spines of the books as she did. Every so often, she would pull a book off the shelf and look at the back of it before putting it back on the shelf. I started restocking the books in my box called Blood of Ash. Behind me, I could hear her soft pants and a noise that sounded like she was hopping. I looked over my shoulder at her and noticed she was chewing on her soft pink lips, straining to reach a book just out of her reach. I watched as her hoodie sleeve slid down, revealing a few scars on her arm as well as what appeared to be half of a heart. I wonder what happened, I thought to myself as I just barely brushed my fingers across her back so she knew I was behind her and pulled the book down for her. It was a book by the author Sarah J. Maas. She flinched and yanked her hoodie sleeve down before taking the book from me. As she did, my fingers accidentally grazed hers and she jerked her hand away slightly. I had felt the little spark but had written it off as static electricity. She looked down in an insecure way and softly said in Russian, "Thank you" I smiled in surprise and responded, "You're very welcome." "Did you need something," she asked a little bit scared. I shook my head and resumed my restocking. As soon as I finished, I went back up to the counter. As I did, my replacement walked into the store. The girls, Lilah and Lilly, came up to the register just as my replacement was coming up from the back. I smiled at him and said, "I got it, Luke. You have a few minutes." He nodded and I smiled at the girls. "Did you girls find everything okay?" I was looking at Lilah as I asked the question and she blushed before nodding. I looked down at the books as I checked them out. I know I startled them when I said, "Oh!" I smiled apologetically. "Are you guys starting senior classes at the Secondary school?" Again, I was directing the question at Lilah, but Lilly answered by saying, "Yes, we are! Do you go there?" I glanced away. "Yes I do. I'm in the 11th year of education." Lilah glanced at me and looked away when we locked eyes. They were gorgeous both blue and green at the same time with gold swirling throughout. She softly said, "We are too." I smiled brightly and wished them well as they left. ~1 hour later~ I walked into Jungle Palace, the local lunch spot and ran into them yet again. I went in looking for my best friend, Wolfe, and saw them sitting at a table in the corner. I walked over to the counter still watching them and knocked on the countertop. Wolfe was tall. He was 6'3" and muscular. Black hair, brown eyes, golden skin, and over all a real ladies' man. He knocked back and I grinned at him. He said, "Busy at work today?" I nodded. "Hey, I don't suppose you feel like helping me out for a bit?" I shrugged. "What's up?" "I have a huge order that I have to get done and I need someone to take this order out." I heard a soft sob and my attention immediately snapped over to the girls. Lilah's shoulders were heaving with every sob. He followed my gaze and clucked his tongue. "She's been like that the entire time they've been here." I looked back at him. "They were just in the store an hour ago. I wonder what happened. Has she actually been crying this whole time?" He shrugged. "They were fine at first. Then she started rubbing her wrist and sobbing. She sobs off and on. I was gonna take them a plate on the house." I looked at him. "I'll take it over. I know you suck with crying girls." He winced and passed me the tray. I walked over and Lilly said without looking up, "We didn't order anything." I said softly, "I know." Lilah's head snapped up looking at me. I nodded apologetically. "It's on us." Lilly looked at her confused and then looked at me. "Oh! It's you! From the bookstore!" I set the food and drinks on the table and said, "Yeah. I was just on my way home. I stopped by to see my friend and he told me you guys have been having a rough time over here. Do you need any help?" Lilah whimpered and sobbed some more before running off. Lilly sighed. "Please excuse my sister. She's grieving." I nodded. "I'm Jackson. If you guys need anything at school, let me know." She smiled. "I'm Lillyana and that is my sister Lilah. I would go check on her. See you around." Wolfe said, "Did you see that?" Furrowing my brows, I said, "See what?" "She's thin. Like sickly thin and there were marks all over her arm." "I caught a glimpse in the book store. She had a tattoo on her wrist I think." I watched them go through the window. "I have a bad feeling, Wolfe." "You think it has anything to do with Alexei?" I chewed on my lip. It's been ten years since we heard from Alex. Auntie told us he had to start a new identity again. I looked at my phone like he would text me. "I don't know."