A Rare Edition

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

It was a rare edition. Zoe recognized the author: Maya Angelou, and the collection of poems was definitely one that she'd read previously. The edition, however, happened to be a good deal older than any that Zoe had handled before. She knew that these things were often worth a good deal more, so she wasn't too confident when she reached up to take the book. She carefully opened the cover, reverently flipping through the pages. It wasn't in the best of conditions, so maybe...

no, no the price was definitely out of her range. "Maybe I could have them put it on hold?" she wondered aloud, running her hand along the spine. She heard a soft noise behind her, just someone clearing a throat, and she let out a soft yelp. She felt the book slide from her hands and she started scrambling, trying to catch it. At some point she accidentally knocked the book into the shelves, where she heard it slide.

"Oh my," Zoe managed, while staring wide-eyed at the shelf, suddenly hoping the store allowed you to buy things on credit. She'd completely forgotten the source of the noise, and wasn't even sure if it was an actual person.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

A Novel Idea was slowly becoming one of Levi’s favorite places to be. His visits were increasingly frequent as of late, usually twice a week. Regardless if he had finished a book or not, he was always curious for more eclectic novels to add to his rapidly growing collection. Sooner or later he feared his apartment would resemble the store. His bookcase at home was filling at a rapid rate. Every new book he get he added to the shelf. It was organized in order by when he bought the book. As he finished one, he’d move on to the next. The book that was the first on the shelf, The Catcher In The Rye. After all these years he had managed to hold on to the first book he ever read. Levi intentionally left the rest of that shelf empty, symbolizing all of the books he had read throughout the years that either, he did not own, or were lost in his time of travel.

The clerk had become all too familiar with Levi. To the point in which the only interaction they had was when he was purchasing a book. The guy knew better than to say anything anymore. Levi was browsing in his usual aisle. He refused to look down any other one until he felt satisfied that there was nothing more of interest to him in this one. Normally he was alone when he came, as he found with time that this wasn’t the most “hip” place to be. Really? Hip? Nevertheless, today he knew someone else was in here, he had heard them come in not long after he had arrived. As Levi pulled another book from its place on the shelf, he felt a slight tickle in his throat. He quickly cleared his throat, as quietly as he could, and turned the book around to read the back.

Levi’s head instantly perked up after hearing a slight commotion coming from the aisle adjacent to his. Did he startle someone? Oops. Sticking the book back in its open spot on the shelf, he rounded the corner, making his way into the next aisle and saw a young lady who seemed a bit perturbed. “Is everything okay?” He asked, with slight concern.

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Tag: Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

The sound nearly made Zoe jump again. She turned, looking up at the youngish man. he didn't look like a clerk, so at least she wouldn't have to explain that to him. Words still failed her for several seconds, till she at least realized that she should give him at least enough to let him know that there wasn't anything too major.

"I'm---I'm not h-h-hurt or anything," she managed, adding a wobbly smile. She extended her hands out for a moment before running them along her body. "See? Fine. I just, ah," she chewed her cheek and turned slightly to look back at the shelf. her eyes widened as she realized that in her nervous excitement, she'd spun around without really keeping track of where she'd been. She turned again, leaning over, desperate to make sure that she hadn't lost sight of the book. it didn't seem to be immediately behind her any more, and she was now scrambling slightly to try and see if she could find it.

Which of course meant that, at least for the time being, she'd forgotten all about the gentleman who'd been speaking with her.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi watched the girl jump, he started to think perhaps she was a bit more skittish than most. He raised his eyebrows slightly, as he patiently waited for her to speak. If she could even manage to do so. He let his hand slip off the shelf it was resting on and fall to his side. A soft smile spread across his face as he watched her show him that she wasn’t hurt. Good, she wasn’t hurt. That was at least a start.

Whatever the reason, she clearly was a bit flustered. He watched in awe as she spun around, clearly looking for something. He was unsure of what he should do. “Uh,” He began, then stopped himself. She seemed to be in her own little world that he had so clearly disturbed. Levi let out a soft sigh, and turned to head back to the aisle he had previously been in. He went to take a step, but just as his boot was about to hit the gray floor, he turned it back to face the girl. Something told him to help, or at very least, try.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but is there anything I can do to help?”

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Tag:Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe did hear the uh for a moment, but she mostly ignored it. her frantic desire to actually find what she'd dropped sort of overwhelmed anything else. She also heard a slight sigh, but she almost figured that it had somehow come from herself.

Then came the next, and that had her looking back up. it was then that Zoe seemed to realize that all the noises had actually come from someone else: specifically this guy. She gave him a slightly nervous smile before pulling a little more upright, effectively sitting on her heels. "Well, ah, I sort of dropped a book?" she said. She gestured at the shelf in front of her. "It was this collection of poetry. I'd been looking at it and got startled and..." she sighed and paused, chewing her cheek slightly.

Zoe stared at the shelf for a bit longer then at the man again. "I think... it's back there? somewhere? I don't want to really---I'd rather not get the staff... involved," well, that sounded lame, and so much for all that work at talking to people. Well, at least she hadn't run away and she was speaking words. Improvement?

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi waited patiently. Why was he concerning himself with this girl? Perhaps it was because she reminded him of someone. Or maybe it was just the simple fact that he was a good person, regardless of what others have said. Yes, he mostly kept to himself. Yes, he’d rather the company of his dogs or a good book than that of another person, but he wasn’t completely detached from human emotion.

He was relieved when she acknowledged his presence. So he wasn’t a complete bother, or was he? A book? She couldn’t find a book? That was simple enough. Levi cautiously lowered himself to her level not wanting to unnerve her anymore than she already was. Levi’s hazel eyes shifted between the girl, the shelf she was looking at, and then around the rest of the aisle.

He offered a soft smile as some solace. “Well, I’m sure it couldn’t have gone far.” He began looking around some more, and couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle, “That would be best,” He began, as he looked quickly over in the direction of the clerk. “The employee here isn’t very, helpful to say the very least. That would be me putting it kindly.” The track record of the guy here wasn’t good from Levi’s point of view. It may be best for the guy to retire, although he was way too young to consider actual retirement. Nevertheless, he shouldn’t be working here. He looked back at the girl, and then at the shelf to help continue the search for the missing book.

“Are you into poetry?” He questioned, trying to ease the girl as best as he could.

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Tag: Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

No, it couldn't have. The reassurance of hearing that from someone else, in that gentle tone, made Zoe relax significantly. She nodded her agreement with it, her expressive brown eyes, still showing worry, shifting to look at the shelves. At least she managed a slight chuckle at the man's own: this probably did look silly. It was silly. Zoe should just calm down a little more; she could already feel herself relaxing.

She did notice his eyes shift, her own following for a moment. Oh, so this particular employee wasn't helpful? "They didn't look too friendly," Zoe offered. But she knew that oftentimes bookstores hired people more for their knowledge of books and skills in shelving than in actually talking to people. you had to love books to want to work at a place like this, after all.

The gaze returned, and Zoe went back to looking, relying more on touch: extending her hand behind the row of books and feeling. "What? oh, um yes, quite," she offered, pausing to lick her lips. Her voice certainly sounded more British, which was a big clue that she still needed to calm down. "I actually write it as well, poetry, that is. I had a show, well, it was art, but there was poetry involved," she let out another nervous laugh before trying to lean forward. "It really should be around here somewhere..."

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

It had seemed that the girl felt a little bit more at ease, but not quite fully there. “No, he isn’t. To him customers are a bother.” The irony. The one thing that allows him to keep his job and this store afloat are the customers who spend their money on the books that fill the lonely shelves of this place.

Did she have a hint of an accent? Not wanting to pry anymore than he already had, he decided not to mention it. “Who’s your favorite poet?” Not that Levi was into poetry, but it got the girl talking. He did know a few poets, the more “popular” or well known ones. But he was sure most people knew of them as well.

“Oh so you’re a poet yourself? How nice.” He said with a soft smile.

Levi’s hand ran about the shelves, “Perhaps,” He began, moving his arm closer to where hers was. “If you let me, I believe my arm may be longer.”

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Tag: Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Customers were a bother? Zoe turned slightly to look. She didn't recognize the man, so she couldn't really counterargue. "It sounds as though he's not suited for his job then," she said, putting a little more oomph into the words. Not that she could really apply and try for it herself: she had enough between school, her own work, and the new TA job.

The question drew her back to the man. "Oh, um, several? I like Maya Angelou: she's who we're reaching for, Adrienne Rich is really good too. And of course there's Emily Dickinson," Zoe smiled slightly, flushing. She could certainly go on about poetry at length if pressed. She was already nodding as he repeated her assertion: yes, she was a poet and she did love to create.

However she ended up freezing for a moment as she realized he came closer. It took a second thought, a mental reminder not to freak out, for her not to jerk. Instead she sort of shuffled away. "Yes, that make sense," she said, hoping that the warble in her voice would just be put down to the tense situation. "Please, it's, um, relatively thin? Slightly worn cover though," she chewed her cheek, trying to remember any other tactile details she could share to make it easier.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

The thought had crossed his mind a few time here and there, but he had never considered acting upon it. He could use a part time job, his money was starting to run thin. Not that he spent much. He did love reading, and there was something about this place. It was different from your typical bookstore. It had its own unique personality. Levi felt it. But to actually work here, he wasn't so sure. He didn’t know that much about books enough to help people out. Then again, he wondered how often people stuck their head in this place. “In my opinion. He is not.” It was not so outlandish for him to work in such an establishment. He’s had worse jobs. Levi’s eyes came back to life after the trance they were in as he was lost in his own head.

Levi’s ears were attentive as the girl provided him with her favorite poets. She had surely seemed passionate about it. It was a refreshing thing to see, admirable even. He had heard of Maya Angelou and even Emily Dickinson, not that he would be identify their work. Adrienne Rich he had never heard of. It was interesting that all of her favorite poets were woman. He brushed it off as mere coincidence.

Levi paused the moment he noticed her tense up, then move away. He offered a soft smile, and nodded taking in her information of the book. He patted around, reaching as far as his arm would let him before it snapped off. He felt something brush against the pads of his fingertips. “I think I got something.” He assured her. Levi tried sliding it closer to the palm of his hand so he could get a good grip on it. Finally feeling pleased with the grasp he had on it, he pulled it out, and without even looking at it he presented it to the girl. “This it?”

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Tag: Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe had to nod in agreement with Levi's assessment. Again, she was reminded of her belief that someone working at a bookstore should possess a love of books. she nearly said it, stopped just short of actually vocalizing the thought. Perhaps if she hadn't been distracted by poetry, which had started to calm her, she would have continued. Just listing her favorite authors, and yes, she realized many that came immediately to mind were women, though she did appreciate some men (Percy Bysse Shelley immediately coming to mind).

There was a pause, a tension, and the man looked. Zoe chewed her cheek, trying yet again to think if there were more details she should be sharing. Once more her mind became blank, and she had to gasp as he spoke. Then slowly but surely, something came out.

"That's it!" she said, taking it with another gasp of delight. "oh, thank you! I can't even really afford to buy this now, so I'd hate to think I'd damaged it or lost it," the girl began thumbing through the book again, checking to make sure that nothing was damaged. She could only hope that the book had landed on its spine, or that there hadn't been any damage and that the clerk had actually dusted this area for a change.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi’s dislike for the store clerk was palpable. Levi knew it, and so did the clerk, who still remains nameless to Levi. He had never offered his name, nor was there some sort of name plate, sign, or anything that would make it apparent what his name was. Perhaps the clerk preferred it that way. In hopes to deter his blood pressure from rising from this vexatious employee, Levi forced anymore thoughts of him out of his head. This time for good (at least for the rest of today, he was sure the next time he came back it would return.).

His facial expression softened a bit as he focused his attention to finding this elusive book. He felt relieved that it was in fact the book she had been searching for. A soft smile made it way across his face. He couldn’t help but feel elated. She was so happy, from such a simple thing. He couldn’t help but think he’d be the same way if he misplaced a book he was interested in. Such a book nerd. He was proud of it. Not that he would ever admit it to his family.

“Not a problem. Glad I could help.” He said simply, wishing he had put a little more emotion into it. The girl’s face was glowing with excitement and relief. He was lost in her reaction, so pure and innocent. It was refreshing. His eyes shifted from the girl to the book, trying to see if there was in fact any damage. If there was, it wasn’t obvious. “If you’d like, I can get you the book.” He said kindly, as he placed his hands in his jean pockets. He leaned slightly closer to her momentarily, “It would probably be better off in your care.” He said in a soft voice, almost as if he didn’t want the clerk to hear at the off chance it would offend him. He let out a soft chuckle, his head motioning to the front of the store where the employee was. “What do ya say?” He asked, as he shrugged. His head was cocked slightly to the right.

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Tag: Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe flashed the grateful smile as the man again insisted he was just glad that he could help her out. She couldn't help but continue to express the relieve at having this more or less dealt with. Plus, she'd met someone who did strike her as quite intriguing on the whole, and she was ready to put the book back and just move on when...

"What?" Zoe said, looking up at him, not quite believing her ears. She blinked, trying to get her brain to process the information. The book would be better off with her? What did... "I couldn't just..." she said, fidgeting with the book slightly, "it's not, um, it's not that cheap; that's why I can't really afford it anyway," she chewed her cheek, before reaching up. "We could, um, trade, if you really like? I could take your picture?" Did that sound bad? It almost sounded bad to Zoe. she held up a hand, shaking it. "I mean, not, like, dirty pictures or anything. I don't, do that. I do artistic photos, and such. I could, well, I'm not quite a professional, but I am quite good, and it would be worth it."

And she wouldn't feel guilty about accepting the book as payment, so win/win.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi returned the gesture with a smile of his own. He shook his head and waved his hand to dismiss her comment. “Don’t worry about the price.” He said. Money was a foolish concept to him. He disliked it, and although it was needed for everyday life he made sure to make it a minimal concern of his. He had struggled from time to time, but he found with the less cash he had, the more he can truly say he lived. He was fortunate to strike a jackpot from his time in Europe, and had been careful with his earnings since then (Hence his decision to return to Kalispell in the first place), but this was something he felt adamant about. She deserved this book. Her passion for poetry was inspiring and that book would benefit more in her ownership than in this bookshop.

Levi was about to take the book from her and insist on it, but her proposal caught him slightly off guard. A picture? He couldn’t help but chuckle. “A picture of me?” He asked with an eyebrow raised, just the thought of it made him shudder. He wasn’t really a picture person, but it was apparent she felt uncomfortable accepting the book from a stranger. He couldn’t blame her for that. Levi twisted his mouth for a moment, he had an idea. He smiled lightly, “How about you take a picture of my dogs? I’d rather a nice picture of them, than of myself.” He said kindly, and let out a small laugh. “And I will pay you with that book.” He gestured his head towards it.

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Tag: Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

He could say don't worry, but that wasn't going to make Zoe worry any less. If anything, it seemed to make her really think that she should be worrying more, and she flushed at the thought of it. She might have grown used to not having any money of her own, or at least, barely enough to really get by, but that didn't mean that she particularly enjoyed moments like this.

At least her proposition seemed to have struck some sort of chord. She nodded at his repetition, and was ready to reiterate the offer when he countered with one of his own. That had her blinking. "Well, ah, I don't normally take pictures of pets but, um, there's no reason why I couldn't?" Zoe offered, adding a shy, uncertain smile to the end. "They're, um, are they very big dogs?" Because knowing her luck, they'd want to clamber all over her, and she wasn't sure if the fur would be enough t stop her power.

"But, um, it's a deal," she extended the book out, figuring that his taking it would be the best bet. She didn't want to have to explain why touching her hand would result in his feeling like he'd just sat on his hand for a few seconds.