Just hit the lights before you leave. // OPEN

[Alex]

Adam Neal

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THERE WAS ALWAYS ONE PLACE
YOU COULD FIND ME IF ALL ELSE FAILED.
That would be your local book store.

I stood in front of the mystery novels, flipping pages of a book I had picked up seconds earlier. My eyes scanned over the text, typed out neatly in Times New Roman, a few words popping out at me from each paragraph. Murder. New York. Suspicions. Interrogation. There didn't seem to be any books catching my interest today. All crimes seemed to take place in New York, did they not? How about a rural location, set in the rolling hills of abandoned countryside... yes, I could see it now. A single beat up truck slowing on the road, dirt rolling up from its tires and gravel spitting out in all directions as it eased to a stop. A silhouette of a man exits the vehicle before making his way to the bed of the truck, lifting a tarp previously hiding a motionless corpse with its limbs sprawled out in so many unnatural positions. The man drags the body into the woods, disappearing from sight only seconds later...

I stopped myself. I had so many stories floating around in my head, it was a wonder I never took the time to write them down. Maybe if I had, I'd be famous. Nah, let's not flatter myself. My writing was mediocre in comparison to what was sitting on the bookshelves in front of me. I shrugged to myself and let my mind dwell on the rest of my story. Was I the demented silhouette in my head?

I set the story down and raised my nails to my mouth, where I let my bottom lip brush over their smooth surface instead of grinding them down even shorter than they already were. I lowered my hand and placed it around my elbow, rubbing my arm uncomfortably. Breaking the habit of biting my nails would prove to be a challenge... one that I probably wouldn't overcome. I raised my eyes above the top of the shelf and scanned the store. It was fairly quiet besides the rustle of pages and a cough or a sneeze here and there. I loved the silence that a bookstore always promised to provide. Here I could allow my mind to wander without the interruption of other sounds, as previously demonstrated.

I took slow, tentative steps down the aisle. An assortment of bowed heads were visible above neighboring shelves, eyes scanning a potential sale. If I listened hard enough, I could hear their soft breathing... their occasional sigh. But I wouldn't. I would advance to the horror section, perhaps, and search for a few novels to pick up there. My hands were sadly empty, but I knew that before I left Gateway Brooks they'd be full. When I went to a bookstore empty-handed, I always came out with at least something. And by tonight, I'd probably have at least one novel finished. It was routine. You could count on it.

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WORD COUNT: 501
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[$*CrazyHick*$]

Ciara Remington

The morning has started off rougher t han what she had expected when she got the phone call that would ruin her life. Her boyfriend well ex who had been missing for sometime called saying he was kicking up with some sleeper up north oh boy did this piss off the black haired beauty Ciara she swore if he ever showed his face in her home again she would break it with a her softball bat. With emphasis she punched a wall heading toward the pub where she could drown in her memories of such delicious hot sex and what not or perhaps the enjoyment of him spooning her on the couch enjoying the warmth. Ciara had been preparing herself for this heartbreak and had taken it for better than she originally planned on doing if some guy who decided to leave her for another woman. It would only take a bullet and gun and an aim between the eyes to get his brains on the white wall of shame. Ciaras mascara had smeared from unknown tears pale eyes glazed as she set down her path to the book store perhaps to sit down and read a romance novel and finally know someone had found peace and happiness and not her. She had a bi polar thing in her but she didnt have it just happened to have bad pms. She gritted her teeth together and wiped her eyes before taking a deep breath and going into the door hearing the little bell ding that someone had came in.

Inside the book store is where Ciara sometimes came to find peace or jsut to get away. Like now it was either read or go to the pub. She needed to slow down on the drinking so she would settle for a good old decent book. The booky smell hit her like a rock would and she hurried to the nearest aisle which in fact was the romance section. She tended to like vampire romance since some of the character seemed like she would really want them to bite her and cuddle with her. She went through the bookshelves and came upon a book and she plucked it from its spot looking over the contents over the back. She had learned never to judge a book by its cover and she decided not to read it jsut because it just wasnt that good. She continued down the aisle till she came upon another dark looking book she had read the first three about a girl named Sookie stackhouse whom was a telepathic and had a romance going on with Bill a vampire. With that she headed toward a secluded table far in the back away from the moody librarian lady and with that pulled a chair out and began slowly to read the first chapter. She was enjoying it already and not quite done with the first chapter.

[Alex]

HOW COME THESE HORRORS AND MYSTERIES
WEREN'T GRABBING MY ATTENTION TODAY?

It was the book store. The place was small in comparison to my favorite store back home in the big apple, with its two stories full of every book you could ever imagine. I would spend hours on the floor there with a good novel, nose buried between its pages that I turned feverishly, awaiting more and more of the story. I wished to do the same here. There were vacant tables at the back of the store, just for that purpose. I decided that I would get my use out of them today.

I knelt down to the carpet, denim picking up a slight layer of dust from the floors. Did they ever clean the place? I swept a finger across the shelf and collected quite a bit of dust on my fingertips as well. It appeared not. My brown eyes swept the row of books, their spines illustrated with splashes of red and black, as most horror novels were. I removed a few from their place, careful to return them to their former position after scanning the summary on the back cover. I stood again, knees creaking in protest. I rubbed the back of my neck with the palm of my hand, tilting my head slightly as I advanced towards the next section - Romance.

The bell mounted to the door rang, and being the curious creature that I am, my gaze slowly traveled there next. I wasn't quite ready to dive into the novels packed full of sex just yet anyway. My eyes rested upon a girl who was looking a little uneasy, not at all in a completely positive mood, but who was I to make that decision? I never displayed the mood I was in. In fact, it was usually the opposite unless I was really upset. Then you would know for sure. She made a beeline for the romance novels, and I turned away so that our gazes wouldn't have to meet. I picked up the first book I saw, my intentions obvious as I set it back down once she had left with a book. I followed her with my eyes (she was rather attractive, after all) and watched as she secluded herself at a table in the back. Looks like I'd be using them sooner than I thought.

The storekeeper's eyes lifted from a magazine she was reading, her mouth twisted sourly as she eyed the girl first, then on to me. I lifted up my hands, palms upright, and shot her an innocent look. Who, me? What was I doing? I turned around and lingered in the horror section once more, a smirk pulling at the corner of my lips. Bitter old women and I certainly did not go well together. I must have had a mischievous look in my eyes or something, but it's not like I was looking for an easy score. If anything, I just wanted to talk. The last thing on my mind was sex. Usually.

I picked up the first book I saw and walked uncertainly towards the table next to hers. I eased into a chair, which I discovered rocked with the shift of my weight, and turned to the first page. I narrowed my eyes at the opening paragraph. It was nothing like what I would usually choose. I turned the book over and looked at the cover. It had vampires on it. Definitely not my cup of tea.

I sighed and leaned back, sneaking a glance at my company. The things I did for conversation. I shoved the book aside and arched an eyebrow at her obvious interest in the book. I loved girls who read. Otherwise, they tended to be dumb. (Was that a stereotype? Oops.) But by the looks of her choice, it involved vampires as well. I shrugged. Whatever floats your boat, girl. I decided to interrupt her reading, like the prick I sometimes appeared to be.

"Hey." I said, my tone barely considered soft enough to be a whisper. I could feel the eyes of the storekeeper boring holes into my back. "What's going on?" A smirk was once again visible upon my features. I quickly ran a hand through my hair, shorter than I was used to but undeniably better looking. Before my shoulder-length hair was anything but attractive. I propped my elbows on the table and held my knuckles to my mouth, probably looking lsomewhat childish. Hmm... from previously being so quiet and thoughtful, I sure had come a long way. Girls tended to have that affect on me.

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WORD COUNT: 773
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[$*CrazyHick*$]

Ciara was reading down ignoring everything in her mind over the recent events of the day when she read this is when she relaxed the most. Sookie in her book and received another lover Eric after Bill went to Peru to do something for the Queen of Louisiana. Seemed Eric himself had lost his memory and wasnt the jerk he used to be. Ciara smiled the book held southern things from their language to their personality types even though everything was different time to time. Movement behind her made her move her pale blue eyes to glare hole in the librarian who seemed to be glaring right at her. With that Ciara turned right back to her book ignoring the old shrew. Ciara move her black wavy hair behind her getting it out of her face. She was looking better every minute though her eyes were puffy and her nose red she looked better than ever. Sure enough before she knew it someone was back here with her thinking she had found security all along but she hadnt and sighed deeply. She focused clearly more on the book but her eyes kept straying over to her side trying to see who it was cause of course she was curious. What she saw was rather hottness and she liked what she was looking at. With that she averted her eyes staring at words on pages.

Though she carefully decided to go back to reading it was obvious she felt like she had eyes probing her side and back like everyone was staring at her like she was in the middle of the ring. She looked up feeling a presence at her side and her eyes widened when she heard a voice it was very male all over and it made her skin get goose pimples she turned her head and looked at the guy who was sitting right beside her. She was looking over at the boy eyes roaming over his face noticing his cheeks his smile his lips, his eyes, his nose, just about everythign she summed up in her head. Her pale blue eyes looked with his and she raised a curious eyebrow as to what he wanted she was most certainly sure what he wanted but she needed to make sure first or it could get her yelled at then she would probably go to jail for being in a fight. One thing you gotta learn about Ciara Remington she never backs down from a challenge her pride is way to good for that and plus she loves the attention of it. She gave a little smirk of her own as if she was challenging him with the thrill of it. "Hello" she said carefully "not much just reading to get my mind off things" she said.

She looked him over carefully one more time giving him a seductive smile. There was absolutely no problem in flirting nor she could always get her boyfriend back but this boy before her was somewhat older and she was wondering just what he was up to getting around her. "What about you " she asked curiously wondering really what he was up to. Perhaps this boy was slightly different she was slightly prejudiced judging people on a first look but sometimes it always came back to slap her in the face more so than never. She glanced at him wondering just exactly what was going through his mind.

[Alex]

HEY CUTIE, I SAW THAT SMIRK.

I saw her eyes widen, too. What, did I scare you? I felt a sudden surge of adrenaline course through my veins at this. She was undoubtedly good looking, but a younger girl. I immediately felt the surge cease. Pedophile, much? I allowed my smirk to dim and directed my gaze over my shoulder. She wasn't much younger, but at the same time, I preferred to not feel like such a creeper.

After turning my head and meeting her gaze once more, I recognized the all-too-familiar twinkle in her eye as she produced a smirk of her own. Oh, flirting are we? I immediately forgot about my idea to stop hitting on the poor girl and rose to my feet. I lowered my gaze to my shoes, dressed in dirty, ancient Vans that shuffled across the carpet as I made my way over to the chair opposite from her. I pulled it out from beneath the table and took a seat, the wood creaking beneath my weight. Up close, she was just as pretty as far away, although the reddened tint to her nose and the raised skin beneath her eyes revealed something more sinister. I propped my elbows up on the table again, resting my chin in my hands as I leaned forward.

Trying to get your mind off things, huh? I raised my eyebrow at her slightly as my mind rewound and I played over what she had told me. "I'm just looking for a book." I said, my reply a few minutes later than she may have expected. "But maybe I can take your mind elsewhere." I didn't remove my gaze from hers, but I remained approachable. I never seemed to make people uncomfortable when I kept my eyes locked onto theirs. Whoever breaks the stare loses!

I felt my stubble against the palm of my hands. I removed them from my face and leaned back in the chair, sinking lower with my hands now situated on my lap. I rubbed my leg against hers momentarily before pulling away. "I'm Adam." I announced with a sheepish grin. I guess I could be pretty confident in the given situation. "Good book?" I gestured towards the paperback she had chosen from the shelves. I then looked over to my novel, sitting all by itself at my former table. "That one isn't." I scrunched up my nose as if it were the most horrible thing I had ever experienced my entire life.

I later gave a carefree shrug and moved on. "You have to tell me your name now." I said with a small smile. I almost expected her to say, "Or else what?" I braced myself for it. Instead, the storekeeper released a loud "SHH!" that forced me to bite down on my tongue like a little kid. "Yeah, I think you're getting a little too loud." I said, knowing damn well that I was the one running my mouth.

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WORD COUNT: 497
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[$*CrazyHick*$]

Ciara was watching this boy who was about a year older than she which wasnt meaning nothing. Her pale eyes bored into his waiting for him to say something worth hearing which was a bout everything that came from his mouth and she couldnt help but snicker at him he was like an attention beggar. Or perhaps he was just so interested in her he just couldnt help himself. With that she placed her fist on the side of her cheek turning to face him before crossing her legs all lady like. Technically she was just a really good tomboy when out riding her horses. She turned to look around and watched him with intrigued interest he was getting better and better and he kept winning smiled from her. personally she really did not mind him hitting on her in fact she thoroughly enjoyed his company it being more than what her ex had supplied her. She was surprised he was actually even near her she knew she probably looked like crap nothing like a good nights sleep and what not to get rid of the little crying baggies under your eyes and whatever else was on her face.

"A book you say" she said carefully she wasnt afraid merely suspicious. What guy wouldnt come up to a girl as good looking as her and expect something out of it. "I have to say I feel like I have read most of all the interesting books in here" she said carefully. She was smiling which made her eyes shine like the northern star so bright and vibrant and so full of life. She laughed and shook her head "may I just so know where you exactly like to take my mind to" she asked curiously. She looked him in the eye you could always tell someones character by looking them in the eyes even the meanest people to the better people you could always tell. "It is a pleasure to meet you Adam" she said with a generous smile making her dimples show. she followed his eyes over to the book on the table "oh that book yes the series is excellent and thrilling with romance just how I like things which always turn out to be better than I ever expect' she said. She grinned when he spoke of his book and she shook her head always leave it to the guy to pick out the bad book though sometime they managed to pick out a decent book. His leg up against her made her relax leave it up to Ciara and she would probably jump his bones.

She snickered at him the boy before her seemed so demanding yet he had that childish gleam in his eyes like he was up to something. One word that came to her mind was mischievous and her grin broadened. She was planning to be sarcastic but she might as well give up her name not like it mattered anyhow he could ask the librarian and she would give it up gladly. "My name is Ciara" she said with a brilliant smile. She flinched under the librarian shh and glared at the boy across from her with a playful glare nothing harmful about it though she had to admit it wouldnt be nice to be kicked out of the librarian. "Me? I think that was you" she said with a grin her eyes smiling down on him. She tilted her head to look at him with more so curiousity "you must be bored to be talking to me" she stated very matter of fact. She didnt know what to do he was hot okay what do girls do with guys well she had a couple things on her mind and simply tried not to blush with her naughty thoughts. The library wasnt the type of place it was liek a church but hey even the pastors got naughty every now and then.

[Alex]

SHE SEEMED TO DISPLAY
EVERY EMOTION EVER KNOWN
TO MANKIND AT THIS TIME.

Needless to say, I was having trouble keeping up.

Caution flashed in her eyes, as obvious as a street sign itself. She was still figuring me out, but that was okay. I was still figuring her out, too. I leaned forward, our faces now inches apart. "To be honest, I've probably read just about every book in here, too." I leaned back, and raised one eyebrow at her slyly. I was a bookworm all right - there was no denying it. Even though I had only been a citizen of Ravenhook for no more than a few days, I had frequented every book store in my previous town until there was practically not a book left I hadn't read. There couldn't be that many books here that I hadn't cracked open before, could there?

As my mind reeled she released a light, airy chorus of laughter and I couldn't help but grin sheepishly as she proceeded to talk. "Oh, I don't know. We could talk about the weather, if you want. Or that sexy lady over..." I looked across my shoulder, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "There." I gestured towards the book keeper discreetly. My voice noticeably became more gruff, seeming to trail away at the end of my sentences. I looked down at my hands, now placed on the table. I fidgeted with my fingers before taking a deep breath and looking up at her with a smile. "Or here." I bit down on my tongue at her before looking around innocently. Who, me? I'm a good boy. Right...

She seemed to be warming up to me, and that was a good sign. I had undoubtedly warmed up to her in record time, and judging by my overconfident aura, I didn't intend on slowing down anytime soon. Now, let's fish our minds out of the gutter. I wasn't after sex... just a fun relationship, whether it be between friends or something more. I wasn't ready to make that decision just yet, nor could I do it without her assistance, anyway.

When I had asked for her name, a mischievous twinkle sparkled in her eyes, and I braced myself for her to be sarcastic, naturally. Her mood shifted, and she instead gave me her name without a fight. I liked straightforward women. "Well then, Ciara. Very nice to meet you."

I suddenly rose to my feet and raised my arms over my head before proceeding to stretch, raising up on my toes and causing my shirt to rise a smidgen. I pulled it back down absentmindedly and glanced around the bookstore. It was so vacant and... seemingly boring now. I walked towards a bookshelf near the back and turned, sending a grin in Ciara's direction. I waved my hands towards my chest. "Come here!" My whisper was by no means quiet, but it was certain to reach where she was sitting and that was all that mattered. I ignored the book keeper's SHH! and waved her over again before sitting down behind the book shelf and crossing my legs. I could be such a little boy at times. And look, we were conveniently next to the children's stories. I picked out a farm animal book of some kind and held it close to my chest. Maybe she'd read it to me. Maybe she'd think I was crazy and leave... let's hope not.

WORD COUNT: 580
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[$*CrazyHick*$]

Ciara looked at him for a short moment trying to understand what he was doing it bothered her slightly but true he talked a lot and she enjoyed he didnt do it to much considering he didnt know her. She thought about the library and the many many books of fiction and non-fiction she had read over the years of her life if she hadnt read them her mother and father read the book to her needless to say both of her parents enjoyed the reading of book and she supposed it had rubbed off on her through genetics or it just gave her something to do in her free time.She grinned she would doubt t hat he had read the books but he seemed to like to read that he was in the library ding ding Ciara we have a winner her conscience seemed to say to her. Ciara shook her head a smiled forming on her face she couldnt help it he made her smile just with simple phrasing and that sly look that somewhere perturbed her and made her feel like he knew her physically and emotionally though she knew he didnt know her like that and just that thought brought a blush to her face what in the nine hells was she thinking she had just met him and already the thoughts were running through her head.

As he continued to speak to her in manner of old friend she pursed her lips to keep the smile from her lips as he grinned. He spoke again and with that she furrowed her brows as she followed his gaze over to the old book keeper who indeed looked up to find two sets of eyes on herself and flushed. She noted the book keepers clothing with a jacket up skirt some faded shoes and some Ciara eyes bugged wow he liked them old she smirked and watched curiously as he turned his looks back to her and said to her about her beauty. Ciara shook her head "my my such a charmer" she snickered. Ciara watched him he seemed to be teasing her such a teaser she thought a smile tugging lightly on her lips. She smiled softly and watched him avert his gaze avert from her which concluded her hypothesis definably a teaser, charmer and a good one at that he could take her out any day and she was sure was sure to have more fun. She watched him then get up and head over to the bookshelves.

She wasnt sure where he was going but she sat there thinking most quietly to herself and smiling as she grabbed her book thinking their conversation was over. To her delight it wasnt and she heard his voice in a very loud whisper only to get a harsh shh from the grouchy librarian. She shook her head and sighed my he was troublemaker and wondered when he was in school was he the class clown though she hadnt been she was very much so the quiet one who had made good grades but actually looked good for a nerd. She casually got up drawing attention to herself as she flushed greatly with the drilling stares and she resisted the urge to flip each and everyone of them off due to she was somewhat shy but she had a wild side about her. She put the chair back under the table and strode over to where the loud come here came from and the pale blue looked down at Adam curiously holding a farm book. She blinked a couple of time resisting to burst into laughter yep she got her a weird one but that's okay she liked him enough to embarrass the hell out of her. She watched him for a moment "yes?" she asked curiously trying to to smile and trying to be serious but she couldnt with that looked on his face.

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