12. Callie
Chapter 12
Callie
Sophomore Year
Tonight Mason has an away game and I couldn’t make it to it, so I picked up an extra shift at work. Rose, my boss and owner of Scripted Serenity, leased the building a few blocks away from the high school and I applied the first week it opened because what else would a book nerd love to do other than getting paid to read, handle, and help others with books. I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember and working here has only made my love for books grow.
The bells jingle as I enter Scripted Serenity. This place has been my sanctuary lately. From the book nook off to the left of the front door to the bean bags we have scattered in the children’s area. There’s a spot close to the register for the special editions we get in and I love displaying them with decor that matches the book vibes.
The book nook is set up in the bay window that overlooks Main Street. The cushions change depending on the season or holiday and right now they’re a light pastel pink with conversation hearts sprinkled all over. I love coming in before my shift or staying late just to sit here with my current read and run off into a different world.
My shift starts in fifteen minutes and today is going to be awesome. We’ve got a signing for a local author tonight so I’m expecting time to go by fast. Book signings and events always fly by and exhaust me but they’re my favorite nights to work.
I walk down the main aisle towards the back to find Rose setting up a table near where we’ll have J. T. Simmons signing later today.
“Hey, Rose! Let me go sit my bags in the office and I’ll come help you finish setting up.” My excitement is obvious in the way my voice goes up a couple of octaves.
“Ah, Cal! I’m so glad you’re here early! Go ahead and sit your stuff down and come meet me at the register.” Rose says with a wink before she turns to walk to the register.
Overflowing excitement has me skipping up the hallway quickly. I place my backpack on the floor beside the desk, grab my name tag lanyard, and pull the door shut behind me.
I see Rose squatting behind the front desk when I come around to the front. “What’s up?”
“We got some new orders of books this morning and I pulled a few to set aside for you. I remember you telling me you wanted to branch out and I think these would be perfect for you.” She says, grabbing a stack of books from under the register. On top of that stack is a book I’ve never heard about, but the cover is gorgeous. Grabbing it off the stack I flip it over to read the blurb.
“This sounds amazing. Have you read anything by this author before?” I ask, fully taking in the cover.
“ Everneath is Brodi Ashton’s debut novel. I grabbed a copy for myself, too, even though it’s a young adult novel. It sounds great, plus I think it’ll be a good first fantasy for you.”
“Oh, cool! Let me see what else you pulled for me!” I begin flipping through the pile. There’s Killer Crullers by Jessica Beck, It Takes a Witch by Heather Blake, and Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic. “Well, there’s my four per paycheck limit met.” I laugh out loud before sitting them back under the desk to clock in. Rose allows her workers to buy books and she’ll take it out of their paychecks but when she first told me about this, I told her that I’m only allowing myself four per paycheck because I can absolutely spend my entire paycheck on books.
“You’re welcome to get more than four. You’re the one that set that limit.” Rose says, winking. “Once you’re clocked in since there’s no one in here right now let’s get this table ready for tonight. I have a feeling things are about to get chaotic.”
J. T. Simmons grew up here in Harbors Grove and released her first book, The Fallen Oracle , which made it to the best seller’s chart in less than a week. I bought a copy of her new book Embers in the Dust as soon as we got copies last month. I brought both books with me, hoping I have time to get them signed.
“There’s a box in the office with J. T. Simmons written on the top, can you grab that? It’s got bookmarks, character art, and other items that we’ll have set up on the table to give out tonight.” Rose says, spreading the table cover out across the table.
“Is that the only box we’ll need? Books already out here?”
“I’ve got one box of books out here already but go ahead and grab the other box that’s in the office, too. She’s bringing more with her, but these are the ones we ordered specifically for tonight.”
“Okay, be right back,” I say, turning to grab the boxes out of the office. They are heavier than I imagined they would be, so I grab the dolly out of the storage closet and stack everything up. Work smarter, not harder is what my dad always says.
We’re setting out the last of the items when J. T. Simmons walks through the door, signaled by the bells jingling.
“Welcome to Scripted Serenity! We’re so glad you could come hang out with us and discuss Embers in the Dust. I hope Harbors Grove treats you well on your visit back to your hometown.” Rose says, walking up the main aisle towards the door. I follow behind her, a little starstruck. I can’t believe J.T. Simmons is standing right in front of me.
“It’s been amazing being back. I came into town two nights ago and stayed with my parents who still live just outside of town. I’m in love with what this community has done to Main Street and am so thankful it’s still just as welcoming as it was when I was growing up here. Huge thanks to you for inviting me to come visit your bookstore. It’s beautiful in here.”
The night goes by smoothly and we’re down to the last few people in line for signatures. The Q&A went great, lots of good questions were asked and J. T. let us into her world of writing and gave us a sneak peek at the book she’s currently working on. Just from the little snippet she gave us I’m already sold and will be buying it.
“Hey, Cal. Go get in line. I’ll finish up here. You’ve more than earned it tonight.” Rose has become somewhat of a big sister while I’ve been working here. She’s easy to talk to, supportive of anything you’re doing, and always willing to help.
“Thanks, Rose. I appreciate you so much.” I say, grabbing my books from behind the register and getting in line.
Working at a bookstore has been amazing and I’ve loved every second of it. The opportunity to help support authors, meet and interview authors, and just find new, to me, books and authors has been a blessing I didn’t know I needed. I look forward to coming in for every shift and I don’t take that for granted because I know just how many people can’t say that about their job.
Meeting J.T. Simmons is something I didn’t think would ever be possible but Scripted Serenity and Rose have made that happen and I’m excited to see what else this job brings me.
“Tonight was amazing. Thanks, Cal for coming in and helping me. I can’t even tell you how appreciative I am that you’re willing to cover shifts at the last minute.” Rose says as we start taking down the table.
“You’re welcome. If I hadn’t come in I would have come in anyway, to sit in for the Q&A with J. T. So it’s just a bonus that I’m getting paid for being here.”
“How’s everything going with Mason? I’m surprised you’re not hanging out with him tonight.”
“He’s got an away game tonight or I probably would be. But everything is going well. I know we’re young but I swear he’s the one , as dumb as that sounds.” I laugh trying to hide my embarrassment. I shouldn’t be embarrassed about my feelings for Mason but sometimes adults make me feel like I’m clueless so I typically don’t go too into detail about it.
“It doesn’t sound dumb, Callie. I met my husband in high school. The saying when you know, you know is legit. So if that’s how you feel, don’t belittle yourself for it.”
“It’s just… the immediate calming I feel whenever I’m around him is kind of intense. I’ve never felt this way before around anyone else and it makes me feel good about where our relationship is.”
“Then run with that feeling. You might be young but I know for a fact that you’re not dumb. So let yourself feel those feelings. You deserve it.”
“Thank you, Rose.”
“You’re welcome. You know I’m on your side. Now, let’s get this table put back in the back and then we can go sit and relax, and read until customers spill in.”
Mason and I are going to the movies tonight and I’ve sat here too long. He’ll be here shortly and I’m still not dressed and ready to go.
“Hey Cal, it’s going to cool off tonight so you may want to wear something warmer, or at least take a hoodie with you,” Mom says as I’m walking past the kitchen towards my bedroom.
“I was going to wear just a long-sleeved shirt but I think your idea is better, considering I’m always cold and it’s likely to be even colder in the theater.”
I decide to go with a pair of skinny jeans, a tank, and my Vans hoodie that’s seen better days.
As I’m pulling my hoodie over my head I hear the doorbell. That must be Mason. I run to the door yelling to my parents that I would be back in a few hours.
Just a few blocks away from the theater Mason looks over at me, smiling. “Mason! Eyes on the road!” I say a little louder than I meant.
He looks forward but not before telling me “I just can’t get over your beauty, Callie. I love you.”
I don’t say anything back because I’m sitting here in shock. Did I hear him correctly? Was I imagining what he said? I’m staring at him like a deer in the headlights.
He glances back over at me and says “Did I scare you? If so, that’s not my intention. I just knew I had to tell you. I wanted you to know.”
I give him a slight nod in response just so that he knows I heard him and that I’m not ignoring him.
We sit in silence the rest of the way to the theater.
I want to let him know that I heard what he said and that I’m not upset or withdrawing myself from the conversation. He deserves a better response than the nod that I gave him in the car.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything back. You caught me off guard and I wasn’t sure I even heard you right.” I say after sitting down in our seats.
“You don’t have to apologize, Callie. I don’t expect a response from you just because I said it to you,” he says while grabbing my hand.
“I appreciate that, Mason. I’m not ready to say it back but do know that I feel a lot of feelings for you.”
He smiles at me and kisses my forehead. We get comfy in our seats and wait for the movie to start.
There are not many empty seats once the new movie trailers start rolling but thankfully everyone has been quiet, aside from hushed whispers and quiet giggles. I’ve always hated going to the movies and not being able to focus because others are being loud and obnoxious.
We don’t talk much until the movie is over and we are heading back to the car. I don’t know that I love him yet, but he is worthy of love. I know that much for sure.