🦉WIse OWL CHRONICLES🦉

It was a frigid February morning, and a busy one as well for my shop “Cover to Cover”. An extremely popular author ” Nolan Reds” was doing a signing in a few hours for his novel  ” The Chase of It,” which is one of my favorite novels. The book is about two people trying out for a track team, where there was only one spot left. They were the best two people trying out competing for the top spot. But they fell in love along the way. The novel truly encapsulated how real people would feel, and was in my opinion one of the best things ever written. I was so excited to meet him, the writer of ” The Chase of It,” but then suddenly, I snapped out of it. 

It never occurred to me, although I would get to meet Nolan, I would also have to deal with tons of customers and all of that. ” Ok, calm down Rachel,” I told myself. It’ll probably be alright. Then instantly, I heard my alarm ring. It was time for the opening of the shop. I took a deep breath, and opened the doors, and where I was greeted by a line of eager fans. I let them all into my shop, and me and the customers patiently waited for what felt like hours for him to walk in. Then at that very moment, time slowed down as I heard the jingle of the door. His caramel hair shone in the sunlight, then he took off his sunglasses and placed them in the pocket of his brown corduroy jacket. He was carrying a box full of books, and with elegance in each step he slowly walked over to the greeting table, and placed his stuff down. Without speaking a word to anybody, he began signing the books, which I thought was a bit stuck up. Loads of his fans had gathered here to greet him, and he didn’t even say anything

.I tried to shake off these feelings though, as it was almost my turn to get the book signed. All of my opinions of him from earlier went away as I handed him the book in slow-motion. His hand briefly caressed my fingertips as he took it out of my hands, and I looked into his beautiful hazel eyes. Although he was a renowned author,  and he had a way with words, with him I realized, there was no need for words. The silence between us had more context than his novel. Then as quick as the moment started, it was over. 

My assistant and friend Mallory had been left alone to deal with the customers, and I realized I probably should’ve helped her. I rushed over there and apologized, “ Sorry Mal, I was a bit preoccupied.”  “ No worries Rach! It was Nolan Reds, and I understand that you were excited to see him…..” Mallory replied with a smirk. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked with a confused smile. “ You were gazing into each other’s eyes for like 20 minutes as if you were watching a really good movie, and he romantically touched your hand and smiled. That’s not a coincidence,” Mallory said. I felt my face go red as I frantically stuttered “ No we weren’t! ….Even if we were, it’ll NEVER happen, he’s a famous author, and I’m a local bookshop owner.” Mallory put her hands up in defeat and said with a grin “ Alright, I’ll lay off of it, but I know what I saw.” To my relief a customer walked up to the counter with a question about “ The Chase of It,” but a quick glance at my watch revealed that it was time for my closing hours. “I’m so sorry but, you’ll have to come again tomorrow, as we close in a few minutes.” No problem,” the girl said. “ Can I give you my number, so you can text me about it tomorrow? Because I’m going to be leaving for a vacation tomorrow.” I nodded and told the guy to give me her number.. “ 552-669-443…” I heard the guy say, but then I blocked out all noises from the world as I glanced at the door. I witnessed Nolan walking out the door of my shop, and I heard the familiar jingle of the bells. I might never see him again, I sadly thought……. But then I snapped out of it. I didn’t hear the last part of the girl’s number…… and I didn’t want to be rude and make her repeat herself. So I just nodded, and sent her off. Anyways, I’m like 43.5% sure that last digit was a 6 anyways.

The next week, I sent a text to the guy, “ Hi! This is the owner of Cover to Cover! What was your question about “The Chase of It?” “Who is this?” the guy replied. “I told you before, this is Rachel Carlson, the owner of “Cover to Cover” I typed frustratedly. “ Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not the person you’re looking for. But I too am a fan of this book, can you tell me what you like about it?” They replied. I thought that question was rather odd, but I decided to reply anyway.  ” Well, I love how the book encapsulated the characters and their feelings. It felt like they were real people. The book was so complex, and it was, to tell the truth, exactly how I want a romance to be. Full of mystery, excitement, and the characters bonding slowly but surely.” At the moment I wasn’t aware of what this text would do, but looking back it changed my future.

The mystery person replied “ I have a proposal, you should go out to dinner…. with me. It’ll be exactly what you desire, a romance full of mystery and excitement.” I was appalled by this response and typed with disgust “ I don’t even know you, or your name or who you are!!!” I was expecting the person I was texting to back off, and apologize but no. He  calmly replied “ That’s why this romance will be full of mystery and excitement. Because of the details of my anonymous identity. I’ll meet you tomorrow at 7, the Red Stiletto restaurant. Don’t be late.” I was shocked to my core, but also intrigued so…I agreed to meet him there.

I waited with restlessness for the time to come, and then it finally came. At 6:45 I sat in my sparkling blue honda, and drove to “ The Red Stiletto.” It was exactly 7’ o’clock when I arrived and my mystery date was nowhere to be found. I couldn’t believe I was getting stood up after all that. But my frustration soon came to an end, as a man with a  familiar brown corduroy jacket approached me. It was Nolan Reds! My eyes widened, and jaw dropped but he had no reaction, and while gazing into my eyes he said “ Hi Rachel, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you again.”

We made our way to our table and we started talking. He really did have a way with words. We actually had a lot in common, and at the end of the date, he grabbed my hand, looked into my eyes and handed me a book. The title was called ” Via Text” and it was about a guy who falls in love with someone over text. It was based on how he felt about me and him and the circumstances that led to us on this date, and then he asked me to be his girlfriend. I of course, responded with ” Certainly, I would love to.”