Category : Stories

Sub Category : Romance

They say everyone can find true love, even a person like me, but at the time this story takes place, I didn’t believe it. I wasn’t pretty or smart, just like my everyday life I was boring, normal, and below average. The thing is I was fine with my life until I got a taste of something more.

“Hey there,” a deep voice randomly spoke up out of nowhere, I jumped so high my head almost hit the ceiling. I looked up from my book and placed a hand over my heart, examining the cause of my heart attack. The man that spoke was tall, very tall, and packing some muscles too, but not overly so. He wore a sleeveless black shirt and faded blue jeans, his hair was long and blonde with aquamarine blue eyes. Not the man you’d find in a place like that. A place like what you ask? Well, it was only my most favorite place in town, Cafe Le book. Cafe and bookstore combined, it was like heaven on earth, I’m getting off track. “So, the bookworm can hear me.” A bright charming smile appeared on the strangers face.

“Hey?” I finally managed to command my brain to make words. Although, my greeting seemed more of a question like ‘are you talking to me’ kinda question. The stranger laughed at me and sat in the booth in front of me.

“It speaks,” I frowned at him as he takes a napkin from a holder. “The name is Duncan, but you can call me whatever you want to.” Duncan, so this strange man is Duncan. Like Dunkin Donuts? “Does the bookworm not have a name?”
    “Lissa, but you can call me Lissa.” I copied his remark and looked back down at my book, waiting for him to take the hint I wasn’t interested and leave.

“Liz, a good name.” I looked up at him in shock at the nickname he gave me, didn’t I tell him to call me Lissa? “So Liz, do you come here often?” He jerked his chin to the stack of books I just bought.

“Often enough,” I replied while looking down at my book, rereading the same sentence for the third time. Why was I talking to this guy? Didn’t I want him to go away? Maybe if I just ignore him he’ll get bored.

“Now I know where to come if I want to see you again.” I didn’t respond, how many times have a read that sentence now? “No response?” He questioned, I peaked up over my book curiously. He mimicked getting stabbed in the heart and groaned, slumping down over the table. I couldn't fight the smile that spread across my face, I’m lucky the book hid it. He glanced up at me and I quickly looked away. “I caught you!” I quickly shushed him, his loud declaration drawing attention to us.

“Dead people don’t talk,” I scolded him with a shake of my head.

“And uninterested girls don’t respond.” Ouch, he had me there. So what if I was a little interested? It’s not like this happened to me every day. Which is exactly why I carried from there on out with sass, irritation, and extreme caution.

“What’s your angle here Duncan Donuts?” I set my book down and narrowed a heated gaze in his direction. It was the kind of gaze that warns people you aren’t up for any funny business. He smirked but raised a brow at the name.

“No angle, just looking for a friend.” He held his hands up as if saying ‘I surrender’ the problem is that he wasn’t the type to surrender. I pointed my finger at him and shake it.

“There’s always an angle. You don’t waltz up to a complete stranger and sit down in front of them, uninvited might I add, strike up a conversation and not have an angle.” The man chuckled and I leaned back, crossing my arms over my chest. He did the exact opposite, he leaned forward, bracing his arms on the table.

“Maybe I am just looking for an attractive friend?” I blushed, of course, I blushed, I didn’t get compliments very often.

“That’s another thing, what person in their right mind considers a girl in a two sizes too large sweatshirt, old blue jeans, even older shoes, hunched over with her nose in a book attractive?” I smirked, I had him there, my everyday attire was boy repellent, I have evidence to back it up.

“Do you wanna know what I find attractive, Lissa?” Duncan asked in a low husky whisper. I fought away a blush at the sound of my name on his lips. He’s just another boy looking at adding a notch to his bedpost, why do I care about how he said my name? “I find the way you read attractive.” This boy had lost it. What kind of a confession was that? It made no sense. “A smile spreads across your face and you laugh. The next moment, you have tears streaming down your face and sadness in your eyes. Your nose is wrinkled in anger one second and then the book is inches from your face as your brows are furrowed in concentration or confusion. You blush too, just like you are now.”

My mouth was hanging wide open as I stared at him, shock written all over my face. How long has he been watching me with so much intensity? “The emotions that cross your face while you read is the most attractive and beautiful thing I have ever witnessed.” Duncan stood up, laying the napkin he stole when he first sat down on the table. “My angle, I want to get closer to the girl who reads. Until next time bookworm.” With that, he walked away, a smile on his face. After a few moments of staring at the empty booth, I slowly picked up the napkin, on the back was a number, his number. It was in that moment, at that my love story began.