literature

Writing Trade - MissMitsuSayama

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She was woken by dusty sunlight filtering through the gap in the curtains, and the distant, tuneful trill of a morning blackbird. For just a moment she lay there, enjoying the stillness and the warmth, before waking properly and opening her eyes on the world.

Just a nice, quiet day, Sami thought, stretching for her glasses, pushing them onto her nose and swinging her legs out of bed. That’s all I want. Legion and I can go out to lunch, and come home and play some games. Through the crack of her bedroom door she could see a couple of letters poking through the letter flap in the front door, and she smiled.

“Happy birthday, me!” she said aloud, and giggled at herself.

“Talking to one’s self is the first sign of madness,” she added at her reflection as she passed the mirror, hopping awkwardly as she pulled on some socks and picked up the morning deliveries. The flap clanked cheerfully as she pulled the bundle free. Aw, that’s really lovely of them, I wasn’t expecting anything much! She recognised her parents’ handwriting, turning the envelope over, and a couple of friends…and Legion’s. Titling her head on side, she slid a finger under the flap of the envelope. He could have just given me this when he’s round later! Ah, well.

But it wasn’t a card inside. It was a map, printed off Google Maps with the apparent destination circled and highlighted in red biro with a smiley face next to it. Now intrigued, Sami put the other cards aside for the moment and took her boyfriend’s map to the kitchen; while she put the kettle on she studied it.

I know that place. It’s Waterstones! Thinking of her favourite bookshop made her smile – well, that was a bit of a spoiler for her birthday present! Not that she minded one bit; the sagging bookshelves in her room, to her, only meant she needed more shelf space, not less books. She turned the map over.

1pm – don’t be late, love! Legion’s lazy scrawl was punctuated with a couple of kisses and she could imagine his rakish grin as he scribbled the mysterious message for her. Puzzled and just a little nervous now, Sami poured herself a cup of tea and stared thoughtfully down at the map.

-

The sun was blinding, and Legion grinned up into it. Leaning on the wall against the shop, he knew he didn’t look out of place or awkward like some people would; even if it was a bookshop he was spending his morning hanging out by, he knew he looked good. There was a warm pleasure in that, being young, good looking and knowing it, a pleasure that was only exacerbated by the sunshine and the – if he said so himself – sheer brilliance of his plan. A couple of girls on the other side of the road glanced over a little too long at him, and he tipped a salute at them, making them blush and giggle. Nice legs. Still, only one girl I’m interested in. Especially today.

And at last, a white van pulled up to the curb. The driver hopped out, and, hurrying to the driver’s side, pulled out a tall, glossy white box. He kicked the door shut with a heel and marched it round to Legion, staggering slightly under the weight. Legion put his own hands under the box, surprised and pleased at how heavy it actually was.

“It’s just in here, actually, mate,” he said, leaning into the bookshop’s door to push it open and stepping carefully back through it with the box.

“Right-o,” the driver grunted, and Legion motioned with his head to a round table, where they carefully places the white box down.

“Want a look? Check it’s alright?” the driver grinned, and Legion lifted the lid off. He grinned himself.

“Yeah, that’s perfect. Just right. She’ll love it!”

The driver laughed good-naturedly. “Ah, should have guessed it was for a lady, am I right?” He gave Legion - grinning cockily and beponytail'd - a cursory glance. “No offence but you don’t look so much the bookish type.”

Legion laughed with him. “My girlfriend’s made me read a few things through the years but she’s definitely the bookworm. When I saw your business card I knew she’d love this for her birthday.”

“Hope she enjoys it; have a great day, both of you!” the driver patted the side of the white box once more and, satisfied with his work, left Legion alone in the foyer.

Right, that’s that. Lots left to do though! He checked the clock – good, still a few hours. To compensate for missing out on the springtime sunshine, Legion turned his iPod to the loudest, rockiest songs he had and sang along loudly as he decorated.

-

The town was busy and Sami felt a little overwhelmed as she was buffeted left and right by people, chattering in groups or into their mobiles, their eyes fixed firmly front, ignoring her completely.

“Sorry,” she said automatically for about the fifth time as she bumped someone; they gave her a brief nod of acknowledgement and hurried on. Everyone is out in the sun! God, I bet it’s busy in the shop. She wasn’t the hugest fan of trying to peacefully browse for interesting books – entrances to other worlds – when she was being jostled, but other book lovers tended to be a lot calmer, at least. Maybe Legion’s going to buy me a book or two. That’d be a perfect present. She smiled, feeling a bit brighter, thinking of it.

Eventually she made it to Waterstones – the lights were all off, however. The sign on the door had been switched to ‘closed’.

“Uh. Hello?” she called, blushing as she felt more than a little foolish now. After a silent pause, she knocked on the glass of the door, hating the beginning of the awkward feeling welling up inside her. What is going on? She stepped back, wondering if she should head for the nearest coffee shop and just call her boyfriend – ask him exactly where he was! – when the door swung open. Nobody came out.

Sami stared at it. Should I? A familiar song was issuing out very faintly from behind the door, however, which was encouraging, if nothing else. Not that I like the films as much as the books, of course, but I love that piece of music. Hedwig’s Theme! Very carefully, she nudged the door wider open with a finger.

There was a rustle. “Are you coming in or just going to stand out there all day?” a familiar voice teased. Sami smiled.

“Coming in,” she assured Legion, and stepped through the door. The moment her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she couldn’t help but break into a beam.

“I didn’t even know you could rent these places,” Legion said, casually, leaning against a shelf and looking just a bit too dashing in what – for him – was a big concession to dressing up, a long, black cloak. He cocked his fingers at the door in an imaginary wand. “Abracadabra!”

“It’s Alohomora,” Sami corrected him absently, staring around the bookshop with wide eyes – the familiar banners, brooms and hangings, printouts from the illustrations made up to look like wizarding photos. A pile of her favourite books nestled next to a huge, soft armchair. The whole ground floor of Waterstones had been transformed into the plushy Gryffindor common room, with the added bonus of shelves of books everywhere. And on a round table near the door towered an enormous cake topped with an icing Harry on his broom, reaching out for the Snitch.

“It’s…” Sami couldn’t help but burst into delighted laugher. “It looks like Hermione’s dream come true!”

Legion came up close to her, wrapping his arms around her and leaning in to breathe into her ear, “You like it, honey?”

Sami felt her eyes prickle with happy tears. “I love it! It’s the best birthday present ever, oh love, thank you so much…” She tightened her arms around him, enjoying the press of his body against hers, and their lips met in a long kiss.

“This actually ain’t your present,” Legion added, a little breathlessly, as he pulled away. He fished in his pocket and handed her a small envelope. “This is.”

Fingers a little shaky, Sami opened it to find a £30 book voucher inside.

“So you can take some of your beloved babies home,” Legion grinned, waving an expansive hand at the shelves. Sami beamed up at him.

“OK, OK. Now it’s the best birthday present ever!”
A story about :iconmissmitsusayama:'s OCs Sami and Legion.  Gods. The cheese. I sort of apologise. It got away from me a bit.

Notes:

- Can you rent bookshops? WE MAY NEVER KNOW.
- I hope Sami likes Harry Potter - I hoped as a wide reader perhaps she did and I needed a theme. Hope that's OK. ^^;;

I hope you enjoy it, :iconmissmitsusayama:!
© 2015 - 2024 Vixenoflight
Comments4
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Miss-Mutated-Mango's avatar
Don't worry about the cheesiness; I love cheesy stories. :heart:

This is a very cute story. You did a great job at making Sami and Legion come to life, and you capturef their personalities perfectly. I could see this happening to them very easily. So many times I would just smile and giggle because it seemed so real.

And yes, Sami does enjoy Harry Potter; I doubt a book exists that she does not enjoy. She's not picky with genres or subject matter.

Oh dear, I'm rambling. Anyways, you did a wonderful job, and I would love to do another trade with you in the future. If things go well, I should have your part up by Saturday. :)