▫️Four

Ginelle's pov

"Elle!" Jordan shouted from somewhere inside the bookstore, his voice cutting through, startling me. It was a bee hive of activities around me as everyone rushed here and there to make sure that everything was perfect.

The book display would be happening in an hour and we were expecting a mega sale. It was one of the new releases by a famous author and we were so honoured to have them.

"Coming," I answered to Jordan's dramatic calls as I rushed to his direction. My voice wasn't as loud as his thus he kept on calling having not heard me before.

Good thing I had put on my white converse so running around wasn't going to hurt my legs. I greeted a few colleagues on my way till I got to the shelves were Jordan was barking off orders.

"Get the numbers right!" A new recruit tried balancing some books in one hand as she tried keeping up to Jordan's words. Just like all my friends, we spoke too much and especially Jordan, he talked faster.

"Jo!" I approached them to rescue the girl who adjusted her large glasses to the brim of her nose as she turned to face me.

"You are finally here," he sighed in relief as he stared at a paper in his hand. "The numbers are all mixed up and I'm trying to sort them out." Jordan gave the girl beside me a stink eye.

"How come, I checked yesterday." I took the paper from him as I discreetly dismissed the girl. She had been almost close to tearing up. Jordan's temper wasn't an easy one to deal with.

"Everything is mixed up!" He ran a hand over his face turning around to look at the remaining books as I went through the list again. There was nothing unusual from what I could see.

"Lora will be here soon," I did a quick a calculation then sorted the numbers out, placing orders in their right columns and in no time everything was in place.

"Done!" I handed Jordan the file in a smile. I had been good in math and that came as an hindsight this morning. Jordan sucked with numbers. It gave him an headache as he always said.

"Wow!" He cross-checked the new inputs then ruffled my hair, "Smart girl," I stuck my tongue out to ridicule him of his defeat but he ended up pinching my cheeks, something I didn't like.

"Let's finalize this," I released a small huff and rolled my eyes but followed him anyway to the front. The books were already displayed so we went round checking if they were in the right numbers.

I had handed out the invitation cards with Jordan a few days back and we hoped it would match up to Lora's standard. She had left this task in our hands after all.

"I think we can open up now," Jordan turned to me and I nodded at his words. Everything was ready. I walked to the entrance and changed the sign as I fully opened the wide doors.

There was already a small crowd gathered and they almost pushed their way inside were it not for Jordan's intervention. I would have been squeezed into nothing, I was already small.

"Stay out of trouble!" I glared at him as he turned to flick his hair and head in. I laughed out so loudly that he narrowed his eyes but hurried back inside. Jordan couldn't slay anymore, his hair was no more.

It was warm outside and I stretched my arms walking a few steps away from the entrance to get a bit of sunshine. I was too young to be tired this early.

I took a seat to relieve my feet after all the hard work. I had been standing for over three hours now and my stomach grumbled though it was too early for lunch. I had missed my breakfast.

"Elle," I stood up immediately and rushed to the call of the familiar voice I'd been longing to hear. My fatigue long gone as I lunged on her.

"Lora," I fell into her arms melting into her warm embrace. How I'd missed her. She patted my back then pulled away to cup my cheeks, "How have you been, dear."

"All good!" I grinned at her adoring the way she'd styled her hair. Her porcelain skin shined in the light and it was hard to believe that she was getting to her mid-thirties. She appeared younger, we could pass as age-mates.

"You look different," she assessed my outfit then my face and smiled slyly, "Did you finally get a boyfriend?" I coughed to distract her wandering thoughts as I made some doodles on the ground with my feet.

"No," I shyly replied meeting her eyes briefly that twinkled with curiosity. I was wearing a dress, a yellow one, and my hair was well tied in a bun. I didn't look as messy as before but Lora still noticed the changes.

"I will find out," she mumbled out to herself adjusting her handbag over her shoulder. I hadn't changed and I was still convincing myself that I hadn't when I clearly was beginning to.

Over the past two days, my mind had shifted to Grey more than just a couple of times. I looked forward to our next meeting which I had no idea when it would be. He was a busy man but I wanted to see him soon.

Whether this was because he was my new friend or because I was beginning to get attached to his warmth, the idea of him excited me like the way a lioness would play with its cubs. I couldn't wait for Wednesday, the promised day.

"...right now." Lora patted my back as she walked past me into the bookstore. I didn't hear her last words but I followed, easily catching up with her long strides. She was very professional when it came to her job.

Over the next few hours, I ran around the bookstore delivering the files that Lora had to look at and ensuring that there was no commotion amongst all who came to check out the new book.

The afternoon stretched leisurely, the weather peaceful and murmurs all around me as I worked alongside Jordan. We barely took any rest and my stomach was grumbling quite frequently but luckily no one had heard that.

Jordan was at the back picking more books to replace an empty stand when I approached Lora closer to the registers, "When is Dalton coming?" I was eagerly waiting to meet the young lad.

"Ooh!" Lora adjusted her wrist watch then turned to my side. I guess she'd been so immersed in working to check the time.

"He's being dropped off here at half past three," she explained once she had checked out a previous customer. That was would be in thirty minutes.

"I'll wait for him!" I excitedly began to walk way but Lora called me back. She didn't need help at the register though since it wasn't as busy as in the morning.

"Did you need something?" I asked since picking up Dalton wasn't an issue. I was even familiar with his grade teacher having picked him up severally.

"Could you get burgers, something small for everyone here?" She pulled out her credit card and smiled convincingly at me. I hesitated at first but she bet me to it.

"I've been hearing those grumbles of yours since morning," I lowered my head, embarrassed but Lora laughed along, "Did you even remember to deworm?" Jordan's laughter came up behind me that I wanted to bump their heads together.

"Jordan, get lunch for the rest of the group." She handed him the card then turned to me, "Remember to get Dal's favorite ones!" Jordan pulled me out before I responded but I shouted over my shoulder.

"Of course!" I took my phone as I skipped to follow him out of the store. Lora was so considerate to even buy us a meal with her own money.

"Let's hurry before Dal comes," I released Jordan's hand after we'd crossed the road. Call me a child but up until now, I still had to hold someone's hand when crossing the road. It made me feel safe when I was with someone I could hold on.

"Here," Jordan pointed a burger shop down the street, "their burgers are so lovely!" I squinted my eyes at him in silence then bumped into his side. "Did you really try those without me?"

"What, I was -" he struggled to come up with words but I giggled, pulling him into the shop. He looked at me then joined in laughter when he realized l was only joking.

Jordan ordered for everyone and we waited till everything was packed up. The bags weren't heavy but Lora was wise enough to send him with me. I took less than half the total while he carried the rest of the bags.

"Tired?" I called after Jordan who was a few steps ahead when we came to the road junction. It was ridiculous how I teased him when I could barely catch up. It was just food, but then it wasn't light either.

"You're even sweating," he turned back to me and playfully flicked my forehead and took the bags from my hands and I didn't protest. I held his arm looking at both sides of the road for us to cross.

"Now let's go," Jordan instructed after it was safe and I fell into a step beside him. I always needed the verbal assurance for me to start moving otherwise I'd remained rooted on my spot.

"That's Dal's bus, let's hurry." I nudged Jordan to walk faster when I noticed the familiar bus pull to a stop in front of the bookstore. He mumbled something incoherently but I paid him no heed, pulling him by his arm.

"Dalton!" Jordan called the boy when he was just about to walk in and I watched as he turned around in confusion to check behind him then beside him, spotting no one.

"Dal!" I called again and this time he looked my way and I detached myself from Jordan and rushed to greet my favorite friend. He ran my way once he registered who was calling him.

"Elle!" His enthusiastic voice called back and I knelt down and pulled him to myself when his fast little legs got to me. My arm went round his back and hair as I hugged him tightly.

"You're getting taller," I pulled his hair out of his face as I craned up to look into his ocean blue eyes. He was already past my height even though I was crouched down.

"Yes, mama says I eat a lot." I laughed at his reply softly cupping his cheeks then kissing both of them. He was too adorable.

"That is good, you'll soon grow big like Jordan." I took his school bag from his shoulders as he greeted Jordan and began telling him about a superhero movie they'd seen at school.

I walked beside them listening intently and responding when Dalton asked me something though I had no clue about the things they were talking about. I never watched anything about superheroes.

Just as we entered the store a voice stopped me, well, all of us that we turned slowly and my eyes shone as I walked towards him. Jordan shuffled as if to get after me but I didn't bother much with him.

"Grey!" I refrained from jumping on him, only smiling widely as I stood before him. I was used to hugging all my friends. It was a surprise to see him here at this time.

His eyes were however not on me when I called him and the calm grey I was used to in his eyes was no longer there. He fiercely trained his gaze behind me, only for me to realize that Jordan and Dalton had followed me.

"Elle," Jordan protectively came by my side and his actions made Grey take an hesitant step towards us as he glared at the barely there space between Jordan and I.

"Do you know him Elle?" Jordan asked before I could say anything as he fully stood before me as if to obstruct me but Grey still towered over him and I could see that he was angered about something, his forehead had creased into a pattern of three lines.

"Of course, this is my friend Grey." I came out behind Jordan trying to introduce the two. I didn't understand what they were playing at. They were drilling holes into each other's face.

"Good afternoon Grey," I casually greeted him, easily distracting his attention from Jordan. He turned to face me, his irises dissolving to their original color. He assessed my face then nodded at me.

"Jo! I'm hungry." Dalton faked a cry from behind Jordan who narrowed his eyes at Grey then at me as if to say I had a lot to tell him. I shooed him away hoping to introduce the two later when they calmed down.

"What a surprise to see you!" I turned to Grey once the two had walked in. His eyes were hard over my shoulders but I softly tugged his jacket to get his attention.

He shook his head rubbing his temple rather harshly then gazed down at me, "Ginelle,"  he softly called my name, a contrast to the emotions on his face a minute ago.

It was sunny yes, but the huskiness in his voice had me shivering. Despite our proximity, I hesitantly stood on my toes to feel his forehead, "Are you okay?" It was him who always asked but right now he didn't look okay.

His grey pools swirled with hesitancy when I retracted my hand. His temperature was quite normal. He nodded slightly but he seemed to be bothered about something.

I chose to ignore that for now although my stomach grumbled when I remembered about the burgers we'd bought earlier. I was still hungry.

"Let's head in," I pointed towards the store but Grey didn't seem to hear me. His thoughts seemed to be elsewhere and though I had decided to ignore that earlier, it was hard to get his attention.

"Is-is he your boyfriend?" I felt goosebumps arise on the skin of my shoulder. I stopped mid-step and slowly turned to Grey. If the condition with my ears was getting this worse, I had to seek treatment immediately.

"Pardon?" I looked up at him but his jaw ticked as he placed his left hand in his left pocket. He seemed to grind his teeth in frustration looking around me.

The words seemed painful for him to ask as he met my curious eyes. His throat bobbed up and down as he grazed his index finger over his stubble, "Are you dating?"

I was confused at first as I squinted my eyes to understand his question but when I got the meaning, I squeaked out, "No!" What was he even thinking?

"So he isn't-" Grey rubbed his right thumb over the back of his neck shuffling over his feet and once I affirmed in a nod, he walked a step closer to me.

He lifted his hand to my hair and framed a fallen strand out of my face. I stared up at him in wonder when his chest deeply rumbled, "Let's head in." His previous sourness already gone.

✪ ✪ ✪

Sorry for missing an update last week! I how this puts a smile on your face<3

(⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)