One Step at a Time

So I edited a spelling mistake earlier today and didn\'t even give thought to it bumping the story up. I\'ll have to wait until future chapters or do a better proof reading job from now on.

This one was a little hard too because it was like starting again, but it doesn\'t jump all over the place like the first one, so I guess that\'s something. I also got it done in one day despite being delayed due to a headache.

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Small coughs could be heard trailing through the near empty library just before closing hours. Liz was sorting books in the back room behind the register and stirred up a cloud of dust from a pile that hadn’t been touched in ages. Trying fruitlessly to blow and swat it away she finally picked up the heavy stack and escaped to the front counter and heaved them up on it. Blowing some more dust that flew up she pushed a strand of hair back before looking up and smiling at the redhead watching her.

“Hi, Heather.” She greeted with a quiet voice. Liz has known Heather since grade school and was about the only friend she had. Sure she had a few others, but she wasn’t nearly as close to them as she was with her. “What are you doing here?”

“I just thought I’d drop by and see if you wanted a lift. I was in the area anyway.” Her eyes not on Liz, but fixed her organizing the scattered books. “Do you have any plans tonight?” Now she was lifting herself up and down on her toes.

“No… why?” She asked cautiously. “You’re up to something, aren’t you?”

“How could you tell?” She asked back with a huge grin.

“How about the bouncing? You’re excited about something. What happened?”

“Well… I…” Intentionally adding suspense by dragging everything out, Liz stopped what she was doing and waited for her to spit it out. “I found someone for you! Well, not really, I found someone that knows someone for you.”

“What? Heather, no, not another blind date. I said I wasn’t going to do any of these anymore.” She protested in a whiny voice and tried to distract herself by getting back to work.

“Oh come on. If you looked for a guy yourself I wouldn’t have to go on a safari for you.” Getting the word play from an animal book she started flipping through as she argued back.

“But I’m not looking. I have enough to do right now as it is.”

“Or you need new glasses. Maybe you just can’t see them.” She giggled.

“Are you listening to me!?” She responded a bit too loudly.

“Who couldn’t with that volume?” A male voice came from across the room, startling the both of them. It was Mr. Edwards, the owner of the bookstore and Liz’s boss. He was an older man, tall with salt and pepper hair who towered over the two girls and would probably intimidate Liz if he didn’t have such a friendly personality. In fact he was one guy Heather suggest Liz hooked up with. Jokingly of course, but it still warranted a shove.

“Sorry, Mr. Edwards.” She apologized timidly. “I guess I got carried away.” He only chuckled and shook his head. All of this was no surprise to him. Things like this happened often when Heather showed up to see Liz, and she was there a lot. He knew her almost as well as any of his employees. And it always ended the same way, ‘Sorry, Mr. Edwards.’

“I guess it’s too be expected.” He looked over to Heather and she waved slightly, trying to act as innocent as possible. This drew a much-needed laugh from Liz. “Anyway, I’m heading home a little early. Can you lock up for me tonight?”

“No problem.” Liz agreed with giggles still spilling out occasionally.

“Okay, then. You ladies behave yourselves and try not to scare the few customers left away, and I’ll see you Tuesday.”

“Will do.” Heather chimed in quickly. He knocked lightly a couple times on the counter in acknowledgement before heading out the door.

“So… do we have a date?” Heather asked, quickly returning to the previous subject. Liz slung herself over the counter and grumbled incoherently in her arms. “Was that a yes?”

“I don’t need these fix up from you.” She said showing her eyes over her crossed arms. “I’ve been on dates before anyway. It’s not like I’m needy or desperate.”

“Please. I can count every guy you’ve seen on one hand. And all of them were set up by me.” Heather came around the corner and dropped her head next to Liz’s. “You can’t spend your whole life cooped up on campus, at work, and in your apartment.” She added.

“I won’t. I’ll graduate and I won’t be on campus anymore.” She shot back jokingly. With a sigh she picked up the now organized stack of books and carried them over to a nearby shelf and placed them down. Tapping on the top a few times she looked back at Heather. “Fine… I’ll go. But this is the absolute last time. I’m not falling for your little pity games again.”

Heather squealed with delight and jumped back up straight. “Great! I’ll go get the car and wait for you outside. You’ll have fun, trust me.” She skipped out the door and left Liz to finish up inside. She rang up the last couple of shoppers before checking the store to make sure no one was left. She then took the store keys from the same back room as before and turned off all the lights before following Heather outside. Closing the doors tight she locked them slowly until she heard the click and then rested her forehead against the cool metal between the glass.

“I’m an idiot.”