This is dedicated to one of my best friends in the whole entire world.
Mea, Your Prince Charming is out there waiting for you, you'll find him in due time 3

And of course I only own the characters I created. I do not own Gossip Girl, Sarah Dessen, Kate Brian, or Toyota. Although I wish I did :P

"No," I said plainly as my best friend, Nellie, held up a copy of Gossip Girl, "No upper west side crap. I love reading, but I have standards."
Nellie gasped dramatically, covering her perfect o-shaped mouth with her palm, "First of all, it's the upper east side. Second of all, this is good stuff!"
"Nellie, you know I'm not into those type of books," I replied, flipping over a Sarah Dessen book that I already read.
"Then why did you even bring me here?" Nellie asked impatiently, trotting down the aisle, "You know what kind of books I would suggest."
I sighed and walked down the teen section, my fingers grazing the titles, the ones I knew well and the ones I wouldn't dare read- like the ones Nellie has been trying to shove down my throat for years.
Suddenly I whipped around to face my best friend, my short chocolate brown hair hitting my face in the process, "Maybe that's the problem."
Nellie raised her eyebrows, "Maybe what's the problem?"
"The teen section – maybe that's the problem. Maybe it's time to venture out," I smiled, getting a little too excited about my new book adventure. I couldn't believe how pathetic I was.
"Uh-huh," Nellie responded, picking up a Kate Brian book, "Have fun with that. I'll be right here." She opened up the book, sat down, and began to read. That's when I realized she had no intentions of venturing out with me.
"Fine," I tried to hide my disappointment, "be that way. I don't need you-"
"Sure you don't," she cut me off, turning the page.
"I don't! I'll venture out into the adult book world by myself!" And with that I turned on my toes and made my way to the romance section when suddenly, something caught my eye in the philosophy section.
It was a book that was light pink with a white orchid on the cover; in dark pink lettering the title stated The Art of Love.
It seemed like something Nellie would kill to get and that I would be interested in.
"I never pegged you for that type," a voice startled me from behind as the book flew into the air and I jumped.
The owner of the voice caught the book seconds before it met the floor as my hand flew to my heart.
"I never pegged you for that type either," the voice said, handing the book to me.
As I tried to calm myself I finally registered that the owner of the voice was an 18- year old boy. A cute 18 year old boy.
"And what type would that be?" I asked defensively.
"The jumpy types that read about love in books instead of experiencing it. That seems more like your friend over there," he said gesturing to Nellie who had retired the Kate Brian book for one entitled How to Win Your Love in Three Days.
"I mean, love isn't something you win. It isn't some prize to be won in a game, it's serious. Love is something that can't be taught in a book. When you meet that one person, when your relationship grows and you think to yourself this is the one I'm living the rest of my life with, that's love. You don't choose who you love, love chooses you. It's just this amazing indescribably feeling that makes your heart pound and your palms sweat. It…" the cute boy's spiel became more enthralling and involved and passionate as he went on, until he trailed off. And I realized that I was eating every word he was saying. My heart never stopped pounding and I was leaning into him ever so slightly.
"Sorry," he said wiping his hands on his jeans, "Sometimes I really go off."
"It- it's okay," I stuttered. Of course I'd be all confident and bold whilst talking before I realized the cuteness of the person I was talking to.
"Anyway," he smiled at me, his smile took my breath away, "I'm sorry for scaring you, I'll make it up to you one day."
"Really?" I smiled back, his smile giving me the courage to continue conversation, "How do you plan on doing that?"
"First by introducing myself. I'm Eli, although considering you're in a book store I'm figuring you can read my name tag for yourself," Eli said, his tone light, his eyebrows raised, "But you happen to not be wearing a nametag. So, care to share?"
"Hm, maybe. Maybe not," I replied with a smile, joking.
"Ahh, was this a technique you read about in The Art of Love?"
"Hey!" I shot back, "If your memory serves you right, that book flew out of my hand before I even had the chance to open it!"
"Right, right," Eli smiled the smile that took my breath away.
"I thought you didn't peg me for that type anyway, so what type did you peg me for?"
"The quiet smart book worm," he states plainly, I opened my mouth to protest but before I could get a word out he continued, "The girl who keeps it all bottled in when she's in public, and sometimes even with her friends. But who's ready to let go in actuality, the type whose tired of routine and living life who she's been living. Not the jumpy type and not the type to read about love in books, but the one who wants to experience it for herself, but is too scared too, so she hides behind her books, in her stories," I realized that as he spoke he got closer and closer to me, his speech always passionate. But when he stopped talking he didn't move away from me. He was so close I was sure could hear my heart about to burst out of my chest as I could smell spearmint on his breath. But I didn't say a word and neither did he, I just stared into his deep brown eyes, as I realized that this strange cute boy figured me out after knowing me for about 180 seconds.
"Auden!" Nellie called my name but it sounded so far away, still yet the connection between me and Eli was broken as he slowly backed up, shoving his hands into his pockets and raising his eyebrows as Nellie approached us.
She was dressed as she usually is, but for winter: wool dress, maroon tights, high heeled black boots, and a sparkly headband. A complete contrast to my jeans, American Eagle t-shirt and purple converses.
"Auden, my mom just called yelling at me saying she needs my car or something, so we have to go," her speech was rushed as she took off her headband, pushed her hair back and then put her headband back on.
"Oh," she said, stopping dead in her place when she saw Eli, "Hi, I'm Noelle."
"Eli," he replied with a smile, but it wasn't the same way he smiled at me. It didn't reach his eyes and didn't make me lose my breath."
"Nice to meet you. Sorry to steal Auden but I drove her here and we have to get going."
"Yeah, no problem. See you around Auden, I'm sure I'll make it up to you somehow," Eli smiled my favorite smile, and then nodded his goodbye to Nellie.
"Yeah, I'm sure you will. See you around," I smiled.
Nellie took my hand and dragged me out of the store. "Who was that?" she asked me as soon as her fingertips touched the glass of the door.
"Eli," I replied matter-of-factly, as if it was obvious. I couldn't believe how bold I was with him, how I said the right things without sounding stupid. Sheer. Luck. I thought.
"Yeah, that much I gathered," she said dryly as she pulled open the driver's side to her silver Toyota.
"I don't know," I added, climbing in next to her, "I went to go look at a book. He scared the crap out of me and then we started talking. No big deal," I shrugged, even though it was a very big deal. In fact my heart didn't even stop over-reacting yet.
"Yeah. Right," Nellie's voice swelled with sarcasm. "Auden," she said turning to me as she stopped at a red light she put her hand on my knee and said softly, "its okay. You'll be okay."
I was beginning to wonder if I was that predictable but then I realized Nellie really knew me and this strange boy, Eli, just must be magic.
"Yeah?" I whispered, feeling my eyes begin to water.
Nellie smiled at me softly, took my hand, and squeezed gently, "Yeah, I promise," and with that she sped off into the night, taking a different route than usual, it was darker and scarier, but I trusted her. And we made it back to my house sooner than we would've if we went our usual route.