Chapter Text
━━━━-ˏˋ. First Person ˊˎ-━━━━
"Come on, Teeny!" Jessie groans as she leans against me dramatically, annoyance flickering in the back of my mind at her persistence. "It's just one little date! You haven't been on one of those in forever, let alone a blind one." She pushes herself away from me, grabbing me by the shoulders. "You're too damn picky."
I duck under her hands, sending her a glare as I turn back to the book cart in front of the tall shelf. "First off, stop calling me Teeny. I hate it." I go onto my toes to reach one of the higher shelves, cursing Jessie in the back of my mind for her hurtfully accurate nickname. "And, you goyim aren't picky enough. It's why you get so many divorces."
"Just say my name next time, Teeny!" Kat calls from the cash register.
I huff, pulling a book down from the shelf. "Listen, I am not an inexpensive pick. I'm not gonna entertain a relationship if the fanciest meal he can get me costs five bucks." My eyes roll at their antics as I look down at the book. "Why couldn't we be a library? I could hush people." Jessie sighs behind me before walking toward the register. As I get into the flow of placing books on the shelf, the bell above the entryway rings.
"Hello, ladies!" A horribly familiar voice calls out. "Is Teeny here? I have a proposition for her." Shit. I feel myself practically mold into the bookcase in a sad attempt at hiding.
"Aiden," Kat greets curtly. "She isn't in, no. You just missed her; she went on a break to get lunch." Aiden huffs, mumbling to himself just quietly enough for me not to be able to pick it up. I hear the bell on the door ring once more, a breath I didn't realize I was holding escaping soon after. "It's safe to come out!"
I peel myself from the bookcase with a groan, running my hands down my face as I walk to the front of the store. I can see Aiden walking away from the large windows facing the street, his back thankfully facing the quaint shop we're in. "I don't understand why he won't take no for an answer!"
"It's 'cause he likes you, Teeny," Jessie says firmly as I lean against the desk of the register, deep breaths heaving my shoulders up and down as I calm my racing heartbeat. "It's why I think you should go on this date. If he hears you went on even one, he'd see you as off limits, and you wouldn't have to deal with it anymore!"
My face morphs into a deadpan as I look at the brunette. "Ah, yes. Because I'd like Aiden to stop flirting with me and trying to get in my pants purely because he sees me as someone else's property." I huff, straightening my posture and walking back into the sea of books. "I'll go on the damn date if it'll get you to stop talking about it. But I want tacos in return, the good ones from the truck down the street."
Jessie squeals loudly, a wince causing me to squint as I reach toward a higher shelf to restock a book. "I will buy you all the tacos you want!" I hear her heels click against the floor as she jumps in place. "Teeny's going on the date, Kat! She's going on the date!"
I tut loudly, "It's only because I don't want Aiden to think I'm willing to be his damn trophy wife. Could you imagine? Me, walking next to his brainless self like a little dog he can show off to anyone he likes to." I huff, placing a book down with slightly too much built-up anger. "I don't think he can even read!" I pause, turning my head toward the register. "The date you have for me can read, right?"
The smile plastered on Jessie's face falters for a moment as she blinks, before popping right back into place with slightly more force. "I mean, it's 20XX. I think most people can read, Teeny. Stop being so anxious." A heavy sigh leaves me as I rub my temple with my hand. I refuse to teach a grown man to read.