Chapter Text
Jane had only taken half a step into the bookstore, the bell ringing cheerfully, before she felt her foot hit something solid and furry, tripping to try and keep from crushing any tiny paws she knew would be underfoot. She yelped, ankles twisting, and fell straight forward onto her knees. Her hands tried to catch herself automatically, but instead ended up smashing her iced chai latte right into the hardwood floor.
A furry grey and white face immediately started to lap up the sweet milky liquid and Jane groaned, glaring at the feline offender.
“Pippin! That’s the third time this week,” she scolded. “Why do you always attack me ?”
There was a snicker up ahead at the counter and Max came around the front holding some paper towels, her red hair tangling around her arms as she bent down to help mop up the mess. They shooed the naughty cat away and then Jane stood up with a pained moan, rubbing her sore knees.
“He really does have it out for you,” Max empathized. “I’m not sure why. Benny said he’s always been wily but…”
“It’s because I had to chase him away from that lady with the allergies my first day. He’s never forgiven me.”
“You’re probably right.”
The two young women grinned at each other for a moment before Jane looked down at her now empty cup with a sad sigh. She hadn’t even taken a sip yet.
Max however, looked too gleeful at her friend’s misfortune, glancing out the window across the street from where they were to where a sign for “The Quarry Coffee” was lit up, the coffeeshop glowing warmly in the mid-October chill. Even from here, Jane could make out the shapes of the baristas behind the counter, buzzing around, pressing espresso and foaming lattes, passing over the white cups to their customers.
She could see him, his tall figure and mop of dark hair bobbing between the register and the coffee grinder and espresso machine. Despite her best attempt to keep her cool—which never seemed to work no matter how hard she tried—her heart flip-flopped in her chest. For the past year since she’d started working at Mirkwood Books and first became a patron at the Quarry, she’d had the same reaction when he turned to her and smiled and said, “Iced chai latte, right?”
All she knew was that his name was Mike and he was friendly and helpful and so fucking cute she wanted to scream.
Today one of the others had taken her order, accidentally making a regular hot chai instead of her preferred iced, and she hadn’t even cared because he didn’t notice her the whole time she’d been there. It was hopeless, a dumb, childish, crush, but she couldn’t pretend like there wasn’t something about him that made her feel soft and warm and perfect.
And maybe, just maybe, someday he would smile that cute as fuck smile at her and ask her if she wanted to go to dinner. And then if she wanted to be his girlfriend. And then an engagement—
“Guess you’ll have to go and get another, huh?” Max’s voice broke Jane’s lovely dream, a smirk twisting her face into a picture of smugness. “What a shame.”
Jane immediately turned pink. “No, stop. Don’t start,” she begged. “I shouldn’t have told you, it was stupid.”
“Go get another drink or I’ll walk over there and tell him just how much you lov—”
She was already out the door, fuming as Max’s shoulders shook with laughter. Max was pretty much her best friend. They’d both been freshmen and had met at orientation. Jane didn’t really trust people, it was kind of a problem, but Max’s openness about her own rough childhood and her easy acceptance and fun personality… it had been exactly what Jane had needed back then. Now, they were starting their third year, a few months in, and so far Jane’s life had never been better.
She had a cool apartment—rented to her by her dad’s friend, Benny, who also owned the bookstore. He was a big, friendly guy, missing her dad’s gruffness and rough edges but similar enough to keep the homesickness at bay. She had her own little space just a block from the store, periwinkle walls and fairy lights, just like her room at home, with a cozy couch for reading and doing homework in front of the TV, a kitchen to make tea, and a single bathroom.
It was home. Something she hadn’t always had before her dad had taken her in.
A best friend, a safe place to live, and a dream job. Not to mention school, which was going as well as she could have hoped. Everything in her life was falling into place… finally.
She sighed, her breath a white puff in the fall chill, looking across the street at the coffee shop and then over her shoulder one more time before crossing. It wasn’t that late, but the sun set early as winter crept through autumn’s bright leaves, the streetlights shining a path for her to follow. When she stepped inside there was a delicious wave of warmth, full of the smell of coffee grounds and steeping tea. There was no line for once and she headed for the register, trying to keep from glancing around, knowing better than to even get her hopes up.
“Hey.”
Her eyes, which had been staring at the Star Wars themed tip jar, glanced up and she tried to keep from melting into the floor as he stood before her. She glanced at his nametag, “Mike”, and then let her eyes meet his, feeling like she was floating but also falling at the same time, the inky depths as comforting as a cup of dark roast, no cream or sugar needed.
“Iced chai latte, right?” His familiar handsome smile struck her dumb. “The usual?”
“Yeah, I…” she swallowed, trying to chill the fuck out. “I was just here like ten minutes ago but Pippin tripped me and it sort of ended up on the floor.”
“Pippin?” His perfect eyebrows drew together in the most beautiful question mark she’d ever seen.
“Yeah, he’s a cat. Not my cat,” she quickly added, gesturing behind her towards the bookstore. “My boss’s cat. He has four.”
Mike blinked for a second, obviously trying to make sense of what she’d said as he stared at the sign of the store across the street. He suddenly grinned so brightly she was sure she would go blind.
“Wait wait, let me guess. Pippin, Merry, Frodo and Sam?”
“What gave it away?” She laughed easily, the nerves slowly dissipating.
So far it had been the longest conversation they’d ever had, but instead of feeling terrified she felt more and more at ease, his easygoing attitude comforting. Usually she was too emotionally challenged to do more than smile and say thanks, but something about today was different.
His gaze flicked behind her towards her place of employment again, an amused expression slanting his face.
“What gave it away?” He tilted his head, playful friendliness lighting his eyes like midnight stars. “I have no clue but, huh, if you’re from Mirkwood, that makes you a wood elf. How’s Legolas?”
“He’s doing great, actually. Or his cardboard cutout is. He lives in the back room and scares the shit out of my every time I have to restock.”
Mike had been leaning against the counter toward her but at that he doubled back and let out a laugh. It sounded how drinking hot chocolate felt, sweet and heady with a warmth that filled her chest. She was sure she was blushing, cheeks bright pink. It took him a second to calm down enough to talk again, and then he leaned back across the counter towards her, still smiling that heartachingly gorgeous smile.
“You’re pretty funny, Eleven.”
“Eleven?” It was a breath that left her.
A hint of a flush brightened his cheeks. “Oh, yeah. You always come in at eleven and get your chai… it just—I mean, it’s always at eleven. You’re the eleven o’clock.”
She let herself snort in amusement despite how much her heart was fluttering and her brain was screaming that, he knows who you are! Sort of!
It made sense. She always popped in after her Early British Literature class, before her shift at Mirkwood started. But she didn’t think he would have noticed notice.
“Do I really—” she started.
“Mike!” The other barista on duty, the one with curly hair and a toothy grin, interrupted them, looking between the two. “Are you taking her order or annoying her?” Right then the door dinged, announcing more customers and—Dustin, that was what his nametag said—jerked his chin towards them. “Chop chop!”
Mike ducked his head and quickly rang her up, the conversation totally killed by Dustin, and she tried to think of a way to revive it as she payed, unsure of what to say now. She desperately wanted to keep talking to him, about anything, but every intelligent thought left her mind and instead she stared down at her hand as he passed her change back, pausing to assess the tip jar and then dropping the dollar and few coins into the “Jedi” side. When she glanced up he was biting his lip, eyes watching her, but quickly turned away to make her drink.
With a sigh she wandered further down the counter, away from the small line that had formed behind her as Dustin took Mike’s place at the register. She tried not to be weird and stare, but couldn’t help but watch as he mixed up her chai and milk, surprised to see him add a pump of something. He looked up and smiled, making her heart do that thing crazy thing again, and then leaned over to hand it to her.
Their fingers brushed as she took the cup.
“I added a pump of something, and if you can guess the flavor, next one is on me,” he said, eyes dancing. “But if you hate it, tell me and I’ll make you new one right now.”
She took a sip, the usual sweet flavor washing over her tongue with an added note, of something a little… flowery? Her brow puckered and she took another sip.
“Is that… lavender?” she guessed. Her dad had bought her some perfume one time and it had been lavender. It tasted how it smelled.
Mike’s face lit up. “Yeah! Well, damn, I thought I’d picked a tough one. Guess your next one is free.”
Jane couldn’t help but beam.
“Mike!” It was Dustin again, looking exasperated. “Dude, there’s a line.”
“Just a second!” He hissed, before turning back to Jane, his face a messy apology. “Remind me next time you come in tomorrow, Eleven.” The lopsided grin was back.
“O-Okay,” she managed, lost in his eyes and his dreamy smile once again. “Bye.”
“See you!” He shot her one last smile over his shoulder as he headed back to the register.
Jane felt rooted to floor, the sweet taste of flowers and tea on her tongue, her chest and face flushing with warmth. Eleven. She’d been called worse things. And the fact that he remembered her, her order and her face… it was more than she’d hoped for in their casual, everyday interaction. He knew who she was. He knew.
The only other thought that danced in her head as she skipped back to work, floating through the air, was, “This crush is getting out of control."
&&&
Mirkwood Books was a magical place. The bookshelves were painted brown, with whorls and holes, like the bark on actual trees, going up to the ceiling that was criss-crossed with forest green leaves, fake branches that tangled over the black ceiling, dotted with tiny sparkling stars. Signs proclaiming genre hung from the ends of the shelves, written in both English and Sindarin. The staircase that went down to the basement level was surrounded by a familiar gate. “Speak ‘friend’ and enter”, it read, the stairs leading down to a brick chasm, full of more bookcases. Occasional squishy armchairs hid in the corners and cracks, some claimed by purring cats, others bare and ready for a new explorer to venture their way.
Jane had been lucky her dad and Benny were old friends, from high school, and when he’d asked the big man to look out for his daughter, he’d gone above and beyond to help her feel at home. Her pleading eyes had too easily convinced him to add Max to the ranks and the hidden gem of a bookshop had gone from a way to earn grocery money to being one of her favorite places in the whole world.
It really did feel like magic, the walls cozy and warm, the bookshelves strong and protective, the customers regular and friendly.
Sitting at the front desk, she worked on her research paper for West and the World, occasionally popping downstairs to the Industry section to borrow a book for research. Most of the customers who came in were similar, students from campus needing sources for their papers or theses or projects. Occasionally one would buy a book, but for the most part the armchairs were full of exhausted young people just trying to pass their class. It was like a tired truce, an odd community, and Jane loved it.
Of course there were plenty of community customers who came and purchased books, perusing the New Arrivals shelf or buying a new book of poetry or another issue of their favorite comic. It was a beautiful wonderland that she was allowed to live in.
Currently she was reorganizing the Mystery shelf, which somehow could never seem to stay in alphabetical order. It had been raining, chilly autumn rain, but she had a warm chai sitting at the front desk to keep her warm.
She couldn’t help but glance toward it, the side turned toward her that read, “Eleven :)”. He always called her that and somehow she was starting to think of herself more of an Eleven than Jane. Especially when he accompanied it with that smile.
Ugh, stop. She’d been thinking about it for the past three weeks since she’d first dared to strike up that conversation. And it was getting ridiculous. He’s just being nice. You’re a customer. A surefire way to get a good tip.
And besides, she didn’t have time to be interested in anyone. Her grades at midterm hadn’t been as outstanding as she’d hoped, and she couldn’t afford to let her GPA drop. If she lost her scholarship, she would have to go home to her dad with no degree and no ideas and even though she knew he loved her and would welcome her back, she wanted to do this for him. And to prove to herself that she wasn’t all the terrible things she’d been called as a child. That she had worth and purpose.
She needed to succeed.
So no, romance was not important. She had school, she had work, and she had Max to come over and watch movies and eat chinese takeout with and occasionally cuddle with if she was in a mood. She didn’t need anything more.
But that didn’t keep her heart from racing every time she stepped into the Quarry, didn’t keep her from smiling back when Mike met her at the register, didn’t keep her from happily chatting as he rang in her order by memory. Nothing could seem to stop that.
The bell at the front dinged, but Jane currently had two armfuls of Agatha Christie and didn’t bother to see who had come in, balancing a stack with her chin as she tried to carefully move back down the stepladder.
Tried being the key word.
The toe of her Converse caught on the step and her whole foot tipped up, her balance lost as her body started to fall backwards. A soft cry left her throat as she felt herself falling, quickly cut off by a soft gasp as two hands planted firmly on her back, catching her and pushing her back onto the stepladder firmly. It took her a second to recapture the breath she’d lost at the fright and she breathlessly looked over her shoulder to thank her savior.
It was Mike.
“Hey, Eleven,” he smiled, looking devastatingly handsome in a button up with a navy hoodie over it, different from the apron he usually wore. He had a book bag over his shoulder, his dark flopping out from under the hood of his jacket and into his eyes, his bangs damp from the rain. From her place on the stepladder she was taller than him, and the way he looked up at her immediately had her heart tap dancing in her chest.
Fuck, why did he have to be so cute?
“Oh, hi,” she managed, sucking another breath and trying to calm. “Um, thanks for saving my life.”
He reached for the stack of books to help her but she shook her head and instead he kept an arm out as she tried going down the ladder again, much more carefully. She set the paperbacks down on the floor and then took a second to swing her arms around, getting the feeling back into her hands and trying to think of something to say.
Right then, Pippin appeared, followed closely behind by Merry, and the two cats went straight to Mike, purring and rubbing on his jeans. His face lit up and he bent down, stroking their heads and scratching their chins until they were both purring so loudly it sounded like someone had started up a small motorboat in the shop.
“Wow, they’re usually picky with customers but they really love you,” Jane said in amazement. “Pippin always tries to trip me when I come in. He’s never forgiven me for being mean on my first day.”
Mike looked up from the cats, grinning. “Really?”
“Yeah, they ignore most people. Sam is the friendly one, but Frodo usually hides anyways so…” She looked around the shop, spotting neither the little brown tabby or the tan tom, figuring they were probably snuggled up together in a cat bed somewhere. She looked back to see Mike stand up and brush at his pants, which were totally coated in white and grey fur. He looked at her beseechingly as the two cats wandered off and she couldn’t hold in a laugh.
“We have a lint roller at the counter, come on,” she nodded, making her way to the counter at the back of the store. “It’s the least I can do since you saved my life.”
“Oh, awesome. Can you show me your Science and Research section next? I need a book on physics.”
“Sure.”
Sciences were all downstairs in the Mine, as they called it, and she lead him through the “gated staircase” to the basement. It wasn’t decorated quite as immersively as the top floor but the walls were black with curved bricking and in the very back corner Benny had managed to find someone to paint the glowing, fiery eyes of the Balrog. Sometimes it creeped her out, when she had to close alone, and once she’d left the lights on, too freaked to have the courage to be in the dark.
“Physics?” She wanted to make sure she hadn’t heard wrong.
“For my senior thesis, I’m talking more about relative physics, like the energy it would take to make a portal, interdimensional travel, that sort of thing,” he explained mildly as she lead him to the correct section of shelving. “Astrophysics, to be specific but I doubt you have a shelf for that.”
“I’ll ask Benny about adding a subgenre.”
“Cool.”
She noticed a few titles out of order and frowned, reaching to adjust them, feeling the usual satisfaction as everything moved back into its proper place. Once that was done she turned, surprised to find him still right behind her. Close.
He seemed to come out of a daze as she turned and moved back away, his eyes avoiding hers as he ducked out of her way. For a second she considered say something, anything, wanting him to move back to where he’d been.
The sound of footsteps over head and called, “Hello?” reminded her she had other things to do than stare in the dreamy eyes of Mike the barista and apparently physics nerd. She tucked away all the new information he’d given her, into the mental binder covered in heart stickers and girly doodles. She wished she knew more.
“Um, well, let me know if you have any more questions,” she said as she slipped past him, the heady mix of fresh espresso and some sort of aftershave filling her nose.
God, he even smelled nice.
Jane tromped up the stairs, annoyed with herself and how much she lacked the ability to show restraint when it came to cute boys.
She spent the next few hours sulking, waiting for it to be ten o’clock so she could close and go home and take a hot bath and hit her pillow and let the soft darkness wash away the anxiety and useless daydreams.
At eight thirty on the dot, she heard thumping footsteps on the stairs. She had been working on her paper, finishing the bibliography so that when she got home she didn’t have anything left to do, but looked up at the sound automatically, to see if it was someone buying a book.
Mike’s dark mop appeared around the corner and Jane quickly looked down, trying to take a deep breath. He approached her desk, eyes aglow, and despite her best efforts to maintain her newfound sense of control, she felt herself melting again.
“Eleven, hey.”
It was only two words but the way he said them made her heart twist in her chest. She frowned down at her desk, taking another deep breath, hardening her resolve again. It wasn’t fair, maybe, but it was what needed to be done. Looking up, she tried to keep her face slack.
“Yeah?” she managed, hoping he couldn’t hear the tremble in her voice.
He blinked at her for a moment. “Um, I’m heading out…”
“Find what you needed?”
“Yeah… I think so.” He looked around, gesturing. “My friend has been a here a few times and I always meant to come in but…” That smile was back and she felt her own lips twitch upward. “I’m glad I finally did.”
“Yeah,” she breathed. “Me too.”
There was a moment, a heartbeat, where it was quiet and still. Jane felt herself exhale, a shared breath, a small smile, where she let the ideas and the daydreams and the feeling that filled her heart seep out. Just for a second.
And then Mike bobbed his head, looking pleased, nodding. “Alright. Cool, um, well…” He looked up at her under his dark bangs, lopsided grin in full handsome effect. “Goodnight.”
He threw his hood up over his head and made his way out. Jane watched him, as he reached the door, paused, and then pushed out into the rain. Her heart was pounding, every nerve tingling with longing as she watched him disappear into the darkness.
“Goodnight,” she whispered.