Chapter Text
With a smile on her face, Jeanette put book after book away from her stack to their correct places on the shelf. She hummed several different soft melodies all morning to herself with each step. With the Garretts out for the weekend she was alone in the bookstore, tending to all of the daily chores she would normally share with the aging owners. This also included the finances and taking stock too due to their forgetfulness, not that she minded. Back and forth between the shelves and the counter, picking up books she left from the night before, she rearranged the store just the way she wanted it in a never ending pursuit for the perfect layout. Every trip was another adventure for her to daydream about. Sailing the seas to one aisle with the adventure novels, running in and quickly dropping off with the horror section, Jeanette had no shortage of fun as she spent each hour in the dimly lit store. Until the old couple returned this store was her own and a much needed vacation from the things that shook her heart as of late.
In between her self-dictated chores around the store, she also checked her phone for messages back at the counter. At the top of the messenger was her “sister's only” group chat, followed by individual conversations with Brittany and Eleanor, detailing the last sent messages telling their own perspectives on the problems discussed in said group chat. Jeanette couldn’t help but giggle before scrolling down further. After that was her conversation with Simon, ending with her explaining to him that she would be unable to hang out due to watching the bookstore. Her mouth curved downward and she groaned to herself softly. However, those brewing feelings shot up into a jolt of surprise as she heard the bells of the front door jingle. She jumped up and backwards before heading out from the aisle into the main walkway. She almost heard the customer’s voice as she passed the corner of the tall bookshelf before she collided directly into a blur of blue. She recoiled and felt herself lose her footing, but never completely off the ground. A gentle pressure went along her back and quickly her feet found themselves planted once more. The normally clumsy Chipette opened her eyes after they tightened involuntarily and once her vision cleared up, they widened and her heart fluttered. Leaning in before her was none other than Simon.
“S-Simon,” Jeanette let out, almost in disbelief.
“A-Are you okay,” Simon asked first and foremost, his cheeks already red. Jeanette’s eyes surveyed the situation around her and her face followed suit, turning warm and rosy.
“Mhm,” she mumbled. “I-It wasn’t as bad as usual.” Simon and Jeanette smiled at each other before snapping out of it and breaking apart. Jeanette fixed her long skirt and the bottom of her turtleneck, avoiding all eye contact with the chipmunk who tried to fix his glasses. The rush wore off and Jeanette quickly whipped her head back to Simon. “W-Wait, what are you doing here?”
Simon looked up to meet her eyes as he was picking up a nearby book. His face grew red again and he cleared his throat, stuttering before he gave a clear answer.
“I-I-” he began, standing back up. “W-Well I… happened t-to be heading out this way for an errand and decided to, uh, check in on the store.”
Jeanette’s eyes lit up. She felt her mouth curve upward against her control.
“R-Really?”
“Yes.” The two became silent as they tried to hide their faces from each other. Simon broke the silence with a rush over to the aisles beside them, right past the children’s reading section at the front of the store. “I-I see that you’re working on your new arrangement finally.”
“You noticed,” Jeanette asked with glee.
“Of course. You were excited to put it into practice for months.”
“I know right? I never had the chance but this weekend worked out perfectly since Mr. and Mrs. Garrett are finally away! I just-” Jeanette almost said more but stopped herself. She looked on at Simon who read a nearby piece of paper and frowned.
“What was that,” Simon asked innocently as he began to turn around to the Chipette. Jeanette wiped the frown off of her face right before the two met eyes again. With a forced smile, she shrugged.
“Nothing.”
Simon thought nothing of it and the two walked back to the counter. With how narrow the walkway was Simon led with Jeanette not far behind, neither able to see and immediately read the other’s expression.
“Y-You seem to be making great progress,” Simon said to break the silence again which got Jeanette’s attention.
“Thanks,” she answered. “It’s been a quiet morning.”
“Any customers today?”
“Well, there was one this morning! Oh, except…”
“Except?”
“They were… just looking for a bathroom…”
The two stopped and faced each other to share a laugh. Jeanette felt the dower feelings in her chest begin to float away. The two made it to the end of the line where the counter and backroom resided. Jeanette tried to hop onto the counter but nearly slipped due to her sleeve and the height of the counter being meant for humans. That was until Simon acted almost on instinct once again to help her up, placing his hands on her waist. They were slow to realize what had just happened as they stared deep into each other’s eyes in a moment only meant for them. However, Simon was the first to snap out of it and he pulled his hands back almost in an instant. Jeanette leaned in further for him with her eyes still bright but when she realized that he would not come back, she slouched and looked down to her feet. Both of them were about to speak up, each with their own prepared way of making things less awkward, but were both cut off as the Chipette’s stomach growled. Jeanette’s face turned bright red and she whipped her head to look in any direction away from Simon. Simon, on the other hand, let out a quick snicker.
“You forgot to have lunch again,” Simon said matter of fact. Jeanette refused to turn her head back to him, so instead she nodded as an answer. “H-How about I go get us something to eat? I’m feeling a little hungry myself.” Jeanette didn’t speak up, but she didn't have to. “We wouldn’t want to leave the store unattended though. Or cause a mess so…”
“Rice bowls,” Jeanette let out both as a rational answer as well as her own preference.
“My thoughts exactly,” Simon agreed.
“I’ll get the backroom ready,” Jeanette said as she managed to turn back to him, albeit slightly. Simon perked up and smiled. He nodded and soon left as Jeanette went behind the counter.
Simon eventually came back with their food, consisting of their favorite orders from a nearby restaurant. They sat in the backroom talking as they ate, making each other laugh and engaging in deep conversations of topics that randomly came into their head. It was only a short lunch break but to the two of them it was a warm welcome. As they finished up their food, Simon took the trash for them and packed it away. Jeanette cleaned up the area around them and the two headed back out into the store proper. Not once the bells rang but Simon and Jeanette didn’t mind. What they did mind though, was when Simon glanced over to the clock on the wall.
“I suppose I do need to get back to the house,” he said as his mood began to change.
“D-Do you…” Jeanette stopped, then continued. “Do you have to?”
“I…” Simon looked at Jeanette’s expression, and paused. He sighed and nodded. “Yes. I’m needed for an important meeting regarding Dave’s client.”
“Oh,” Jeanette let out. “I understand. You shouldn't be late for that.” She gave him an assuring look, then the two walked over to the front door. Simon tried to keep things from becoming awkward but only made things worse as he continued to nervously nod. It wasn’t all for nothing though as he did manage to get a genuine giggle. The two stopped just before the door with Simon putting his hand on the handle. With a click of the mechanism it opened but before he pulled back, he heard Jeanette speak up.
“Simon,” she said almost in a rush, catching his attention.
“Y-Yes Jeanette?”
“Thank you, f-for stopping by today.” Simon’s mouth began to shake into a small upward curve as Jeanette also struggled to keep a smile from forming on her face.
“Th-Thank you Jeanette.”
“For what?”
“For b-being here today.” Jeanette lit up and blushed upon realizing what he had meant.
“I’m sorry.”
Simon knew what she referred to, even if he still didn't understand the reason behind it all.
“I-It’s alright. W-Will you be available to join us for dinner tonight?”
“Of course!” With her answer pleasing the both of them, Simon did his best to make an organic breakaway to at last leave the bookstore. The bells jingled and the old wooden door crashed as it closed, leaving the Chipette alone once more, albeit different than before. She stood in the walkway silently looking down to her phone. She let out a held breath as she scrolled the screen and soon a new resolve came over her face.