Chapter Text
The bell chimed as the door of the store opened. The air in the store smelled of old paper and roasted chestnuts, probably from a street vendor outside. Dusty sunlight slanted through tall windows, catching particles in the air like tiny fireflies. It felt Cozy
Two people—a man and a woman, probably in their mid-twenties—walked into the store. The man had a curious, hurried expression, his eyes scanning the shelves as if searching for something important.
The cashier looked up and said, “Bonjour! Welcome to Shakespeare and Company. Please, feel free to look around.”
“Bonjour,” the man replied. “Do you have The Summer He Drew Him by Anne De souza? It was released yesterday.”
The cashier’s smile faltered slightly. “Sadly, the book sold out this morning.”
The man’s expression shifted from eager to disappointment; color drained from his face. The cashier added, with a hint of excitement in her tone, “But we are expecting a new shipment tomorrow morning. If you come then, you can definitely get a copy.”
The statement made the man even more disappointed. The woman, who had been silent the entire time, spoke in a consoling tone, “It’s okay, Noah. We can try another bookstore… it’s not like Paris doesn’t have plenty.”
Noah sighed. “We’ve been looking since morning, Nic. And our flight leaves in three hours… nothing seems to be working in my favor.”
The cashier interjected, “If you want a souvenir for your trip, we have plenty of other famous books in the store you could take a look at.”
Noah shook his head. “It’s okay… I’ll just order one online. I should’ve done that from the beginning, but I wanted this book to be the first one I buy in Paris. Anyway, thank you, ma’am. Bonne journée.”
The cashier smiled softly. “Passez une bonne journée.”
They stepped out of the store. Noah’s expression remained unchanged as they began walking.
They had barely made it ten steps when a voice called out behind them.
“Excuse me!”
Noah and Nic turned to see a woman who was just walking out of the store they were in earlier, perhaps in her late twenties. She didn’t look French. She has short hair, wearing a long Brown coat holding a cup of coffee in one hand “Hello! I’m Hanna,” she said, extending her other hand.
Nic, puzzled, shook it. “Hi! I’m Nicole, and this is my brother, Noah.”
Rummaging through her bag, the woman continued, “I saw you asking for The Summer He Drew Him earlier in the bookstore… and I actually have a copy with me… Ah, here it is!” She pulled the book out and handed it to Nic.
“No, you don’t have to,” Noah said, refusing the book. “You must’ve bought it for yourself, and that book is pretty hard to find, we've been searching since morning… Keep it. I can just buy it online.”
A small giggle escaped the woman. “It’s okay. I have plenty of copies at home. You look like a real fan—you can keep it.”
Noah’s unreadable expression shifted to pure confusion. Noticing this, the woman laughed lightly. “I’m the author of this book, and Anna De souza is my pen name.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Noah’s face turned pale.
Nic, astonished, said, “Hello, ma’am! Sorry, we didn’t know you were Anna De souza. We’ve read so many of your works… My brother here is a huge fan.”
“Is that so?” Hanna acknowledged with a smile. Noah, meanwhile, stood frozen, as if he's seeing a ghost in broad daylight.
Nic stepped on his foot lightly to bring him back to reality. Noah finally squeaked out, “Ahhh! Hello, ma’am, I’m a big fan of your works!”
Hanna smiled warmly. “Thanks for supporting my books. Actually, I came to paris because of the Book Release and I am heading back today so I wanted check if there is any feedback so I am hopping bookstores. What a pleasant coincidence running into you two”
“It’s our luck. Thanks for the book, ma’am. I’ll cherish it and take care of it like my unborn child,” Noah said, giggling.
”Bye, guys… Have a nice rest of your day and The Book is a Signed copy, I hope U like this Book too...It's a bit more special and close to my heart......And Thanks again for Supporting my works” Hanna said, walking in the opposite direction
Noah continued staring in the direction she left, still in awe, unsure whether it was dream or reality.
Nic smacked him on the head. “Come on, I know you’re feeling things, but we have a flight to catch!”
“That hurt!” Noah yelled, rubbing the back of his head.
Nic started walking fast, and Noah followed, playfully tilting the book this way and that, holding it up to the sunlight, spinning it gently in his hands.
This is one of the best days of my life.
Soon after, they boarded the plane. Noah took the book out and began reading
THE SUMMER HE DREW HIM