Chapter 35 Haven
Chapter 35 Haven
ARDEN
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“Oh crap,” I muttered under my breath when I <b>noticed </b>a notification from Silver Quill. It appeared that we had an activity scheduled for tomorrow, and I needed to buy a book <b>from </b>the local bookstore.
Owen halted in his tracks and turned to me, one eyebrow arched inquisitively.
“Do you know where this <b>ce </b>is?” I asked, holding up my phone <b>to </b>show him <b>the </b>name of the bookstore.
“Haven? It’s that one, he replied, pointing towards a shop not far from us. It was <b>only </b>a few blocks away, which caused me to sigh in relief. “Why do you ask?”
“I need to buy something from there,” I exined. “You should go ahead first.”
1 stepped back <b>and </b>noticed the hesitation in Owen’s eyes. Confused by <b>his </b>expression, I tilted my head slightly.
He nced up at the skies for <b>a </b>moment before letting out a small sigh. “It looks like it’s going to rain soon.”
“What do <b>you </b>mean?” I chuckled, following his gaze to the heavens. The skies <b>are </b>dark, but they’re perfectly clear, and the stars are shining bright.”
He pursed <b>his </b>lips. “I just <b>have </b><b>a </b><b>knack </b>for these kinds of things,” he said defensively.
A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth, and I nudged his shoulder yfully. “Why? Are you worried about your new
“Don’t worry. I won’t take long. I teased, leaning into the banter. “If you’d like, I can text you once I’m home.”
He let <b>out </b>a deep <b>breath </b>and shook his head. “It’s not like that<b>,</b>” he grumbled, a hint of exasperation in his voice, <b>which </b>made me chuckle even louder. I had never had a younger sibling, but I imagined that this might be a slice <b>of </b><b>what </b>it would feel like to have one to provoke and tease.
“Whatever,” he muttered, a hint of <b>annoyance </b><b>creeping </b>into his tone. “I warned you. I’m going right ahead.”
With <b>that</b><b>, </b>he turned <b>around </b><b>and </b>started walking toward Elite. See you <b>tomorrow</b>, Owen!” I called out, but he didn’t look back, <b>which </b><b>caused </b>another giggle to escape my lips.
I walked <b>over </b>to Haven and quickly <b>entered</b>, a <b>chime </b><b>ringing </b>above my head. As I <b>stepped </b>inside, I couldn’t help but gape at the <b>enchanting </b>scene before me. From the <b>outside</b>, it seemed like <b>such </b><b>a </b>modest store, but <b>within</b><b>, </b><b>it </b>felt utterly magical.
The shop had <b>only </b>one floor, <b>but </b><b>the </b><b>shelves </b>reached all the way to the ceilings. <b>An </b><b>antique </bdder <b>wound </b>its way around the ce, and artful vines twisted around it, appearing <b>as </b>if they were free of dust despite the store’s age
<b>Along </b>with <b>that</b>, the air <b>was </b>infused <b>with </b>the scent of both fresh and old pages, a <bbination </b><b>that </b>evoked a sense <b>of </b>nostalgia. I closed <b>my </b><b>eyes </b>for a moment, inhaling deeply and <b>relishing </b>the fragrant <b>atmosphere</b>.
When I <b>opened </b>my eyes, I nearly jumped <b>back </b><b>in </b>surprise <b>upon </b>spotting a <b>stunning </b>woman with <b>olive</b>–toned skin and wild, curly hair pulled into a half–up, half–down style.
She seemed <b>just </b>as astonished to see me.
“Oh, hey there,” she chuckled awkwardly, her cheeks tinting slightly. “Umm, right. <b>I </b>must <b>have </b>forgotten to flip the sign at the front. We’re <b>already </b>closed” she said scratching the <b>back </b>of her neck <b>sheepishly</b>.
towed my head slightly in apology. “My apologies. I replied “I didn’t realize. I just needed to buy a book for Silver Quill, <b>but </b>I cane back tomorrow.”
Her expression softened when she saw how genuinely apologetic I was A small smile crept onto her <b>lips</b>. “For Silver Quill? I <b>guess </b>it’s <b>alright </b>then. The book for your club is already behind the counter. It’s just <b>a </b><b>quick </b>transaction.”
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10:44 AM ch
Chapter 35 Haven
“Are you sure?” I asked, unsure if I should press my luck.
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<b>She </b><b>nodded</b>, still smiling. Her light <b>and </b>carefree personality brightened <b>the </b>already lively atmosphere of the bookstore, and I found myself willingly following after her.
“No worries!” she chimed cheerfully. “Here you go. That will be $4.99.”
I handed her a five–dor bill, and she quickly returned my change before presenting me with the packaged book.
I smiled widely as I received it from her. “Thank
you…
“ra” she answered with a glimmer of enthusiasm.
“That’s a pretty name,” I muttered, finding myself captivated by her charm.
“Not as pretty as you,” she winked lightheartedly. I felt a warm flush creep across my cheeks at theplimenting from someone so vibrant.
“I’m Arden, by the way.” I introduced myself, extending my hand.
She took it and offered a gentle shake. “Nice to meet you, Arden. I believe this is your first time in Haven?”
“Yes, I responded, ncing around the cozy shop. “It certainly won’t be myst. If I had known there was a ce like this near the school, I would <b>have </b>visited much sooner.”
“Right?” she chuckled, a sparkle in her eyes. “I’m d I found this job too. I get to earn money for college while doing. something I love!”
“Oh, do you go to Elite, as well?” I inquired<b>, </b>curious to know <b>more </b>about her.
ra <b>quickly </b>shook her head, her expression animated. “<b>Goodness</b>, no! Aside from not meeting the academic standards required to pass, my <b>brain </b>just doesn’t function on the same level as the ordinary student there. Plus, I definitely can’t afford
“You’re selling yourself short,” I replied, <b>genuinely </b>feeling <b>that </b>way.
“I’m not,” she insisted, maintaining her radiant smile. “I’m well aware of my <b>limitations</b>. You, on the other hand, must be very start Silver Quill, huh?”
A <b>yful </b><b>warmth </b>spread through my cheeks. “It’s not that <b>special</b>, I <b>guess</b>.
“Trust me, it is,” she athimed
Clearing <b>my </b><b>throat</b>, I <b>changed </b>the topic. “So, which school do you attend?“
<b>o </b><b>work </b>
“A local college around half an hour from here<b>,</b><b>” </b><b>she </b>replied. “<b>Although </b>my <b>house </b>is quite far from this store, I <b>opted </b>to here anyway because the pay is excellent. Being situated near Elite is <b>certainly </b>a privilege”
1 nodded in agreement, as my pay from Evermore had also far exceeded a <b>typical </b>cafe wage.
Realizing I had taken up too much of her time. I bowed my head slightly in apology. “Oh, sorry! I must have rambled <b>on</b><b>.</b>”
she shook <b>her </b>head, her genuine smile still in ce. “Not <b>at </b><b>all</b>! I actually appreciate the conversation. It would be lovely to sprak <b>with </b><b>you </b>again”
Excitement <b>bubbled </b>me my chest. I hadn’t realized <b>that </b>making friends could be this easy; it had always <b>seemed </b>so difficult in the past, or perhaps that was just due to being stuck with Sienna
<b>Regardless</b>, I felt a sense of pride for <b>having </b><b>struck </b>up this conversation. “I’ll see you <b>around</b>, ra!” I called <b>out </b>enthusiastically as I started to <b>make </b><b>my </b>way to the door.
She waved her hand at me<b>, </b>her wide smile <b>making </b><b>my </b>heart flutter. “Yeah, see you, Arden!”
10:45 AM ch
Chapter 35 Haven
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As I stepped outside, the door chime echoed behind me. A smile lingered on my face as I headed back to campus.
Just <b>then</b>, as Owen had predicted, the skies began to rumble ominously. My eyes widened, and I nced up instinctively
In that very moment, the downpour began. <b>This </b>was no gentle drizzle; it was a torrential rain. I cursed quietly under my <b>breath</b>, relieved that my <b>backpack </b>was waterproof.
I ran toward campus<b>, </b>but soon discovered that the <b>bookstore </b>wasn’t as close as I <b>had </b>initially thought.
Ritter–patter. My feet sshed through small puddles that had rapidly umted on the uneven sidewalk.
Suddenly, I felt an unsettling presence looming behind me. I didn’t stop, but a gnawing feeling built at the <b>back </b>of my <b>throat</b>.
I dared not turn around, aware that someone was there, <b>I </b>could faintly hear his footsteps and smell <b>his </b>scent; however, both sensations werergely overshadowed by the strong rain drumming around me.
I began to walk faster, edging into a borderline sprint, but I could feel him closing the distance too.
Crap. Maybe I should have asked Owen to <b>wait </b>for me.
Relief washed over me when I finally spotted the campus gates in the distance; however, I must have underestimated the proximity of the stranger, because the next thing I knew. I felt his heavy body crash against my back.
My breath caught in <b>my </b>throat, and I spun <b>around</b><b>, </b>instinctively <b>swinging </b>my right fist, only to have my wrist caught in a vice–like grip.
I closed my eyes, fear gripping me, and began to breathe heavily.
“Arden, what is wrong with you?” he asked, his voice <b>familiar </b>yet startling.
I opened my eyes, <b>and </b>there he was again–Cade.