We both loved to read, but James Hayden was the only person I knew who “dated” books, as he called it. He was picky about what he liked, so he would buy a coffee in the bookstore and “test-read.” He would drink his coffee slowly, sipping only once in a while so that it would last throughout a whole chapter or so. If he was intrigued with it by the time the coffee was done, he bought the book and took it home. If he wasn’t, he concluded that it was not right book for him and it went back on the shelf.

His friends and I frequently hung out at the bookstore where he worked part-time. It was across the street from the University we attended. We would study, read, talk, or drink coffee together on the weekend and sometimes after school. They were all English majors, so books were their passion. I wasn’t, but books were my passion too…just like James.

Unfortunately, summer had come like a tidal wave, washing away the one thing that made college life happy- in spite of all the stress of exams and studying. The past spring term had been James’s last semester, after which he would be moving up to Gainesville to get his master’s degree at the University of Florida. I wanted that spring to last forever, trying to hold every detail of the moments I spent with him in my mind. The memories were already beginning to feel distant, tearing away from me in the currents of time, and James hadn’t even left yet. I had to see him again.

My friend, Jen, invited me to see a movie with her one weekend afternoon. It was some flick about girls, friendship, and pants that apparently travelled. I wasn’t interested, but I had nothing better to do, so I went with her. We got there early and it occurred to me that the theater was in the same plaza as the bookstore. I was interested in picking up the new book from a series I had been reading…not to mention, I might get to see James one last time.

“The bookstore?” Jen said, after we bought our tickets. “Kat, the movie starts in like fifteen minutes.”

“That’s plenty of time,” I said. “I won’t be long. I know exactly what I’m looking for.”

“Okay,” she resigned. “I’ll save you a seat.”

The bookstore was huge. It had two stories. Upstairs was for children and teens, while downstairs had books for adults. The number of books here was always overwhelming. There were rows and rows of shelves with books on nearly any subject.

The book I wanted was the second installment of a series I was following called “Celestial.” The books were about a young college student, Katie, who falls in love with her guardian angel, Elliott. Elliott is very kind to her, and even saves her life several times, but pretends not to be interested. He keeps sending her secret love letters and gifts, but hopes that she will think they are from someone else and move on, since relationships between humans and angels are forbidden. There is a rumor that in the new book, Elliott finally confesses to Katie how he feels.

I always imagined Elliott to look exactly like James, even though it went a little against what the author described. Elliott was tall with lovely, deep green eyes, which were often compared to emeralds. James was only about the same height I was when I wasn’t wearing heels, and his eyes were more a gentle shade of green, like jade.

The scent of coffee filled my nose as I approached the café in the center of the store. I walked up to James’s favorite spot, a table in the corner of the café area, and started looking around. The café was empty except for one worker sipping a cappuccino. He looked like he was about my age, and very familiar, though I couldn’t figure out where I’d seen him.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Excuse me,” I said, walking up to him. “I’m looking for the book series, Celestial. Do you know where I might find it?”

“I’m on break right now but…” He paused as he looked at me, then smiled warmly and added, “Yeah, I can help you with that.”

I knew him from somewhere, I thought, as I noted his features. He was moderately built. He stood about five feet and eight inches tall. He had dark curly hair and his eyes were hazel…I was sure he was familiar, but who was he?

He got up from the table, still holding his coffee and beckoned me to follow him.

“That book is really popular,” he said as we walked. “Quite a few people bought it today, so we may be sold out.”

Uh oh.

We got to a shelf in the romance section and he started scanning titles, his head slowly moving along with his index finger.

“It would be around here if anywhere…” he said. He got to the end of the shelf. “Nope, sorry.”

“Oh,” I said, frowning.

“There are a lot of other good books, some even by the same author,” he said. “If you go to the computer here, you could even go to the store’s web site and look up what books are recommended for Celestial fans.”

“No…It’s alright. I really had my heart set on that book. I’ll just wait till it’s in stock.”

“Okay,” he said, his eyes dropping to the floor for a moment. He looked up again. “Uh…I know we never formally introduced, but I’m Zachariel. You can call me Zach, if you like.” I guess I looked kind of confused, because he added, “We had Chemistry Lab two semesters ago.”

That’s where I knew him from! He was the guy who sat next to me in Chem. He often helped me with my lab assignments. I was really bad at chemistry and, just my luck, so was my lab partner. Chemistry came naturally to Zach, though. He explained it even better than the teacher did.

“Oh…yeah, I remember you.” I said, smiling. “It’s nice to meet you, Zach. I’m Katerie, but my friends call me ‘Kat.’”

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you too, Kat.” He glanced at his watch. “Um…my break is ending…so, I’m going to have to go back to work, but I’d really like to hang out some time, if that’s okay with you. Like maybe grab a cup of coffee or something?”

I wasn’t expecting that. I hadn’t noticed it much before, but it dawned on me that he was really attractive, and he seemed like a nice guy. James was a nice guy too, though. He was the sweetest most angelic person on the face of the planet, but I had known James for three years and he never seemed interested in being more than friends. Still, he could come around someday. It could happen, and if it did, I wanted to be available for him. Not to mention, would Zach really be happy going out with me if he knew I had feelings for someone else?

“Oh…I,” I began. “I…”

“It doesn’t have to be coffee. We could do something nicer if you want,” he added. “Like go to Mizner Park or something. There’s a theater and lots of restaurants.”

“I’m sorry…I’m kind of interested in someone else. Sorry.”

“Oh, don’t sweat it. It’s okay.” He sounded casual, but for a second, he looked very disappointed. Then, he gave me a polite but weak smile.

“Well,” he said. “I have to go back to the cash registers. It was nice seeing you, Kat.”

“Bye, Zach.”

He walked away. I wondered if I had just made a mistake, but when I remembered the last time I saw James, I was sure I hadn’t. We were in the breezeway on the last day of school. He hugged me and said he would miss me.

I’d always remember that moment.

The movie was starting in a little less than five minutes. I walked out of the bookstore and began making my way toward the theater. On the way, I passed a couple standing in the ticket line.

“Two tickets to Moonlight,” said a voice that was all too familiar.

I took a good look at them and spotted James, his fingers laced with those of a small, dark haired girl beside him.

“This is so nice,” she said as they received their tickets. “I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon.”

“Don’t worry,” he said as they walked past me. “We’ll keep in touch. I promise.” He kissed her gently on the cheek.

“You’re just in time, the movie’s about to start,” Jen said when I sat down next to her. “Did you find what you were looking for at the bookstore?”

“No,” I answered gravely. “It wasn’t available…and it will never be.”