Abigail Sullivan got lost in her own world while stocking books. With her headphones on, she would drift away mentally. If anyone wanted her attention, they would have to interrupt the music or do something noticeable like waving a hand in front of her face. It could be annoying, but she was a great worker, which Wesley enjoyed silently observing from the security camera behind a locked door. Currently though, Wesley was reluctantly covering for her, filling in with the task of stocking books. He despised reading, especially the need to memorize blurbs for recommendations. However, he had impulsively chosen this job two summers ago, and now he was an assistant manager who didn't want to start over elsewhere.

  "I can't come in. My little brother is missing," Wesley mocked sarcastically. Whatever! The kid probably just discovered girls. Of course he is missing.

  "Excuse me?" a voice interrupted.

  Wesley's face reddened as he turned around to face the woman who had overheard his mocking words. Fortunately, she was a customer, and he could easily make up a story to evade any backlash. If the customer knew about the missing child but not about the book with a callous worker who only cared about himself, he could attribute it to coincidence.

  "Yes, how can I help you?" Wesley replied as if he hadn't said anything wrong.

  The girl half-smirked. "Were you talking about Abby's brother?"

  Shit, he thought.

  "What? Oh, yeah. Cody. I was just thinking he probably got a girlfriend. I used to disappear all the time when I was his age."

  "Right," she said, elongating the word. "I told Abby I'd swing by and pick up her jacket on my way to join the search party."

  "Yeah, that's cool. She probably left it hanging up in the back." Wesley awkwardly pointed his thumb towards the restricted area, creating an uncomfortable moment as he directed a non-employee into that space. In that brief moment, he contemplated the consequences if a manager happened to walk in while the girl was back there. Although, what could she do? It was just a bookstore, not a jewelry store. And the register was up front.

  “I’ll go get it.” He said after seeing her facial expression twist at his suggestion that she could go back there.

  Wesley entered the back area and spotted Abigail's jacket. It was a thin one, perfect for the current weather. He picked it up, but a mischievous thought crossed his mind, and he couldn't resist the urge. He checked her pockets. He justified it by telling himself that he was ensuring she didn't have a store key in her jacket. As he rummaged through the pockets, he found a pack of gum and slipped it into his own front pocket.

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  On his way back out, he paused and glanced at the double-sided mirror in his office. On the other side, the girl sat, unaware of his gaze. She looked familiar. Then it came to him. He had went to school with her. But she had changed a bit. What was her name?

  Her name be damned, Wesley fantasized about what he would like to do with her. The way she absentmindedly twirled a strand of her chestnut hair around her finger reminded him of a provocative adult film star he had recently watched. Her expressive eyes darted around the room, displaying a mix of anticipation for his return and boredom.

  Wesley couldn't help but smile, appreciating her artificial beauty and cheap nails amidst the cold, emotionless memory he was comparing her to. She had lost a little weight since graduation, but she still had curves in all the right places for his personal taste. He decided that he would gladly give her a tour of the back if he got the chance, regardless of the consequences with upper management.

  Wesley brushed his hand through his hair, checking his appearance in the mirror, before stepping back out.

  "Here ya go, Claire," Wesley said as he held out the jacket, openly eying Claire's body, hoping she would notice and reciprocate.

  "Oh, you remember my name now?" she remarked.

  "Why wouldn't I?" Wesley retorted. Knowing a name and using it were two different things. He had no reason to acknowledge her in front of people he wouldn't want to know that he would gladly give it to.

  "Oh, I don't know. Because you were always an asshole in school. And we never spoke."

  "Conversations go two ways," he shot back. "Besides, we didn't have many classes together, and you were..." He let the comment trail off before it could fully form something he couldn’t come back from.

  "What?" Claire asked, intrigued.

  Wesley ran his hand through his hair, purposefully messing it up, as he looked past her, searching for something to change the subject.

  "A nerd?" She smiled, half-pretending to be insulted.

  "Smart." Wesley responded rewording her question into a more flattering answer. Mentally adding Fat! Too much for him to consider dating, especially since she was also a nerd. However, now he found her attractive enough to take her out, given her weight loss.

  "Well, you were a jock, so..." Claire replied, grabbing the jacket.

  "It doesn't make me an asshole."

  "You're right. Making light of a missing kid makes you an asshole."

  Wesley rolled his eyes as he turned back to the bookshelf.

  "You giving up that easy?" Claire teased.

  Wesley glanced back at Claire, realizing she was enjoying this exchange. She raised an eyebrow and smiled as she turned around to leave.

  "Wait up!" he called out, frantically trying to prevent her from leaving. "I'm sorry. It's just..."

  The girl's lips curled into a half-smile, her eyes sparkling as she stopped.

  "Let me make it up to you."

  "How?" Claire questioned suspiciously, putting him on the spot.

  "Well..." Wesley's voice filled with intensity before the jingling sound of the small bell indicated the presence of another customer. Wesley quickly composed himself, offering a friendly smile, ready to assist the new arrival. "Hold on! Don't leave! Please!"

  "No promises. You have two minutes," Claire said, rolling her eyes.