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Central International Airport This choice: Jessica sleeps through her wake-up call • Go Back...Chapter #5Judging Books by: Odin Wulfe Jessica wakes up and looks over at the clockface, which is reading about half past four in the afternoon.
"I only slept a few hours? I...I dont even feel like it. I felt as if I could have slept for days!" she mumbled to herself, throwing the covers off and sitting up. A few glances around the room prove there isn't much excitement to be found locked up in a hotel room so she decides to go wander around the local area to pass some more time. As she leaves the hotel, she takes her phone out of her pocket to check the time again. She stops dead in her tracks. The date on the small LCD display is showing the 17th of May. A moment's thinking and she strictly recalls it saying the 16th before she fell asleep.
"Dammit" is the only word that pops to her mind. Tears try to push themselves out, but she fights them back and makes quite the decision. Her flight to return home should be leaving this airport in about a week. Paris would be nice, yes, but why not try something else? Who knows what adventures London could bring, and as long as she gets to the airport when she's supposed to go home, all is good!
A little more cheerful now, Jessica walks out the door and the instant she gets onto the sidewalk, a young man about her age runs into her. They both drop a book, but who's is who's?! They were carrying the same book, but fortunately they both had inscribed their name on the inside cover.
The stranger brushes his long red hair out of his eyes, revealing a small smirk and a handsome face. His deep green eyes look like they could see into the soul even with just a glance. He picks up both of the books and looks inside the cover, handing one over.
"Wait...you handed me the wrong book! This isn't my name!" Jessica says a little nervously. This was her favorite book, after all! A smile beams from the stranger as he speaks in a light Scottish accent.
"Well, its not a common book, ya know? I figure if chances bring two readers together, you should trade books! Its like buyin' a pair of shoes from a bargain store, or an old peice o' jewelery. You get to use your imagination and create your own past for it..." he says cheerfully, "And ours both seem a bit beaten from time. But, who could like a perfect book anyway? I never liked a book that didn't look like it had been read quite a few times."
Jessica's heart stops. Its almost as if he was speaking what she had taught herself her whole life. After a quick blush looking down at the condition of the books, she finally lets out a smile.
"I guess you're right...I'm a little the same way. I've just never traded a book with anyone. I've done it with almost anything else...but not a book."
"Well, this just goes t'show there's a first time fer everything. Well, I better be on me way. By the way you were comin' out that door, looks like you've got a place ta be as well. It was nice running inta ya, Jessica, and who knows...maybe we'll run inta each other again!"
She looks down at her book as the stranger begins to walk off down the street, watching him flip through the pages of her book.
"How did you know my name?" She shouts after him, not realizing the obvious.
"Its in the front of your book!" he calls back, stopping to turn around first. He then heads back on his way. | Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
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