I have not smiled this much in years; school was boring as usual. And I pass by Cathy every day, I miss her, but I know she was not a good friend to me, and I had to understand that. Though, people make mistakes, and if we were perfect then this world will not be a world no more. She smiles at me here and there, and I smile back because I have so much love for her.

However, a smile is not going to take back everything she said to me that night.

I look up as the library door buzzes open, and a smile spreads across my face as Ares enters with Joey. I close my sketchbook and look up at them both again; Joey pinches Ares' cheeks before approaching me. "Did you bring it with you?" Joey nods as Ares leans against the counter.

"Did you bring it?" He questions.

"Of course." I whisper.

"On the count of three then...one...two...three!" He settles my pomegranate seeds on the counter as I settle him a book to read for the week. He picks it up and groans, "another romance Jones? I already have a wife."

"And as usual, you said that about every single book!" He rolls his eyes; I point to his shelving unit.

"You have a point there, this better be good! Otherwise, no pomegranate seeds for a year!" I laugh and watch him make his way to his secret couch. I feel fingers brush a strand of my hair behind my ear, my head shifts to the direction of the Greek God.

"How longs your shift?"

"Oh, I finish in one hour, finally, I'm too tired. I have not slept all night." I settle back down onto the chair; he makes his way around. "You're breaking the rules...you're not supposed to be behind the counter." He drags a chair and flops it besides me, I rose a brow and he settles down. He brings my head against his chest, allowing me to hear his soft heartbeat.

"I thought you'd know; rules aren't my best friends..." I chuckle and relax my shoulders, thankfully i was the only employee working on the night shift, except for Narnia who is stocking books.

"As much as I would love to be in your arms, I have to stock the books into the right places." I push him away from me and stand up to push the trolley full of books. I pick up the canner and begin scanning the codes and putting it all in the right places. I take a glimpse at joey to see tears falling down his eyes.

I knew it.

Sad sober.

"What happened to the book being rubbish?" I lean over his chair; he slaps the book shut and flared back at me.

"Do you want pomegranate seeds next week?" I give him a side eyes, this cheeky man.

"I can just buy them at the store, Joey."

"You know you like it fresh, now shush and go back to that creature." He nods away with his head; I turn back to see Ares on a phone call. His back facing to me, his shoulder wide and broad.

"Alright, I'll leave you to your crying session Joey." I squeeze his shoulders, making my way back to the trolley of books. The barcode, black and White.

I could feel him standing behind me, I turn my head and see him staring at me. "I like that book, it's one of my favourites." I whisper, to stir up a conversation. "He's reading page 121." I guess.

"And how do you know that?"

"Because he's crying. It's the moment he confesses his love to her; Passion is the reason I rose from the flame when my world was ash. For in that passion was love, determination and grit. It got me up and kept me alive. You kept me alive." I put the last books back into the trolley, one in my hand as I flick through the pages.

"I want to take you somewhere; can you take an early leave?" I look back and see Narnia giving me a sneaky eye. Then she makes her way up to me.

"Who is this handsome man?"

"Her boyfriend." He answers for me, my eyes jolt out of my sockets.

"A friend, a really annoying friend." His brows furrow, normally I would have shied away. But Ares brings out a part of me I never really knew I had, a part where I'm not afraid to speak or cause any sort of trouble and for some reason, I liked it.

"Well, how long have you been together?"

"We just met-"

"Two years." I glare at him, what is he doing?

"Anyways, I'm closing so you can leave early, say thirty minutes?"

"Sure." I smile.

Once she leaves, I settle down onto the desk chair. "Ares, what? I'm not even bothered, I'm so tired." I groan, he settles down onto the chair, he brings my head to his chest. "Go to sleep, I'll make sure no old people come to rob books." I laugh and bring his arms to wrap around my shoulders.

"Okay...but just for a minute."

"Whatever you say princess." I close my eyes and the sleep creeps up onto my lids.

She snores vociferously. She snores while sleeping; she told me to wake her up in one minute, but we both knew that was impossible.

I stroke her hair behind her ear as her head slowly falls onto my lap; she was a heavy sleeper who would fall asleep on trains or buses and miss her stop. She'd then call me to come get her because it was too late for her to walk alone.

I know it's selfish of me to do this. I know. I'm not stupid. When she finds out, I hope she'd forgive me. But that is something for another day, now, I need her to remember me. I graze the softness of her hair and stroke her cheeks as I slip out one of the letters she wrote.

Dear Nico,

Make sure to buy me pomegranates for when you come back from Italy and take me loads of pictures. I want to see everything, almost as if I'm there. And... I miss you, don't put too much strain on yourself and if you get tired make sure to sleep and if you get hungry make sure to eat. I miss you...I love you.

Your one and only, Angelos.

It's weird how the person who wrote me this, is sleeping on my lap and does not even remember who I am. Joey settles the book onto the counter and gives me a small smile, "I miss her too." He whispers.

Joey was the one who introduced us to each other, the first day we met was in this library. A very funny story. He came looking for a book and she suggested Pride and Prejudice to him, and Joey hated every romance book but ended up loving the ones she suggested.

"She-I wasted two years. She could have remembered by now."

"There is no such thing as time being wasted, you have the time now and she is slowly easing up to you. Don't forget about the first time you met, she hated you and as did you. Enemies to lovers, hmm, she needs to give me a book like that."

"Do you think I'm being selfish?" I ask.

"Yes, I do. I do think you are being selfish, but...you're doing it from a good place in your heart. You're showing her who she really is. Don't give up on her..." Joey turns around and makes his way out, I shake her shoulders. She groans and throws an arm in the air to get me to stop, I continue shaking her before she slowly sits up. Blinking in the lights.

"Come on, I have somewhere to show you."

Winter sunset danced across the sky like God's holy fire to the beat of a warm Latin song. Even though the land was a shiver of white and the stars seemed further away in the cold of winter, sunsets came in the kind of oranges that warm the eyes and soul.

As the sun set in the sky, new colours brushed across an artist's canvas, as if those rays were destined to create a great work of art - one given to those willing to capture simple moments in the soul.

"How did we meet?" She asks me, we were settles on the Manhattan Bridge, our legs swinging out above the water.

"Joey was forcing me to see the area after I moved in from Seattle. He made me go to the library for some reason, which I did. I went to look at it, skimming through books until my gaze was drawn to yours. You were scanning and shoving the books inside the corner. Joey introduced us.... you were so innocent...never said anything to me. Not a single one. And I didn't like it because I was used to getting all the attention from women, but you were so different."

She leans her head onto my shoulder.

"I came to the library every Saturday with Joey in hopes to see you, in hopes to get one word in. But you never said a thing, I didn't even know how you sounded like. Then, you were closing and walking home alone..."

Stupid fucking work, I take a seat in the alley. I take a packet of cigarettes, grab my lighter, and light the end of it. Before a pair of heels clacking against the concrete floors, I gently press it to my lips. When I look to the side, my gaze is drawn to a pair of dark browns. She appears to be familiar. It's all too familiar.

Alexandra Jones.

I hate her.

She thinks she's too important to even acknowledge me.

Bitch.

I ignore her stares at me, and smoke away the stress.

"Hey!" Is she addressing me? When I look up and see her fighting over her bag, I think I should intervene. I could get up and assist her, but I don't want to appear misogynist, and I'm just not in the mood.

I watch her fight over her bag, and the moment he pushes her against the wall, I stand up. I grab him by the collar and slam him into the walls of the alley. I rip the bag from his grasp and throw it to the ground in front of Jones. His eyes widen the minute he sees my face.

"Touch her again and I'll fucking kill you." I whisper, throwing him to the ground.

"S-S-Sorry Diávolos..."He stutters on his words before stumbling down the alley. I turn back to see Jones standing up, her hands shaking.

Fear?

I take the cigarette out from my mouth and walk back to the wooden chair, taking a seat. "Took you long enough." She mumbles.

The first words she's ever said to me.

"Normally people say, 'thank you'. It's called having basic fucking manners, Jones." I throw the cigarette into the drain, knowing I have to close the shop any minute now.

I'm not going to lie, she's absolutely beautiful. In those brown eyes was the warmth of an everlasting hearth, as if they were the wood that could burn with golden flame yet be forever perfectly entire, her curly, dark brown hair tied up into a high bun. Messy. She has small lips, but it suited her strong features.

"Sorry, that was a bit rude. Thank you Nicolaides." Surname? Her voice was nothing like I imagined. Soft and tender. She held her bag tightly, I hated her. I really did. I thought she had a nasty character, but the moment her eyes touched mine. Everything in the world shifted.

She's different.

I like different.

"You owe me one Jones."

"And what do I owe you?"

"A kiss."

"I owed you a kiss. Did I kiss you?"

"No, you were a strong Catholic. But you were hard to get. I liked challenges. Loved it. And you were a challenge Jones, you were worth the hard work."

"You hated me?" She points out.

"I thought you were egoistic."

"Talk about yourself." She jokes, a small laugh coming from her lips.

With that laugh, I fell in love all over again. She faces me, her eyes trailing down to my lips. I push her hair behind her shoulders, and bring her face closer to mine. Her nose brushes mine, her breath lingers on my lips.

I press my lips onto hers, she moans softly as I bite onto her lower lip, forcing her to open her mouth for me. She deepens our kiss.

Remember me Angelos. Remember me before it's too late...