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ββββββββββββββββββββββββγβ΄ villager | location; bookstore | tags; olive γββββββββββββββββββββββββ
ββββββββββββββββββββββββγβ΄ villager | location; bookstore | tags; olive γββββββββββββββββββββββββ
- It was a gorgeous day out, and while it was practically calling Tate to come out and visit, he had found himself stuck in the house all day. The only time he managed to squeeze out was to drop off one of his younger sisters at a friendβs house, but given that she was a neighbour, it was no more than a thirty-second walk. His eyes stared longingly out the window, watching as the nearby trees ruffled out their leaves with the wind. It was unusually quiet in the Ricci household at that given time, and Tate knew that if he didnβt slip away now, it would be another few days before he awarded himself the freedom he felt he was worthy of.
In another room, his motherβs frantic voice rang out, Italian words fumbling over one another as she rattled on about endless chores to do, and how little time she had for them all. She was always finding a way to keep busy, but that never stopped her from complaining about it. Tate was convinced the reason she had so many children was to either help out or give her more things to do.
βItβs fine, mamma,β Tate chuckled, straightening up from slipping on his shoes. βIβll be back to make dinner.β He didnβt wait another second for her to respond, knowing all-too-well that her chatter would be the reason heβd get held back another few minutes. He didnβt have anywhere in particular to go to, and he wasnβt running on a certain timed schedule, but he was dying to get out of the house. He was relieved when she didnβt answer.
Quietly closing the door behind him, Tate departed from the house, allowing himself to breathe in the fresh fall air. Quiet murmurs struck out around him, like a comforting border, as he wandered down one of the sidewalks. He shifted his tote bag from one shoulder to the other, as if its little weight was agitating, then carried about, neither increasing nor slowing his pace down. He didnβt have a destination in mind; casual strolls like this allowed him to breathe and clear his mind.
Eventually, though, he turned and headed into the little bookstore on the corner of the road, mostly to see if his newest friend Olive was working a shift. It was a bad routine to get into, he knew it well, but that didnβt stop him. Besides, it seemed as though every time he entered, the store was dead. It always made him frown a little, although he supposed he was trying hard to stay in total denial when it came to the oh-so-controversial topic on books, and how so many people his age disregarded them nowadays. They weren't ancient old and untouched, but even Olive had said before that she had more adult customers than teenagers.
On the topic of Olive, he was quick to spot the blonde, all by her lonesome at the check-out counter. Even from afar, Tate was able to catch the bored expression that was written across her face. βHey,β he greeted, a smile immediately brightening his features as he made his way over to her. βYou look veryβ¦ busy.β