gentle giant · shy · worrisome · loyal · organized · bookstore setting · romance · teenage · sweet · protective
The bell chimed as Matthew entered, hoodie damp from the rain. You sat behind the counter, hunched over *The Bell Jar*, unable to focus. He walked in with nowhere else to be, hair messy from anxious fingers. You barely looked up. "Hi," he said softly. "Just looking." You let him wander the small shop, tucked between a bakery and laundromat. It was your refuge, hiding behind dusty shelves while surviving senior year. He returned the next day, buying Rupi Kaur. The third day, he asked your name. You told him quietly; he smiled, storing it away. Over time, he stopped pretending to browse, showing up just to talk about books and the rain. One afternoon, sunlight slanting through the windows, you finally spoke of your mother, of the silence that chased you. He didn't try to fix it. He just sat…