Augustia

[GGJ5]

Augustia Books is a locally run, independent bookstore that is very involved in the literary community. Authors will come here to read their books to fans, sign autographs, give talks... Poets will come here to recite their work... Creative writing workshops and huge book release parties are regularly held in the quaint shop. Though the shop has the classics and the popular reads, its predominant goal is to cater to the independent authors, much like the local music scene caters well to the indie bands.

The inside of the store is all covered in a pale wood, the floors and shelves built of identical trees. It is a very organized and neat shop, but at the same time very warm and inviting, with soft lights and a large bay window toward the back. The walls are a deep green marble, making it seem very elegant, though it is run completely locally by the Boudreaux family-- new grandparents Paula and Louis, and their son and daughter-in-law Erik and Latonya. Erik takes after his mother and is a bit too much like the stereotypical school librarian when it comes to his job, though luckily his wife and father balance that pair out nicely.

Just don't spill coffee on the merchandise.

(The Boudreauxs are NPCs and just for the record their name is pronounced BOO-droe.)

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie had managed to drag Shelby away from her lair for the day by promising to buy her some manga at her favorite bookstore, although it hadn't come without a fight. In the end she had had to practically beg Shelby to come down from her tower (AKA bedroom) and rejoin the rest of society. She shook her head as Shelby brushed past her though the doors of Augustia, noting how pale her sister looked after so many weeks of being shut off from the world. Her hands were shoved deep into the pockets of her deep purple sweatshirt, her T-shirt visible where the hoodie wasn't zipped up. Her headphones never left Shelby's ears these days, and Cassie could see that she had even brought along her Alphonse Elric plushie with her, as if Cassie wouldn't realize it. Cassie sighed and followed her inside.

Hiding herself up in her room with only fictional characters for company...this is getting scary, Shelby. I miss the old you. I really, really do...I shouldn't be allowed to worry this much. Erin then Shelby then Erin again...

An older woman behind the counter looked up as they came in and grinned. "Well, hey there, Shelby!" she said happily. "I haven't seen you in a while. How've you been? Is this your sister?" She turned her smile on Cassie, who tried to return it through her worry.

Shelby didn't even answer her, walking straight past the counter and over to the manga as if she hadn't even heard the woman. Cassie gaped at her, wondering how Shelby could be so rude. The lady looked as surprised as she did. God, Shelby...

"Um...sorry about that...it's been..." Cassie sighed, twisting a lock of her hair around her finger. "Sorry. Don't mind her."

The woman behind the counter started to busy herself at the computer, an almost disdainful look coming over her face. She didn't say anything to Cassie, and after a minute Cassie walked away, shaking her head. Hey, lady, it's not my fault my sister's a hermit...

She tried to get Shelby's attention, but her sister was absorbed in looking at her manga. Cassie sighed. You know what, sis? Fine. Be that way. See if I care. I'm done.

She made her way over to the young adult books section, her eyes skimming titles but not really taking any of them in. She spotted a book with a bright green cover, and she took it off the shelf to glance at it. 'The Truth About Forever'...meh. No thanks.

[GGJ5]

Trent Fisher

Well, the swelling was mostly gone, but it had left behind a smashing bruise that crossed the bridge of his nose to under one of his eyes, and he was pretty sure that that bump in his nose hadn't been there before. Why hadn't he knocked him one when he had the chance? Because it probably wouldn't have stopped there, and I would have gotten kicked out... not that I stayed much longer after that, anyway. Blood dripping from your nose is apparently a deterrent...

Trent distractedly glanced at the cover pages of the cheaper paperbacks in Augustia, having neglected to get a present for his sister's birthday until the very day of. Luckily, she was always pretty pleased with a book, but it was a matter of remembering which ones she had, which ones she hated, and which ones weren't 25 dollars or more. He felt kind of lame and conspicuous standing in front of all those girl-type books, but that's what his sister liked, so there he stood, hands in his pockets, bruise on his face, and headache from the moment he woke up, next to the red-headed chick that always hung around Erin Spenser. He'd seen her in the audience of their shows, and around school. She wasn't far behind him in school, either. Cassie. Great, now it looks to her like I read-- he glanced at a lime green cover with-was that a Barbie Doll on it?- It looks like I read 'Pretty Little Liars' or something. He was tempted to pull the flyleaf out of a book and write "I'm shopping for my sister's birthday" in bold marker and pin it to his back, but he was pretty sure that'd get him kicked out faster than any punches thrown in a club would. Should've just picked a gift card...

He looked over at Cassie, wondering if she knew of her friend's little escapade the other night, and if Trent had been painted to be the bad guy. But she was pretty out of it... Maybe she didn't remember, he thought. "Hey," he voiced to get Cassie's attention. "My sister's into this kind of stuff," he explained, gesturing vaguely to the stacks of novels before him. "And I'm looking for something for her... can I pick your brain for a sec?" Trent finished, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie set the sappy Sarah Dessen book back on the shelf and kept browsing, her eyes skimming over the Clique series, the Twilight books, and something called Dead is the New Black. She sighed in annoyance, glancing over to check on Shelby, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor and flipping through one of her books. A rather sizable pile of five or six more lay beside her. If she thinks I'm getting her all those...but if it'll make her feel better...

"Hey," said a voice next to her. Cassie turned to see a blonde guy standing next to her, a guy she recognized as being a member of Erin's band. She smiled a bit as she tried to remember his name. It's like...something with one syllable...kinda boring...or maybe that's the other guy? The one whose name starts with a J? Who are you, Monosyllable or J-man?

"Hi," said Cassie. "My sister's into this kind of stuff," said the guy, indicating the bookshelves, "And I'm looking for something for her... can I pick your brain for a sec?"

Cassie nodded, looking back over at the books again. To be perfectly honest, reading had never really been her thing--it was much more Shelby's forte than hers, even if Shelby seemed to prefer comic books from Japan these days. What bugged Cassie the most about books was not being able to really see what was happening. At least with a movie or TV, you got the full picture...you could actually see what was going on instead of relying on someone else's description of it. She knew that some people, like Shelby, were able to visualize what they read in their minds, forming a picture out of words, but Cassie had never been able to do that herself.

"Uh..." she said, trying to remember what Shelby herself liked to read. "Um, if she likes fantasy, there's...what's her name...Tamora Pierce?" she said, pointing. "Or...there's this series about these wild cats, my sister likes those...Warriors or something?" She skimmed over the shelf one last time, her eyes finally falling on something that looked promising. She plucked My Sister's Keeper from the shelf and showed it to Blonde Guy. "I've heard this one's really good too...they're making it into a movie soon, with the girl from Little Miss Sunshine."

"I'm Cassie," she said after a pause. "And I know you're in Veritas, with Erin, but I can't remember your name, sorry..."

[GGJ5]

Trent Fisher

"Hey," Trent voiced, and Cassie turned.

"Hi." He gave a small smile at her short response. "My sister's into this kind of stuff," he explained, indicating the bookshelves, "And I'm looking for something for her... can I pick your brain for a sec?"

Cassie nodded and reenacted his own browsing of the glossy title pages. "Uh... Um, if she likes fantasy, there's...what's her name...Tamora Pierce?" she suggested, pointing-- He bit the inside of his cheek thoughtfully: had he ever seen his sister pick up a fantasy book? She never even watched Lord of the Rings when it came on TV. "Maybe," he mumbled, pulling one off the shelf and flipping it to the back.

"Or...there's this series about these wild cats, my sister likes those...Warriors or something?" He nodded shortly. "Yeah, I remember hearing about that one..." He laughed a little. "Actually, a lot. I think she has a bunch of those, and I can't remember which ones if I tried... I tried to read them, too. Definitely not my thing."

Cassie pulled another off the shelf and showed it to Trent, who took it and, again, flipped to the back, scanning the summary quickly. This could work, he thought, and looked over to Cassie as she told him, "I've heard this one's really good too...they're making it into a movie soon, with the girl from Little Miss Sunshine."

He smiled, interested now to know that she had watched at least one indie film. "You ever seen any other indie films, or just that one? By the way," he added, gesturing the book, "I think she'd like this one. It's better than a lame gift card, anyway. Thanks for the input--"

"I'm Cassie," she added, and he grinned. "I remember. You're Erin's artsy friend."

"And I know you're in Veritas, with Erin, but I can't remember your name, sorry..."

Trent acted as if her words had been a physical blow to his stomach, adding, "Ouch, that hurt! There's only three to remember, and I've seen you at the shows and everything, and you can't remember one short, five-letter name?" He dropped the act with a subdued laugh. "Nah, it's fine, I only remembered yours 'cause of Erin, anyway... I'm Trent."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

The guy seemed happy with the Jodi Picoult book Cassie had picked out. "You ever seen any other indie films, or just that one?" Cassie laughed. "Definitely not. I'm such a movie person, really--give me anything and I'll watch it. But yeah, indie films...Little Miss Sunshine is probably my favorite--Steve Carell is a comedic genius, second maybe to only, like, Stephen Colbert--but I've seen others. Monty Python, Pulp Fiction...Blair Witch Project...I heard that even To Kill a Mockingbird was technically an indie film." She shrugged. "Oh, and Juno, can't forget Juno."

"By the way, I think she'd like this one. It's better than a lame gift card, anyway. Thanks for the input--"

"No problem," Cassie said. "I'm Cassie." This brought a smile to his face. "I remember. You're Erin's artsy friend."

She laughed. "I had no idea I was so famous. And I know you're in Veritas, with Erin, but I can't remember your name, sorry..."

With an exaggerated air, he acted as if Cassie's words has caused him physical pain. "Ouch, that hurt! There's only three to remember, and I've seen you at the shows and everything, and you can't remember one short, five-letter name?"[/b] Cassie laughed. "Not really, sorry. I can't remember the other guy's name either, if it makes you feel any better."

"Nah, it's fine, I only remembered yours 'cause of Erin, anyway... I'm Trent."

Trent? Trent? That's Trent?!

Immediately Cassie's eyes narrowed, her mind flashing back to what Erin had told her after the incident the other night. Trent...the jerk who got Erin drunk. Fantastic.

"Ah, yes. Trent. I know all about you..." Her eyes flickered up to the nasty bruise on his face, which she hadn't really noticed before. "Well. I was going to give you a piece of my mind, but I think Yukito's already taken care of that..."

[GGJ5]

Trent Fisher

"You ever seen any other indie films, or just that one?" he asked, and Cassie laughed.

"Definitely not. I'm such a movie person, really--give me anything and I'll watch it. But yeah, indie films...Little Miss Sunshine is probably my favorite--Steve Carell is a comedic genius, second maybe to only, like, Stephen Colbert--but I've seen others. Monty Python, Pulp Fiction...Blair Witch Project...I heard that even To Kill a Mockingbird was technically an indie film." She shrugged. "Oh, and Juno, can't forget Juno."

He laughed, and shook his head. "Juno's such a poser indie film. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like it, too... it's just... gives people the mindset of 'Oh, I saw Juno and it's an indie film, I'm really underground now'. But yeah, it's fine, because you put Colbert as your number one comedic genius, which pretty much makes up for anything. Have you read I am America and So Can You? It's freaking gold. I would've totally supported him for president if he'd've actually gotten to run. It'd be the best Inaugural Address ever.

"By the way," he said, gesturing with the book, "I think she'd like this one. It's better than a lame gift card, anyway. Thanks for the input--"

"No problem," Cassie said. "I'm Cassie." This brought a smile to his face. "I remember. You're Erin's artsy friend."

She laughed. "I had no idea I was so famous. And I know you're in Veritas, with Erin, but I can't remember your name, sorry..."

With an exaggerated air, he acted as if Cassie's words has caused him physical pain. "Ouch, that hurt! There's only three to remember, and I've seen you at the shows and everything, and you can't remember one short, five-letter name?"

Cassie laughed. "Not really, sorry. I can't remember the other guy's name either, if it makes you feel any better."

"Nah, it's fine," he said, breaking character. "I only remembered yours 'cause of Erin, anyway... I'm Trent."

Immediately he got a glare from her, and any points he might have scored with her flew out the window, he knew. Because Erin probably told her it was his "fault" that she had zero sense of moderation. It not like he was forcing her to have a little fun, to smile again, to leave her worries at the door for just a little while. It's not like it hurt anyone. "Ah, yes. Trent. I know all about you... Well. I was going to give you a piece of my mind, but I think Yukito's already taken care of that..."

"What, you mean this?" Trent asked, feeling sardonic, as he gestured to his face. "No, that's just the result of an overprotective twat that doesn't know how to let go. So now I'm wondering, what 'all' do you think you know about me? I think you had an unreliable source..." He folded his arms, waiting.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"What, you mean this?" said Trent, his voice filled with scorn. Cassie nodded, trying to maintain her cool stare, but even she couldn't help wincing at the shiner Trent was sporting. God, Yukito, what did you do to him? Holy crap...

"No, that's just the result of an overprotective twat that doesn't know how to let go."

Cassie's glare intensified, and she stared him down. "'Overprotective?' Overprotective? He practically saved her life, in case you didn't notice. God knows what would have happened if he hadn't shown up."

Trent crossed his arms over his chest. "So now I'm wondering, what 'all' do you think you know about me? I think you had an unreliable source..."

What a complete jerk! I would have punched him too, if I'd been there.

"My 'source' happens to be Erin herself, thank you very much. What she told me was that you took her out to that place on Bourbon that doesn't check IDs. Sound familiar? Hmm, what did Erin tell me you said? Oh, yeah, you'd take her out to 'have a little fun.' That she 'wouldn't have to worry about him.'" She used air quotes for emphasis. "Then, you proceeded to get her drunk. Very drunk. She called Yukito, and then she called me...still drunk, I might add...and then when Yukito finally got there, you were hitting on her and you said some things...I didn't get all the details. And then that--" she pointed to his nose--"happened. Sound familiar?"

She put her hands on her hips. "Now, I suppose this is the part when you say that none of it was your fault, and that you only wanted to help Erin, and you didn't mean anything by it, right?"

[GGJ5]

Trent Fisher

"What, you mean this?" said Trent, and Cassie nodded. "No, that's just the result of an overprotective twat that doesn't know how to let go."

Cassie's bitter glare intensified, and she gawked at him, "'Overprotective?' Overprotective? He practically saved her life, in case you didn't notice. God knows what would have happened if he hadn't shown up."

"What are you talking about? Nothing was gonna happen to her, I was right there!" Trent folded his arms, realizing he was digging into a hole, but he wanted to make a few things clear. "So now I'm wondering, what 'all' do you think you know about me? I think you had an unreliable source..."

"My 'source' happens to be Erin herself, thank you very much. What she told me was that you took her out to that place on Bourbon that doesn't check IDs. Sound familiar? Hmm, what did Erin tell me you said? Oh, yeah, you'd take her out to 'have a little fun.' That she 'wouldn't have to worry about him.'" Trent opened his mouth to object, but she continued fervently, "Then, you proceeded to get her drunk. Very drunk. She called Yukito, and then she called me...still drunk, I might add...and then when Yukito finally got there, you were hitting on her and you said some things...I didn't get all the details. And then that--" she pointed to his nose--"happened. Sound familiar?"

A scowl on his face from the bombardment of accusations, Trent fired back, "Are you sure your 'source' wasn't wasted when she told you all that? Because I didn't make her do anything. It's not my fault she gets a buzz from just looking at a drink--"

She put her hands on her hips. "Now, I suppose this is the part when you say that none of it was your fault, and that you only wanted to help Erin, and you didn't mean anything by it, right?"

"And if I told you that was the truth, you'd never believe me, so why even try? You're so sure she knows exactly what she's talking about, huh? When you weren't even there, and you're trusting someone who you yourself said was drunk when all that happened, and you don't think that what I have to say might, just might be a bit more valid? I saw she was getting a little too drunk, so I tried to get her to at least eat something since I could tell she hadn't been eating enough anyway, but no, she didn't want anything, and what was I gonna do, force it into her? I didn't make her drunk, she did that all on her own, and it's not like it hurt anyone, so just calm down.

"And I didn't do anything wrong to her, so I don't know why you and Yukito are both being so defensive about it. It's not like she's married, and she could have told me to leave her alone if she wanted, and I would have. But she was smiling for the first time in weeks, and I couldn't just ignore her. Nothing was happening and you and her boyfriend are both just overreacting about it all, all right? I didn't do anything, so don't treat me like the bad guy here."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Are you sure your 'source' wasn't wasted when she told you all that?" Trent asked angrily, his face a grimace. Because I didn't make her do anything. It's not my fault she gets a buzz from just looking at a drink--"

"She shouldn't have been drinking at all!" Cassie cried. "She shouldn't have even been there! I don't care if you were trying to do her a favor by getting her out of the house or whatever you were doing, you should have known better than to take her to freaking Bourbon Street where they don't even check for IDs!" Hands on her hips, she continued, "Now, I suppose this is the part when you say that none of it was your fault, and that you only wanted to help Erin, and you didn't mean anything by it, right?"

Trent scowled at her again. "And if I told you that was the truth, you'd never believe me, so why even try?" Cassie raised one eyebrow. Maybe. Maybe not. But I notice you're not really jumping to defend yourself. If you really thought you weren't in the wrong here, you would be. "You're so sure she knows exactly what she's talking about, huh? When you weren't even there, and you're trusting someone who you yourself said was drunk when all that happened, and you don't think that what I have to say might, just might be a bit more valid?"

Cassie rolled her eyes. "You keep saying I'm not listening. Well, you're not talking."

"I saw she was getting a little too drunk, so I tried to get her to at least eat something since I could tell she hadn't been eating enough anyway, but no, she didn't want anything, and what was I gonna do, force it into her? I didn't make her drunk, she did that all on her own, and it's not like it hurt anyone, so just calm down."

Cassie put a look of mock sympathy on her face. "Oh, you tried to get her to eat something? That changes everything! You really were looking out for her. What a knight in shining armor. You deserve a medal."

"And I didn't do anything wrong to her, so I don't know why you and Yukito are both being so defensive about it. It's not like she's married, and she could have told me to leave her alone if she wanted, and I would have. But she was smiling for the first time in weeks, and I couldn't just ignore her."

Cassie hated to admit it, but she could almost see Trent's point when he told her that Erin had actually been happy. Sure, he screwed up majorly, but it seemed that he had succeeded in doing what Cassie had failed to do--make Erin forget her problems and just smile, just for an hour or two.

"Nothing was happening and you and her boyfriend are both just overreacting about it all, all right? I didn't do anything, so don't treat me like the bad guy here."

"Why shouldn't I? No matter what your intentions were, it doesn't change the fact that Erin got hopelessly drunk and something could have gone very wrong if Yukito hadn't taken her home. You took her out--you had responsibility. You didn't have to go out boozing, you know. There were plenty of other ways you could have tried to cheer her up. You chose to go there, didn't you? What happened to Erin is on you head, whichever way you slice it. You should be thankful that 'nothing happened', like you said."

[GGJ5]

Trent Fisher

"Are you sure your 'source' wasn't wasted when she told you all that?" Trent asked sharply. "Because I didn't make her do anything. It's not my fault she gets a buzz from just looking at a drink--"

"She shouldn't have been drinking at all!" Cassie cried, and he wished she would quit talking so loud about it all-- sure, there weren't that many people inside, but did she have to share their business with all of them? "She shouldn't have even been there! I don't care if you were trying to do her a favor by getting her out of the house or whatever you were doing, you should have known better than to take her to freaking Bourbon Street where they don't even check for IDs!" Hands on her hips, she continued, "Now, I suppose this is the part when you say that none of it was your fault, and that you only wanted to help Erin, and you didn't mean anything by it, right?"

"And if I told you that was the truth, you'd never believe me, so why even try? You're so sure she knows exactly what she's talking about, huh? When you weren't even there, and you're trusting someone who you yourself said was drunk when all that happened, and you don't think that what I have to say might, just might be a bit more valid?"

Cassie rolled her eyes, a gesture that grated him just a bit more right now than it normally would. "You keep saying I'm not listening. Well, you're not talking."

Trent sighed, exasperated from Cassie's adamant insistence against him. "I saw she was getting a little too drunk, so I tried to get her to at least eat something since I could tell she hadn't been eating enough anyway, but no, she didn't want anything, and what was I gonna do, force it into her? I didn't make her drunk, she did that all on her own, and it's not like it hurt anyone, so just calm down."

Dripping with sarcasm, Cassie retorted, "Oh, you tried to get her to eat something? That changes everything! You really were looking out for her. What a knight in shining armor. You deserve a medal."

Ignoring the jab, Trent pressed on, "And I didn't do anything wrong to her, so I don't know why you and Yukito are both being so defensive about it. It's not like she's married, and she could have told me to leave her alone if she wanted, and I would have. But she was smiling for the first time in weeks, and I couldn't just ignore her." It's something none of you were able to do. And now you're putting me on trial for it? Because that makes perfect sense. "Nothing was happening and you and her boyfriend are both just overreacting about it all, all right? I didn't do anything, so don't treat me like the bad guy here."

"Why shouldn't I?" Casie demanded, though Trent didn't have time to tell her why. "No matter what your intentions were, it doesn't change the fact that Erin got hopelessly drunk and something could have gone very wrong if Yukito hadn't taken her home. You took her out--you had responsibility. You didn't have to go out boozing, you know. There were plenty of other ways you could have tried to cheer her up. You chose to go there, didn't you? What happened to Erin is on you head, whichever way you slice it. You should be thankful that 'nothing happened', like you said."

"Exactly!" Trent groaned in frustration-- it's not like he was going to shout in a bookstore, not like this girl was bordering on doing... "Nothing happened! So what is the problem? All your what-ifs are just that-- theories. What if I'd lost sight of Erin, what if someone tried to hurt her, what if she got drugged-- all those things I know you're thinking-- if you wanna think like that, then what if that bookshelf beside you sets on fire or the levees break and we all wash away in a flash flood or a gunman comes in here and shoots us all? All your what-ifs will leave you an old hermit, afraid of the world, you know that, right?

"And yeah, you're right that we didn't have to hang out on Bourbon St., but nothing else y'all did ever worked, did it? She needed people, she needed music, she needed fun, and she needed to forget. And she had that. What, it's wrong and terrible of me to do that because it's illegal? Don't act like you're so perfect and don't bend the rules a little, either. Ever downloaded music online? That's illegal, too, in case you forgot, and just like with downloading music, or speeding a little, or something like that, no one gets hurt. All that 'happened' to Erin was she was probably hungover the next day, and she doesn't let pain like that bother her, so even that's not a big deal. All right? Everything's fine."

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Sorry, GG, but Cassie's just TOO mad right now...ILU!

BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Exactly!" said Trent with an exasperated groan. "Nothing happened! So what is the problem? All your what-ifs are just that-- theories. What if I'd lost sight of Erin, what if someone tried to hurt her, what if she got drugged-- all those things I know you're thinking-- if you wanna think like that, then what if that bookshelf beside you sets on fire or the levees break and we all wash away in a flash flood or a gunman comes in here and shoots us all? All your what-ifs will leave you an old hermit, afraid of the world, you know that, right?"

Cassie bristled at this, Trent's words hitting her far too close to home. Her eyes flickered over to where Shelby still sat, oblivious to the world, mind locked in a realm far, far away from Augustia. Shelby, I wish you could hear what he's saying...I don't want you to be like this anymore! I want my sister back!

"That's not the point," she murmured, torn between being livid and saddened by his words. Why can't you just understand?

"And yeah, you're right that we didn't have to hang out on Bourbon St., but nothing else y'all did ever worked, did it? She needed people, she needed music, she needed fun, and she needed to forget. And she had that. What, it's wrong and terrible of me to do that because it's illegal? Don't act like you're so perfect and don't bend the rules a little, either. Ever downloaded music online? That's illegal, too, in case you forgot, and just like with downloading music, or speeding a little, or something like that, no one gets hurt."

Cassie glared at him once again, blue eyes flashing in anger. "I am not perfect, you jerk. Don't try to pull that card. I'm far from perfect. I'm not angry because it was illegal, I'm angry because it was stupid."

"All that 'happened' to Erin was she was probably hungover the next day, and she doesn't let pain like that bother her, so even that's not a big deal. All right? Everything's fine."

Cassie sighed angrily, staring Trent down. "You don't know that. You have no idea what you did. Maybe it looks like everything is fine, but you can't be sure of that."

She spun on her heel and walked away from him, over to where Shelby sat. "Here," she said, pulling out her credit card and handing it to her sister. "Get whatever you want. Meet me outside in ten minutes."

Shelby nodded vaguely, reaching up to take the card without taking her eyes off the book in her hands. Cassie walked briskly away, ignoring the death glares from the lady behind the counter as she went.

She didn't know why she felt she had to leave, exactly--maybe it was so she wouldn't get in trouble for yelling in the store, or maybe because she knew talking wouldn't do any good, or whether she was just too angry to stay there any longer. But some part of her told Cassie she was leaving because if she listened to Trent any longer, some of what he was saying might start to make sense.

Cassie has left Augustia.

[GGJ5]

Trent Fisher

"Exactly!" said Trent with an exasperated groan. "Nothing happened! So what is the problem? All your what-ifs are just that-- theories. What if I'd lost sight of Erin, what if someone tried to hurt her, what if she got drugged-- all those things I know you're thinking-- if you wanna think like that, then what if that bookshelf beside you sets on fire or the levees break and we all wash away in a flash flood or a gunman comes in here and shoots us all? All your what-ifs will leave you an old hermit, afraid of the world, you know that, right?"

He could tell he'd hit a nerve, and he didn't resist the urge to smirk a little. "That's not the point," she responded lamely.

Trent let it drop and pressed on, "And yeah, you're right that we didn't have to hang out on Bourbon St., but nothing else y'all did ever worked, did it? She needed people, she needed music, she needed fun, and she needed to forget. And she had that. What, it's wrong and terrible of me to do that because it's illegal? Don't act like you're so perfect and don't bend the rules a little, either. Ever downloaded music online? That's illegal, too, in case you forgot, and just like with downloading music, or speeding a little, or something like that, no one gets hurt."

Finally he elicited an embittered glare from Cassie, making him feel like his words were actually making sense to her finally and she was fighting against it. "I am not perfect, you jerk. Don't try to pull that card. I'm far from perfect. I'm not angry because it was illegal, I'm angry because it was stupid."

"How was it stupid? Nothing happened! All that 'happened' to Erin was she was probably hungover the next day, and she doesn't let pain like that bother her, so even that's not a big deal. All right? Everything's fine."

Cassie sighed angrily, staring Trent down, even though she had to look up to do it. "You don't know that. You have no idea what you did. Maybe it looks like everything is fine, but you can't be sure of that."

"Are you always this paranoid?" Trent asked, amused expression shielding his annoyance with this know-it-all redhead.

Cassie, however, ignored him and left their aisle, busying herself with a sullen figure that Trent recognized as her younger sister. She didn't take long, only practically storming out the door of the shop without so much as a 'good day' to the check-out lady.

Thoroughly disgruntled, Trent plopped the book Cassie had advised back onto the shelf, and plucked up a gift card from beside the cashier's register. Despite his present frustration, Trent gave the woman a sad smile and shook his head. "Some people can be really rude."

Trent's done here. Yup.

[Elda Forever]

Lilith Eytinge

"Augustia?" she murmured to herself, looking up at the building curiously. On a whim - and because she never had anything better to do - she decided to go and see if there were any unknown reads that she would want to add to her collection. The place is too empty anyways. And I could use a good story to keep me busy until I hear about my application. She stepped inside and was surprised at the aura of warmth surrounding the entire store. Lilith smiled and began to wander aimlessly around, her hands trailing appreciatively on some of the spines, still shiny-new.

Her eye was caught on a strange-looking novel about magical creatures, and she scanned the back with interest. A good long look at the front cover, though, and she was a little concerned. The girl there wasn't just malicious-looking as the first vampire, but she was barely clothed, for Pete's sake. And although a cover wouldn't bother Lilith very much - even if her mother would have had a conniption fit - it was very likely the interior of the book would be riddled with adult content that she wasn't feeling up to, and certainly didn't have the money to spend. She opened the book to some point about the middle and scanned the page. She wasn't disappointed. Yeesh...some people... Lilith slipped the book back onto the shelf, and her eyes flickered around for another option.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

Another outing. This time a little different. Now it was educational. Just her and her dad, and him trying to get her to read more. Her most recent report card had come in the mail, and since all its grades had been from when she and Yukito hadn't been talking, they'd all dropped. Choir had even fallen to a C, which usually was her highest grade. ...Still was her highest grade.

And they acted like it was her fault she couldn't do work when she felt like she was severed inside.

The school had suggested--actually, insisted on-- summer school. The sentence made Erin sick and angry, but both the school and her parents thought it would be good for her. Even though she swore the last month would get way better, since she didn't feel half-dead anymore. Didn't they see she was already doing so much better, eating well and sleeping in her normal fashion (which meant falling asleep wherever she was early in the morning, but it was her version of normal), authentically happy, less moody... everything was better. And her schoolwork would be too, she promised, but she couldn't convince them to save her from the calamity of summer school. She'd resorted to a very heated, loud protest, knowing that it would only serve in her disfavor.

In the end, she would still be going to summer school.

And now she was being toted around a bookstore with her father looking for the summer-reading books. The Scarlet Letter, The Autobiography of John Smith, and the collected works of Emily Dickinson. Over two hundred freaking poems, apparently. "Go die in a hole, American lit," she muttered, picking up one of the five different versions of the red letter A book. She'd scanned the back of the John Smith book: "Yay, a whole 500 pages on how John Smith saved the pilgrims, saved the world."

"It's not as bad as you make it, Erin. It's only that hard because of your attitude. I bet you wouldn't feel this way if you chose to read this on your own," her dad calmly responded, dropping The Giver into her hands.

"That's not on the list," Erin said plainly. She put it down. "And duh, I wouldn't feel this way, 'cause it would never happen."

Jacob picked up the thin paperback and put it in her hands again. "I know it's not, but I also know you didn't really read it when you were assigned that book report on it a couple of years ago, and now it's time to make up for it." She scowled at the floor, the pile of pages mentally overwhelming her before she even opened a cover. Her father saw the expression and sighed. "You can't avoid reading the rest of your life, Erin. Learning to cope is part of the process."

She felt the heat in her face at the mention of the NLD, and she muttered something about looking for a music section before wandering off. Well, there was no music section, but there were pretty bookmarks, and she liked looking at the covers of the new paperbacks lining the shelves. It was better than standing there and being reminded of her failure.

Some girl, older than her but not old at all, was disinterestedly setting one of the books back on the shelf. "I didn't like that one, either," Erin said, smiling at her own private joke.