Modern Day story.

I think I may have used the word "book" too much, but, hey, there aren't very many synonyms for it! Plus, the word is kind of important to the story, so it shouldn't be too big a deal.

I like books. I always have. Books are by far my favorite form of storytelling. With movies, you can't always accurately show what's going on in the character's head and so many people look too far into poetry, so even if you weren't trying to be very deep, they assume you were anyway and your point doesn't come across. And of course, you can always talk face to face, but far too often I'll forget a part of the story, or just think it's better than it really is and not realize my folly until it's too late.

I've read countless books from tons of different genres. I can't say I have a favorite piece of literature in general, but I definitely have favorites from certain category. I can't pick a favorite because there's too much to think of when deciding. Sure, this book wasn't as funny as this book, but that's because the first book was a mystery novel. This book didn't have a lot of romance, but maybe that's because it's a biography on Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. This is also why I can't just randomly recommend a book. People may ask me for a good story to read, but I have to know what it is you're looking for before I can suggest something. People say, "Oh, I don't care. Just something" so I hand them a copy of Never Let Me Go and they look at me and say, "I don't really want anything futuristic." Then you probably should've mentioned that.

I also won't avoid reading a book just because it's not what a typical guy should be doing. I've read Twilight, and sure people messed with me because of it, but I didn't care. People were saying it's a great story, so I wanted to check it out. Now, it wasn't as good as say, The Stranger, but I can see why it caught the eye of the general public. It's not terrible if you like love stories with supernatural elements. Personally, I wasn't too crazy about it, but I understand that other people are.

I like hanging out in the book store. Try guessing why. I like them more than a library because the books are always in good condition. I wouldn't mind working in the store, but I've heard, numerous times, people trying to return tattered books that "weren't very good and I want my money back." "But sir, the book is damaged." "I didn't do that."

…..

Anyway, I would want to have to deal with that. But the bookstore I go to most often is part of a mall in a huge part of the city, so I can also go to other places with my friends after I bore them in my favorite stop. So, as you can figure out I spend most of my time in the bookstore by myself. Until I met a friend there, that is.

I was sitting at a table with a book next to me and one in my hand. I glanced around and saw that the store was pretty packed. People were in line, in the shelf rows, and just walking all over the place. It was the holiday season, but still, the amount of people surprised me. Regardless, I went back to my book. I'm not sure how much time passed, but suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I jumped a bit and looked up and saw a very pretty girl. She had a blonde hair that was in a ponytail, but still reached her shoulder blades. She also had a few bangs in front of her she had to move aside. She was wearing glasses, a pink sweatshirt, and jeans. She was hugging a book to her body with one arm and the other had flinched back when I had jumped.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I just wanted to know if I could sit by you." She said, quietly. I couldn't tell if it was because she was shy or respecting the serenity of the store.

"Uh, yeah, yeah! No problem." I said, slowly coming back to reality. She smiled at me and went to the other side of the table. I glance around and saw that all of the tables were full of people either reading or having quiet conversations.

"Sorry for startling you." She sat down and smiled sweetly. "I tried talking to you, but you were absorbed in your book and couldn't hear me."

"Oh, seriously? I should be the one apologizing then… Sorry about that." I said.

She kept smiling at me. "Don't worry about. I'm the same way. I'm Zelda, by the way."

"I'm Link." I stuck out my hand. "Nice to meet you."

She shook my hand and gave a soft laugh. "You too, Link." She then opened her book and I went back to mine.

We didn't talk at all until I had to leave. I stood up and stretched a bit. I gathered my books and spoke to Zelda. "Well, I'm going to head out. Thanks for keeping me company, Zelda!"

She looked up. "Oh you're leaving? Yeah, it was my pleasure!"

I smiled at her and went to the check out. I left the store and walked out into the parking complex of the mall. As I go to my car, I realized I forgot my coffee mug. I dropped my purchases in the passenger seat and walked back to the store. I went to the table, but couldn't find Zelda anywhere. I assumed she had left after I did. But I DID find my travel mug, so I grabbed it and headed out.

Nothing eventful happened until I went back to the store that weekend. My roommate Kafei had dropped me off, while he went to park the car and do some Christmas shopping for his girlfriend Anju. I sat down at the same table as before and had a big stack of reading material next to me. I was there for probably an hour when a person walked in front a cleared their throat.

I glanced up and saw Zelda smiling down at me. "Hi Link!"

I stared for a second then a smile broke out. "Hey there, Zelda!"

"May I?"

"By all means." I gestured towards the chair opposite me. She sat down and put four books beside her. "Wow, that's quite few books you have there."

She smiled. "Look who's talking."

I laughed. "I suppose that IS the pot calling the kettle black. You like reading, I take it."

"I love it! I have so many books and plays in my apartment, that I hardly have room for a bed."

"Same here." I put my book on the table. "What's your favorite genre?"

She leaned back and sighed. "Hmm…. Well, right now, I'd say I like old Greek tragedies and contemporary realistic fiction."

I couldn't help but laugh again. "Those aren't two categories you see together very often!"

"Yeah, I guess not. How about you?"

"Uh, I suppose I'm into more suspenseful stories. Not quite gory horror, but something that makes me antsy while reading it."

"Very nice." She nodded.

"What has four legs in the morning, 2 legs during the day, and 3 legs by night?" I asked her.

I saw a glimmer in her eyes then she smiled and said, "A person. A baby crawls on all fours, during early to mid-life a person walks on 2 legs, and during old age they use a cane. Trying the quiz me on Oedipus Rex?"

I shrugged. "Just wanted to see if you were really into Greek plays."

"Hmm…. Well, in that case, who used the phrase 'The horror! The horror!'?"

I grinned. "Mr. Kurtz in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Where did Katniss from The Hunger Games get her last name?"

"Bathsheba Everdene, Far From the Madding Crowd. What book takes a 6 year old from his family and puts him in a space academy?"

"Ender's Game. What dystopian novel has everything in the world censored down to sound bites and resorts to destroying books to stop upsetting anybody?"

"Fahrenheit 451. What fat cat loves lasagna?"

I stared at her for a little while. "Garfield…. Everybody knows that."

She looked down, but with a smile. "I know, I just couldn't think of any other questions on the spot."

We both started laughing. I checked my phone when I got a text. Kafei said he had just arrived at the car and that he was on his way to the store to pick me up.

"Ah…" I stood up and began to put on my jacket. "This has been fun Zelda, but my ride's about to come pick me up. I'll have to take my leave here."

"Ohh… That's too bad. Well, it was nice seeing you again!" She smiled up at me.

"You too! You know, I'll probably end up back here on Wednesday. Shall I see you here again?"

"Yeah, sure! I want to continue our conversation." She said.

"See you then, Zelda."

"Bye Link."

I went outside and waited for about half a minute, then Kafei pulled up. I got in the passenger's seat and as I was putting on my seatbelt, I looked out the window. Zelda had just walked out with her books in a bag and waved to me.

When I waved back, Kafei asked me, "Who's that? She's pretty hot."

"That's Zelda. I just met her a few days ago." I told him.

"That's cool. Are you going to ask her out?" He asked, pulling away from the store.

"I think I already may have, but I'm not positive."

"Of course you're not." Kafei said, smirking.