The bookshop
James has always liked books. No, that’s hugely underestimated. He has always loved books.
He still remembers it vividly. The first book he ever read entirely on his own was Alice in Wonderland. It was a rainy Saturday if he remembers correctly.
Not that it really matters what the weather was.
But the rain just adds to the ambient you know?
Okay, back to the point.
It was a (not so important information) rainy Saturday and James was completely and utterly bored. It was unusual for a child who only lived through eight winters to be bored. Especially James. He was the type of kid everyone loved. Even the people who claimed to have a dislike for children seemed to have a soft spot for him. He was constantly doing something, discovering something new, or just simply talking.
He was actually unusual in some ways.
For example, his parents (who adored James) never bought a TV. Their opinion was that newspapers and magazines were far more reliable sources of information that TV channels. Another thing was that he didn’t have a lot of friends growing up.
Well, he did have kids he knew, or kids who knew him and invited him to their birthday party or went to the park together, but he didn’t have that one friend that knew everything about him.
It was this particular book that brought them together.
They both find it hilarious now, and the whole story is interesting in its way, but we’ll get to that a little later.
When James was bored as a child, he usually went to his dad or mum and talked to them. He would tell them interesting facts (as interesting as an eight-year-old’s facts can be) and they would listen. Or he would ask them questions he found extremely important.
“Dad, you can’t just keep saying mhm to everything I ask, this is a life-or-death situation. What am I supposed to do if I get stuck in quicksand? It’s terrifying, and I read that the more you move, the more it eats you and you drown in literal sand. And just so you know, when I get stuck in quicksand and I don’t make it out it will be your fault because you never educated me.”
“James” Fleamont had a sort of calming voice that made everyone listen and James loved him with his whole heart (even when he wasn’t giving him survival skills). “There is no quicksand in England. You won’t get stuck. I promise you.” He turned back to read his newspaper or whatever it was that dads were doing on Saturday mornings, but James, however, was still not satisfied.
“But dad what if I do get stuck? Just tell me what to do, you know it’s statistically proven that-“
“James, come here, let me give you something.” With those words, James’ attention was redirected entirely because as soon as his father decided to show him something he was all ears.
He took him to his library, set out a chair, and waited for James to sit on it. He looked through the bookshelf a bit until he found what he was looking for.
It was Alice in Wonderland.
James always felt so grown up when his father gave him books; even as a child, he enjoyed talking about what he has read.
“James, I think it’s time you read this. You’ll love it.”
Looking back at it now, James understands his father was just trying to distract James from the rather depressing debate about a slow and painful death of suffocation in the sand by giving him something else to think about. But in that moment that book meant so much to James.
It was a task he had to accomplish and he had to do it fast.
He sat there and read and read and read. He didn’t like it at first but it got interesting with time. He finished it in two days. After that, he urged his dad to take him to the local library to get some more books which Fleamont gladly did.
Once they got there James rushed into the children’s section where he found another boy just putting Alice in Wonderland back on the shelf.
“Oh, I love that book! Hi, I’m James and if you haven’t read the book yet, read it now because it’s really good.” James was so excited he formed all of those words into one big word and just spilled it out of his mouth.
But the young boy next to him seemed to understand what he was saying.
He caught James’ attention right away and even if he wasn’t holding his favorite book of all time (it was the first book he read, yes, don’t bring it up) he would still talk to him.
He just had that cool look, like he lived in a cool house and he did cool things and he had a cool family (because these are operantly the most important thing one has to have to make friends, as James later
told his dad).
James kept waiting for the boy to introduce himself but he didn’t do it. At least not in the first few moments. But when he found out James was talking to him, his whole face lit up. It was kind of amazing to watch.
“Its rather shit don’t you think?” The boy said.
James thought he had misheard him but after a moment of silence, he realized he said what he thought he heard.
It was unusual for children around James to speak such language but he didn’t mind. It only made the kid look even more cool in his eyes.
He didn’t know it yet but, at that moment, James had met his best friend.
“I’m Sirius by the way. Like the star, yes. And about that book, my sister said it’s for small children which we aren’t, so we’re not supposed to like it.”
The boy who now had a name, reached for James’ hand to shake it which has never happened to him in his entire life since he was more of a hugger but it still felt nice.
“Well, I don’t know, I don’t have a sister. But I think it’s pretty cool. I think your sister is just not cool enough to understand it.”
Sirius’ eyes lit up like he just heard the greatest news of all time.
“You know what James? I agree with you. Let’s pick another book together. Or not, I actually don’t like reading that much, I just like this library.”
And so, they went. James introduced Sirius to his father, his mother, his aunt and uncle, and his whole extended family actually.
They adored each other.
Through their childhood years, James still read and Sirius was still cool but things changed.
James was there for Sirius when he told him about his family, he was there when he applied for his dream college (along with James of course), he was there when they both got excepted (and royally drunk right after that), he was there when he cried about leaving his family…
That was the only thing James never understood.
Sirius hated his family. He had every right to. But still, when he moved to go to college after spending most of his high school years at James’ he cried.
He said he didn’t want to be a bad brother and leave them all. He wanted to say so many things but he didn’t. Sometimes it seemed like he was constantly refraining from saying what he really meant or sharing his opinion. It drives James mad.
Still, he never asked about it.
If he ever wanted to share, James made sure he knew he was available always.
And that brings us here.
James; now a 22-year-old man, tall, with too many angles, whose feet are just a tiny bit too big for his body so he’s constantly tripping over things, with glasses (he got them after nearly ruining his vision because he was reading in the dark and holding his book to close to his face (that is a lie his parents told him, he got glassed because he was didn’t see very well and almost every man in his family had them)) which are always askew, with messy hair that sticks in every direction and is not afraid of any hair gel.
Sirius; 22 as well, with a defined jawline that James was always jealous of (although he will never admit it), messy black hair that reached his shoulders, a bright smile, and a cheeky grin, unable to remain serious in the most serious situations (ironic innit?) who always was and always will be there for James Potter.
Because that’s what they were. James Potter and Sirius Black. Best friends.
Normally, Sirius is here with James when he just bought the bookstore of his dreams.
Well, it’s not a bookstore just yet. Right now, it’s just an old two-story apartment. He’ll live upstairs and work downstairs.
He bought it with his parents and Sirius’ help and he cannot believe his dreams are coming true.
“James, are you sure this is what you want? It looks a bit…” Sirius steps over a big pile of rubbish that was left on the floor by the previous owners “Shit. It looks like shit, if I’m being honest mate.”
And to be fair, he was 100% correct. The whole front of the shop was glass, but you couldn’t tell that right now because it was so dirty it looked like a regular wall. There was rubbish all over the floor and everything was falling apart. The whole room will need to be renovated as well as all the furniture.
In the back of the shop, there were steep stairs that led upstairs. The apartment there was one of the reasons James picked this place.
He liked living close to work, he liked being close to his books.
The first time he was here the real estate salesperson had told him the house was old and in bad condition. It might not look like much from the outside but it needs complete renovation. The electricity and water were still there but that was pretty much it.
The whole house was brick-colored except for the windows. Those were blue. The entire lower part of the house, or the entrance part, was blue and if the weather was nice, the color took on a certain glow. It looked like a deep sea. There were withered flowers under the windows, but with a little care and love, these too will soon come back to life. There were also flowers around the front door. They were planted in small hanging baskets that swayed slightly when the wind blew.
Overall, James was in love with the house from the second he first laid his eyes on it.
However, even James who couldn’t say a bad word about his greatest enemy, saw that the state the house was in was terrible and he was pretty loud about expressing his concern. He has already arranged for some moving trucks to bring him new furniture and all but there was a long way ahead of him.
Firstly, they needed to clean. The whole place needed a deep cleaning, and even though they were focused only on the future bookshop, Sirius couldn’t help to pay more attention to James’ future apartment upstairs.
Sirius had already claimed a room for himself much to James’ dismay.
“Sirius, I love you with all my heart but I simply cannot give you the biggest room in the whole apartment since you won’t even be living here.” This was the third time James has told Sirius this. The conversation was happening while James was cleaning the windows. He said he ‘needed that sunlight like Sirius needed his leather jackets’.
“James. Are you expecting me to sleep on the couch then? You know what? Fine. I’ll take the guest room but I’ll decorate it just the way I want and you don’t get to say anything about it.”
James knew he’ll come to regret that decision but he simply nod his head and continued with the cleaning.
He was interrupted from his daydreams shortly after when Sirius stormed down the stairs loudly. “I can’t do this anymore. I’m going to get us a coffee. I’ll be back in 2-3 hours.”
He didn’t even wait for James to respond before storming out of the store and leaving his best friend alone.
It wasn’t long before the bell above the door rang again (Sirius’s idea, he insisted they install it so James would know anytime someone entered the room but he thinks it’s just because Sirius likes everyone stopping what they’re doing and looking at him when he enters the room).
“Oh, you’re back already? Wow, that was quick, I didn’t even finish cleaning this.” He turned around to take his coffee but where Sirius was supposed to be standing, he was met with unfamiliar eyes.
Unfamiliar pretty eyes for that matter.
They were a warm honey color and their owner had brown hair and a fucking dimple as James noticed when the stranger smiled.
“Oh shit, sorry, I thought you were someone else. Um, can I help you? We aren’t opened yet as you can see.” He raised a hand to his neck to scratch it and just when those last words escaped his mouth, there was a loud bang from somewhere in the show which James was pretty sure came from a sculpture of trash Sirius made earlier (it was a stack of the random object he found on the floor and stacked in a big pile, he insisted it was modern art and that it’ll bring them millions of dollars).
“Yes, I can see that. I mean I would be concerned if you were open actually. My name’s Remus by the way. I work in the coffee show next door and I thought I’d come by and say hi to my future neighbors.”
James’ eyes lit up when he heard that. Not knowing anyone was a big fear when he bought this place but it seems like that just got resolved.
“Oh, that is so nice of you. And I agree, it’s a disaster but I promise, come back in a month and this place will be shining.”
The stranger (now known as Remus) smiled and looked around the space.
“Please just tell me this won’t be another café. If that’s so, unfortunately, I can’t talk to you anymore. As a matter of fact, I am morally obligated to set the whole place on fire with you still in here. You know it’s a tough competition these days. It’s hard living in this economy.”
James threw his head back laughing. He was under stress lately and needed someone to take some pressure off. It felt nice talking to someone who wasn’t Sirius or his parents.
Not that he didn’t love them. They were just a bit much sometimes.
“Oh yeah, I totally understand your struggle. But no, sorry to disappoint you, this beauty will be a bookshop. At least that’s the goal. And I just realized I haven’t introduced myself. My name’s James and I’m so glad you stopped by Remus. I can already see we’ll be friends.”
James wanted to continue talking but he was interrupted by a ringtone. It was Remus’ phone and he looked at James apologetically before picking it up.
“Yes, I’m almost there. Next door, in fact, I just went to say hi to our future neighbors. I’ll be right back.” He hung up. “That was my boss. It seems like I have to go now. But please feel free to stop by our place anytime, the coffee on the house. It was lovely meeting you. Bye!”
With that, Remus walked out of the shop leaving James completely speechless. Not even 3 minutes passed before Sirius returned with their coffee.
“James you will not believe what I just saw. I thought I saw a guy, a very beautiful guy might I add, exit this place a few minutes ago. And I thought he was just lost but he turned right and disappeared into the café next door. What was that all about?” He set their coffee on the table and looked around the place for their apparent progress (there wasn’t much of that, it just looked a bit cleaner).
He explained everything to Sirius and he would do it all over again for the shock he displayed on his face. It was so amusing to watch.
Of course, his best friend insisted they go there right this moment because James was ‘failing his duties as Sirius’ best friend by not introducing them’ but he quickly realized that would be obsessive behavior and he forgot about it. For now.
Fast forward a month and we’re here. James officially opened the bookshop yesterday. Remus was the first customer and Sirius was pissed when he missed his visit once more. He got over it shortly after when James showed him a record store he found a couple of blocks away.
The first few days after the opening were not the way James would imagine.
In other words, there were no customers. Non at all.
James had expected this, of course, but he still hoped at least a few would show up.
That didn’t happen until one week after when James had almost lost all his hopes and dreams. He was already thinking about selling the place but that’s mainly because he was a drama queen. He would never sell it. It meant the world to him and everyone around him saw it.
So, you can imagine his surprise and delight when he heard the bell above the door make a sound. When he looked there, he was not met with one, not two, nor three but four pairs of eyes.
“Hi guys, how can I help you today?”
The girls that visited the shop erupted in loud giggles none of them looking at James. It was just smiles and laughter until one of them finally spoke up.
“Oh, um, we’re just here to, oh stop it, Emily! I will not ask him that, you ask him that! Anyways, we were just hoping to look around a bit if that’s okay with you?” The girl batted her eyelashes at James while twirling a strand of hair in her hand.
“Oh, of course, take as much time as you need girls. And if you have any questions or if you need help, feel free to ask. I’m always here if you need me. I can show the direction of some books if you’d like?”
James (as oblivious as he is) noticed absolutely nothing weird in their behavior. He just thought they were in a really good mood and who was he to deny someone who was clearly having the time of their lives?
“Oh, no thank you we’re good.” The girl sent him a flashing smile before turning away and dragging all of her friends along. They spend about 30 minutes just wandering around the shop, picking up random books, and occasionally looking in James’ direction.
In the end, they each bought a book and slowly left the store.
It was a good day.