Hey, for that send you prompts thing :
AU where Todd works in a used book store, and Neil frequently visits. Neil notices Todd scribbling in the books sometimes, and then putting them back on the shelf. Neil then discretely goes and finds those books and reads the annotations Todd leaves there. Neil notices the books that Todd usually annotes are a certain colour/author/etc and chooses one at random, leaves a note for Todd there?
I dunno if this is a good prompt or not.
(Can I be a anon friend for you? Like if I get an idea for a fic or hc but don't have the talent like you to write it? I'll sign off all my anons with the name Charlotte)
you can also read it here <3
Todd wasn't doing anything wrong - not really. Was it against the store's policy? Yes. But had someone stopped him? No. So, see. Nothing wrong.
Todd had been working at Little Red Books for about 5 months now. Despite the name, the books weren't red, just pre-used. It was pretty much a thrift shop just for books. (Todd wasn't sure why it's named what it was, and he never really bothered to ask.)
People could come and gave books that they didn't like, or wanted a newer copy of, or didn't have room for, or just wanted to pass down to someone but had no one to pass down the book to.Â
And people also came here to buy those books.
They had shelves and shelves of books, all filled with memories of their previous owners. Books filled with creases on the corner where someone folded them. Books filled with annotations and notes and childish handwriting on the covers indicating who the previous owner had been.
Todd loved opening a book and seeing so much history - so much proof of another life. He loved reading the notes and he loved watching other people flip through a book and notice something like a little misshapen star drawn at the corner from the previous owner and smile softly.
And Todd loved flipping through the books and adding his own commentary. He liked reading the old annotations. It was just... nice. And peaceful.
And its not like anyone could possibly know.
Well, other than this person, Todd supposed, staring at the note left in one of his favorite books.
Todd read any book he could get his hands on. But there were a few heâd visit over and over and this one- The Picture of Dorian Gray- was one of them.
And in between the pages was a little green piece of paper. Of course, this could be left for anyone - not Todd. But as he read and reread the note, he couldnât help but think it was for him.Â
After all how many blonds worked here that went through and annotated the books?
Todd bit his lip, suddenly feeling caught. Then he reread the note and flushed.
âTo the cute blond worker,
(the blue eyed one who annotates the books)
I hope I'm not overstepping or being creepy, but I've noticed you a lot. How you know where everything is, how you never meet anyone's eye, and how you always annotate books with blue ink.
I just think you're rather pretty and interesting.
I'm not sure how to approach you directly, but I wanted to tell you how much I love reading your notes."
Todd bit lower lip, a little nervous and a little flattered. It wasnât creepy at all - or not to him at least. A little... strange perhaps. Todd wasnât sure. He felt a weird mix of his anxiety at someone noticing him but also a little flutter in his tummy. Ultimately, he tucked the note into his pocket and decided to dwell on it after his shift.
But throughout the day he kept on thinking about it and flushing. A customer even noticed it. Which was embarrassing in a different way.
And worse he was the Shakespeare guy.
Todd didnât know his name but he knew a bit about him.
Todd knew he really liked Shakespeare because on one of his first trips to the store, the boy had bought a stackful of his plays. And thus was dubbed The Shakespeare guy by Todd.Â
Todd also knew he liked poetry because he always sat at the back table and read through some poetry books before choosing one.Â
He didnât always buy anything, sometimes he just sat there, reading. Todd was... intrigued by him.
Todd didnât know his name, but he knew that when he thought something was funny heâd try to stifle his laugh and almost always fail. When something was sad heâd blink fast and look away to take a second to compose himself. And Todd knew that Shakespeare guy was the most pretty boy Todd had ever seen.Â
He was nice to Todd too. He always smiled and made small talk - and he never got offended when Todd didnât reply - too anxious to do so - or when Todd took too long to say anything. He smiled softly (and he had the most gorgeous smile in the world, the first time Todd had been so caught off guard heâd accidently scanned his book three times before the guy pointed it out.
Heâd only giggled at Toddâs mistake, gently assuring him it was fine.Â
Todd thought he may be a bit in love.
And now his kind of crush had, once again, caught him being strange. Todd should honestly change his name and move somewhere far away. Like Antarctica.
âAre you okay?â The Shakespeare guy asked, voice tinted with concern as he watched Toddâs eyes dart down and his cheeks turn redder somehow. Todd stumbled over have bitten words and the guy stood patiently, letting Todd collect his thoughts. Todd really liked him a lot.
âOh, um... I just... Itâs nothing. I um well, I got a note. Thatâs all.â The guyâs thick eyebrows scrunched up.
âDid you not like the note?â He sounded even more worried. Todd shook his head frantically.
âNo! I mean, yes! I mean- I- I liked it. It was um... a sweet note. That- That I think they left it for me - I mean Iâm not. Iâm not sure but I just-â
âWas it a love letter?â the guy interrupted, lips drawn up into a mischievous smile and eyes filled with something knowing.
Toddâs eyes lingered a little too long on his smile before he shook his head.
âN-no.â The guy didnât look like he believed him but he nodded anyway. Something flashed through his eyes and Todd wondered what it was desperately.
Then he took the books that he had been buying and left.
Todd let out a sigh of relief.Â
He hoped the cute boy didnât think he was too strange.
But just as Todd calmed down completely, the door opened again. Todd turned towards it, about to welcome whoever the costumer was, but The Shakespeare guy was walking in again. Todd straightened up, hands uselessly coming up to fix his hair. The Shakespeare guy shot Todd an apologetic smile before making his way to the table heâd sit on and grabbing something.
âJust forgot this!â he called out, walking towards the door again, waving a green notepad.
Todd nodded, a little caught up in that green notepad because it looked the same shade as...
âW-wait!â The Shakespeare Guy jumped at the shout but paused all the same. He turned around, fixing Todd with a curious look.
Todd flushed - it probably wasnât the same color. Shit. What was he thinking? Thereâs no way that heâd have left the note. Not the most gorgeous boy known to man. Not to Todd.Â
âN-nevermind.â Todd said, looking down. There was silence and then footsteps towards him.
âHey,â the boyâs voice was soft, âwhatâs up?â Todd fiddled with his hands before chancing a glance up. The boy was looking at him with the gentlest eyes, Todd could melt. Todd opened his mouth to respond before closing it again. Then he reached into his pocket and took out the note, placing it in front of the boy. Then he looked at the notepad, still in his hands.
âOh um...â the boyâs voice was hesitant and Todd was sure he was about to let him down and that Todd was wrong and- âyou, uh, figured it out...âÂ
Toddâs head shot up, eyes wide in hope.Â
âI hope it wasnât creepy,â Todd shook his head quickly and the boy smiled at him, âI just... I just like you a lot. Um, I wanted to ask you out, actually.â Todd audibly gasped and the guyâs smile widened. His voice lost any waver as he spoke again, âSo will you? I mean, go out with me? Please?â
Todd stared at him with wide eyes, âI- I donât even know your name...â he replied. The boy paused visibly before flushing red.
âOh! I never told you? Neil. My nameâs Neil Perry.â
Todd grinned. âTodd Anderson. Um... you can meet me here... maybe seven today? For our date.â Neil stared at him before nodding quickly.
âYes, yes! 7âČs perfect. Youâre perfect!â Then he waved and ran out the door.
Todd couldnât keep his grin down the entire day. And at 7, Neil was there to meet him.Â
EDITED BECUZ I MADE LIKE 45845347 MISTAKES AFJKDLFJALKD
idk if this is what you wanted but i hope you liked it <3
im sure uâre very talented ! and you should totally write ur ideas if theyâre even half as good as theseÂ
but you can send them to me too! Iâll be looking forward to it <33
i had a lot of fun writing this <3Â
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