So. This is actually kind of similar to their first meeting at the library, only this is an Alternate Universe and I get to do what I want. Erica would be working at a bookstore and she’d be similar to her post-werewolf self and Rory would be the new customer checking out the local book scene.
When Erica approaches her, Rory is browsing through the bestsellers, reading the book jackets and deciding whether or not the books are worth the read. Erica has been scanning books and zoning a nearby section (can you tell I used to work at B&N. Zoning, man) and stopped because she’s required to help people. They don’t normally get young people in bookstores. It’s usually old people getting the lastest James Patterson something or Danielle Steel. So she’s excited and, like anyone in customer service, asks if there’s anything Rory needs help with.
Being shy, Rory dismisses Erica, saying she’s fine and Erica shrugs and goes back to zoning.
Except a few minutes later, Erica hears, “Excuse me. I’m sorry. I’m trying to find some good rainy day reads. Do you have any suggestions?”
And bam, Erica’s hooked. After determining what kinds of books Rory is into, she takes her around the store and helps her out, recommending a few books. But the girl left an impression on her because she seemed genuinely interested in everything Erica dished out. And she was cute so...
Over the course of a month or so, Rory comes back into the store for more recommendations from Erica until Erica runs out of stuff and has to start telling her books she wants to read but doesn’t have the time. Rory comes back after reading them and tries to share her thoughts but Erica gets yelled at by her boss. By this time, her co-workers have noticed Erica repeatedly spending time with Rory every time she came into the shop.
So Erica takes the plunge and asks if Rory would be willing to come back after Erica was off work and they could talk books, then. Rory agrees and returns after Erica’s shift and they sit in the cafe and talk... and talk and talk and talk until the sky grows dark and they decide it’s probably a good idea to go home, but not before exchanging numbers and getting the opportunity to text.
Rory offers to let Erica borrow the books she wants to read, and Erica does. She live-texts Rory her reactions and somehow reading is more fun when you have someone to read with. Rory admits to being shy most of the time and a homebody, so Erica decides they should hang out on her next day off somewhere outside of the bookstore.
Naturally, they wind up at the mall, but both of them are pretty broke and don’t buy much of anything, but they try on different outfits and take selfies in the dressing room mirrors.
As they sit outside sitting some smoothies from Orange Julius and wait for their ride they slowly congregate closer and closer on the bench until Erica wordlessly wraps her pinky with Rory’s and when Rory doesn’t pull away, she holds her hand... and wouldn’t you know it, right at that exact moment, Rory’s ride shows up so they pull apart and say their goodbyes.
It takes them a while to text again because neither of them know what to say. Erica doesn’t see Rory at the store for some time and wonders if she did the wrong thing and accidentally ruined their friendship. Erica starts to fret and becomes distracted at work until one day, just as she’s getting off work, she sees Rory in the parking lot, heading toward the store. Erica waves her down and they lean against the trunk of Erica’s car to talk. As it turns out, Rory got into a fight with her mother and her mother took her phone from her saying something about screen time.
It’s at this point that Erica learns about Rory’s homelife and how it is not ideal and why Rory likes to escape into books so often. Erica offers to have Rory stay with her. She’s rooming with her friend Isaac at the moment (Who is gay with Scott in this shut up) but he’s always at his boyfriend’s place so he won’t mind. Rory obliges, a little scared about what her mother would say, but since she’s working the night shift at the hospital, she doesn’t need to know.
At Erica’s apartment, they put on some movies and make a light dinner and have a quiet night in. Once again, they find themselves moving closer and closer on the couch until Erica asks Rory if she could hold her hand again.
“I don’t mind, but I’d like to know why... if that’s okay.”
Erica admits to liking her and that the time they spent apart made her realize just how much. But she understands if Rory just wants to be friends and then hopes they can put this behind them if it’s awkward.
But Rory says it’s not awkward and is brave and blushes and takes Erica’s hand. They don’t kiss until the credits, but it’s not awkward at all. Both girls were thinking about it at the same and the first one is short but the second one lingers a little until both girls are facing each other and giggling and talking about how long they wanted to do that.
With the movies forgotten, the two girls spend the rest of the evening talking about books and life like nothing happened, except now they attach themselves to each other until they run out of topics and Erica puts in another movie. Rory falls asleep on Erica’s chest with Erica tangling her hands in Rory’s hair. Isaac comes home late and finds them like that, gives Erica a thumbs up and goes to his room.
The story ends with a big confrontation between Erica and Rory’s mom wherein Erica steals Rory away on her 18th birthday and brings her to live with her and Isaac until she can get back on her feet again. But without the weight of her mother on her shoulders, Rory smiles more and finds a home and friendship with Isaac and Scott and companionship with Erica and they live happily ever after.
