Althea had become enraptured in a book, a promising biography about a woman named Henrietta, and begun walking backward to the checkout. She didn't notice Trinity until it was too late, and they'd collided in a painful tangle of limbs on the ground. "Are you alright?" she asked, forgetting that Trinity couldn't hear her.
Trinity yelped as the wind was knocked out of her. She staring up at Althea with a taken-aback expression. She didn’t hear Althea’s question so she didn’t respond.
Althea blinked at Trinity for a few seconds, awaiting a response before she remembered. You good!? she signed, hands shaky with adrenaline from the fall.
Trinity read her hands and nodded. She rolled out from under her to brush herself off and rescue the book she’d dropped.
Althea did the same, pulling her now beaten book off the floor and rising to her feet. She pulled out her notebook. I’m so sorry! Are you alright?
She read the notebook and took out a pen from her pocket to write back, I’m fine. I wasn’t stalking you I promise. She grinned.
Althea laughed, holding out a hand to help Trinity to her feet and using the other to write. Sounds like something a stalker would say, Miss Trinity
Trinity laughed when she read it, I swear, I only was looking for a recommended book. she set the pen down and pulled out her phone from buried in her pocket.
Althea raised her eyebrows and tilted her head towards the phone, clearly curious about why Trinity had gotten it out.
She typed out on her notes app with a thumb and showed it to Althea, Can I have your #? she looked back up with an inquisitive, hopeful expression.
Althea's face hardened almost unconsciously as she read the message. Why? she wrote, letters sharp with emotion she didn't know how to communicate.
Because somehow we keep running into each other. And I like having as many friends as I can. She types back and showed her, a very slight flush of pink on her cheeks.
It was a perfectly innocent motivation, but Althea was still uneasy. I don't, she paused, unsure of how to say what she wanted. We're strangers. I don't know you yet
Trinity frowned, *Which is why I want to get to know you, but, okay.” She showed her the message before closing her Notes app and putting her phone away.
I still want to talk with you, I promise. Althea bit her lip, reaching out to grab one of Trinity's hands. I'm just nervous. I need to know you before I give out my #.
Trinity nodded and glanced away, wishing she still had her phone to communicate that she hoped to get her number so they could communicate easier, but she held the thought instead. Her heart beat a little faster when Althea took her hand. She hoped her sweating wouldn’t put her off too much…
Althea stifled a sigh of relief, letting go of Trinity's hand now that she knew the girl wouldn't walk away and never come back. Want to get coffee sometime? So we can get to know one another?
Trinity nodded and smiled, I would like that, she accepted, I don’t have any plans for the rest of the day. She straightened her shoulders again to hopefully seem more dignified. Dignified like Althea.
Althea gave her a small crooked smile, glancing at the notebook pensively before she responded. After you're done here, I'd love to go to a cafe and have a chat. If that's alright with you.
Trinity grinned hugely at the suggestion. She nodded excitedly, yes! she wrote back. This would be the perfect opportunity to give her the book too.
Althea's smile widened at Trinity's enthusiasm. I'll stay in the store with you then. You were looking for a book, right?
Yeah, I’m looking for a book one of my online friends recommended. I didn’t find it anywhere else so I’m looking here. she gestured to the used book aisle they were in.
What's it called? Althea asked. She'd been wandering this store for years and knew almost every title in the store from seeing them every day. I might know something about it.
Sea Change by Sylvia Earle, she wrote back, tilting her head with curiosity, would she have heard about it, possibly?
The title was familiar, but only vaguely. Still, Althea knew where it was in the store. It came in a couple of weeks ago, she wrote, grabbing Trinity's hand to lead her over to the shelf it was sitting on.