Page 21 of Rebel's Fairytale

It was in the third area he was perusing, when he rounded the corner into the next row and noticed a kid halfway down. The young man looked to be in his younger teens. He was holding a book and studying the back of it, but something about his expression told Rebel he was troubled.

Rebel glanced around and didn’t see any parents milling about. Deciding he would try to help if he could, he casually made his way down the aisle and stopped a few yards away from the boy.

“Hey,” Rebel softly said. “What’s that? I don’t think I’ve read that one.”

The boy glanced up at Rebel before dropping his gaze back down to the book. “I doubt you’ve read any of these.” He motioned to the young adult section in front of him.

“Try me.” Rebel took a couple slow steps in the boy’s direction.

“It’s a fantasy book for young adults. I’m trying to see if it has any romance, because… it can’t.”

Rebel’s brows drew together in contemplation. The wording of the boy’s statement set off warning bells for him. “Are you not into romance? It’s not for everybody.”

The boy shrugged. “It’s not… cool to read it.”

“Says who?”

The boy’s gaze shot back up to Rebel’s face. “My friends said… They said boys don’t read romance.”

“Huh… Well, I’m a boy, and I read romance.” Rebel shrugged. “I think it’s cool.”

“You…youread romance?”

Nodding, Rebel smiled. “Yup.”

The boy slid the book back onto the shelf and grabbed another. He held the book out to Rebel. When Rebel took it, he said, “A friend of mine… Jasmine, she said I should read this one, because it has the paranormal stuff I like, and the mystery stuff. So, I was reading it. Then, my other friends saw it and started saying I shouldn’t read it.”

Rebel studied the cover. It had a dagger through a heart with purple and blue decoration around it. The title wasForgotten Life, written by Angel M. Johnson. As Rebel read the blurb on the back, he asked the boy, “What’s your name?”

“Derrick,” the boy said.

“Nice to meet you, Derrick. I’m Rebel.”

“Rebel?”

“That’s what they call me.” Rebel finished reading the blurb and nodded. “Okay. Derrick, forget about what your friends said. You liked this book?”

Derrick nodded.

“Cool. Okay. You liked it because it had the paranormal and mystery stuff. Did you like how the author wrote the romance, too?”

Rebel watched as Derrick shrugged and looked away.

“I bet I’d like it. I find that most books I read are centered around a romance or have a romance in them. In my opinion, it doesn’t make you anything but better if you’re trying new things and having an open mind.”

“You don’t think… I’m… like… weak because I read the same stuff girls do?”

Rebel snorted a laugh. “Weak? Nope. Do you think I’m weak because I do?”

Derrick looked over Rebel’s cut and shook his head. “No. You’re a Howler. You… you’re like a tough guy. And you ride a motorcycle and stuff.”

Holding up the book, Rebel smiled. “I’m going to check out this book because my friend, Derrick, told me it was good. I want you to remember some things, though. If your friends pick on you for something you enjoy, they aren’t your friends. Read what you want. And if you ever need some book recommendations, Ms. Bri up at the desk will set you up. She can also get you in touch with me if you need to chat. Deal?”

Rebel held out his free hand and waited. Derrick took his hand and gave it a firm shake.

“Nice, strong handshake. Nah. You aren’t weak.”

After laying those words on Derrick, Rebel turned around and headed back toward the end of the aisle, where he spotted Ruby watching him. When he reached her, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

---