The Book Club

“So, if we are starting a book club, we need to a) think of a suitable name, and b) find some more people to join”

It’s a Friday afternoon and Ichigo and I are sitting upstairs in the library brainstorming ideas for our new club. It’s going to be good I can already feel it, besides book worms like us needs clubs like this.

“Agreed. And it has to be good,” Ichigo pointed out.

“Right,” I nodded.

We sat there in silence for a few seconds just looking at each other blankly.

“Any ideas?” I asked.

“Nada,” she replied and hit her head on the desk with a dull thud.

“How about something simple like, ‘Bookworms,’” I suggested.

Ichigo raised her head from the desk and gave me a look.

“What?” I asked.

“Seriously?” Ichigo raised an eyebrow.

“Well, do you have any better ideas?” I asked leaning back in my chair and folding my arms.

She thought for a few minutes before she snapped her fingers.

“How about ‘Better than Therapy Book Club’” she grinned.

I looked at her and burst out laughing.

“Shhh!” I heard which instantly silenced me.

“Why are you laughing?” Ichigo asked, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

“Because books are why I need therapy.”

This even made Ichigo giggle.

“Yeah, same.”

“We need something simple but catchy at the same time,” I explained.

Again, we sat in silence before I had an idea.

“How about ‘Chapter Chat’?” I suggested.

“Hmm, it’s good and I like it a lot.”

I could tell she was about to say something more.

“But?” I raised an eyebrow.

“But I think it’s a little too simple, I’m sorry, it’s really good otherwise I promise. But we need a little something more.” She explained.

“Okay, no worries,” I smiled.

“I’m sorry, I feel bad now,” Ichigo looked down sadly.

“Hey, it’s okay. If you don’t like the name, it doesn’t matter besides, we’re brainstorming ideas for a reason, and this is a team effort. I’d rather you be truthful than lie and we use a name you don’t like,” I told her.

She nodded smiling.

“There’s the Ichigo we all know and love,” I winked making her blush a little.

“Shh,” she glared playfully making me chuckle.

“How about ‘The Novel Bunch’?” she then told me.

“Hmm, it’s good,” I nodded.

“But it’s still too simple it doesn’t have that ring to it,” she criticised her suggestion.

“Ooh, how about ‘What Happens at the Book Club, Stays in the Book Club’?” I laughed.

Ichigo chuckled, “It’s cute. But a little wordy.”

I sighed and almost gave up when I saw her eyes lit up, I could tell she had a really good idea.

“Ichigo?” I smiled.

She grinned at me while slightly bouncing in her seat, “I just thought of two.”

I looked at her surprised, over here I was struggling to think of one and she thought of two in 30 seconds from my last suggestion.

“Okay let’s hear them,” at this point, the suspense was too much to bear.

“Okay first one; ‘Friends, Wines, and Books’. The second; ‘My Wine Club Has a Book Problem’.”

“Can I just ask why Wine?” I tried to hide a grimace.

“Because I LOVE Wine! My Dad’s in the Wine business,” she smiled.

What the hell! Seriously? Another thing we have in common? Her Dad’s in the Wine business too? And not only that, she loves books too. How many coincidences have happened this week exactly? Too many to count that’s how many!

But she loves wine? At least that’s not something we have in common.

“Hey,” she waved her hand in my face to get my attention.

“Didn’t you like my idea?” she asked.

“I’m not going to lie, I do like it, it’s only…” I sighed before continuing.

“My Dad’s in the Wine business too, but the thing is I HATE wine,” I grimaced.

“You HATE wine? And your dad’s in the wine business?” she laughed.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Nothing, it’s just, how many coincidences happened this week exactly?” she asked.

“I was just thinking the same thing!” I looked at her with my eyes wide.

“Well, great minds think alike,” she giggled.

“It’s okay. We don’t need to use that name, you like coffee though, right?” she asked.

“Who doesn’t? It’s the only thing keeping me alive from reading all night,” I laughed.

“Same. So, how about instead of Wine we use Coffee? So ‘Friends, Coffee, and Books’ or ‘My Coffee Club has a Book Problem’?” she changed the wording.

“Oh, I like that,” I nodded.

Just then I thought of possibly the best name we could think of.

“How about; ‘Great Books and Fresh Coffee’?”

She thought about it for a few seconds while I looked at her expectantly.

“I love it!” she nodded.

“Me too!” I smiled.

“I love how it combines our two favourite things…”

“Books and coffee…”

“And it’s catchy…”

“And not too wordy…”

We both finished each other’s sentences.

“Yayyy,” she cheered while clapping her hands.

She looked so cute it made me feel… something, hard to pinpoint what it was exactly but it felt good.

“Hey, quick question…”

“Quick answer,” Ichigo replied and a smile broke out on her face.

She tried not to laugh and I tried to keep a straight face but when she smiles I automatically do as well, I guess she has a contagious smile.

“What’s your Dad’s name? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Not at all, his name is…”

She got interrupted by the bell; the class was about to start.

“We better go quickly, tell me after school?” I asked.

Ichigo nodded, “Sure.”

We briskly walked to class.

“Oh, we also need some people to join in our club too, do you know anyone who might be interested?” she asked me.

I quickly scanned the class with my eyes, as much as I know them all I know they're either interested in sports, gossip or music. None of them are interested in reading or want anything to do with books.

“Kyo?” Ichigo spoke my name softly.

“Yes?” I asked looking down at her.

Now that I notice it she was quite short, her head just about reached my shoulder and I’m average height for a guy my age. She’s definitely below average for a girl her age since I know most of these girls are taller than her.

“So?” she asked.

“So what?” I asked back, confused.

“Do you think anyone of these people would want to join?” she gestured towards the class with her eyes.

“Oh, no,” I shook my head.

“Oh,” she looked down, dejected.

“It’s okay, I’m sure it’s going to be okay with just the two of us,” I smiled.

“Yeah,” she smiled back.

The rest of the school day passed by with a blur and we were soon dismissed.

“Ooh maybe we should combine both books, coffee and exorcism,” Ichigo told me while we were leaving school.

I stopped in my tracks and just stared at her back until she turned around.

“What?” she asked.

“Why, may I ask?”

“Oh, apparently the third floor in the west wing is haunted, as soon as I found out I wanted to explore it, and you know that book you gave me from your favourite author?”

I nodded while also urging her to continue.

“Firstly, he’s my favourite writer too, and secondly his horror book has a similar concept so I thought why not?” she chuckled.

I looked at her surprised for the umpteenth time, I swear we cannot get any more similar than we already are!

“Let me guess, you had the same thought?” she laughed.

I nodded, “Yup.”

“Oh, by the way, I just remembered I was supposed to tell you my Dad’s name,” she reminded me.

“Oh yeah,” I nodded.

“It’s Akabane Chiharu,” she told me before a car rolled up.

“Okay I’ll see you tomorrow, Kyo,” Ichigo smiled before getting in the car.

I watched the car drive down the road before I saw a familiar car come towards me, I hopped in my car and saw the school disappear from view.

Why was her dad’s name so familiar? I’m sure I’ve heard it before… but then again it might be because it’s common… but still, I’ve got a funny feeling.