The first few days after the incident were the worst. Every time I would walk past Mrs. Blurtz she would enthuse about her latest ideas.

  The enthusiasm tapered off into sullen glares as I resorted to hiding my face and hurrying past. There was nothing I could do, the book refused to open.

  Left with no choice, I decided to approach Vaarg.

  “You promised to remodel a Tavern?” he asked, eyebrow raised.

  “No, I was strong armed into remodeling a tavern.”

  “Clearly. And how do you intend to do that?”

  “I have no idea. Is there a way to bribe a book?”

  “I don’t know, Beeg,” he drawled, pulling from his mug. “I’ve never been dumb enough to find myself in such a position.”

  “Vaarg, does it bring you joy to antagonize me?” I sighed.

  “Obviously,” he nodded.

  “You’re horrible.”

  “Never said I wasn’t,” he finished with the longest, self-satisfied sigh I think I’d ever heard.

  I wanted, so badly, to stuff his mug down his —.

  “Vaarg. Help me.”

  “Ok.”

  I slumped. “It brings you joy knowing that annoys me even more, doesn’t it.”

  “Now you are learning, Beeg,” he smiled widely.

  Somehow, the smile just drove the nail home.

  “Alright, show me the book,” Vaarg said, setting his clipboard down and adjusting his glasses.

  “I don’t have it,” I responded sullenly.

  “Why not?” he asked, surprise coloring his voice.

  I glared at him.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “I didn’t expect you to help.”

  “When have I ever refused to help you — “

  “Literally every day!” I exclaimed, cutting him off. “Every day you torment — “

  “When you actually ask me,” he continued talking right through me. “And yes, I do enjoy tormenting you daily.”

  I paused, taking a moment to digest both sides of that sentence.

  I… I couldn’t remember a time when he genuinely refused to help me when I asked, much to my confusion.

  “Maybe one day you will stop fighting demons in your head. There are enough of them in the real world,” he scolded coldly. “Now go get the book so we can get to work. I still expect all of your duties to be completed before you go home.”

  “Beeg?” I heard Stupid chirp next to me. I looked down to see her tugging on my sleeve. “Needz book?” she asked, holding the offender up for me.

  Dang it, I needed to be better to her. “Thanks Stupid,” I choked. “Uhm, how did you know?”

  “Stupid heard Boss offer to help, so Stupid went through favorite portal to Beeg’s room!” She giggled happily. “Boss never helps, so Stupid hurried just in case!”

  I had the distinct pleasure of watching Vaarg shoot his mug of goo out his nose in indignation.

  “Thanks Stupid,” I said, the grin splitting my face.

  Stupid patted my knee and skipped away.

  “I’m ready for the help, Vaarg,” I smiled.

  ____

  I watched in dumbfounded frustration at the scene unfolding before me.

  “I was surprised myself,” Vaarg said conversationally, sipping his mug.

  Imagine how I felt, the book wrote back without a pause.

  “And you are certain?”

  Y.U.P. No doubt. I presume Aisle 3 is his? The goblin lass brought me in that way. Wish he kept his room that clean.

  Vaarg raised an eyebrow. “Oh? I would have thought it would be immaculate. His impulsive cleaning here almost got some of my minions killed more than once, before the store decided he liked him.”

  Ha. I can only imagine. The brothers can be quite touchy, the book wrote back sagely.

  “Are you two serious right now?” I demanded, blushing furiously.

  Vaarg raised an eyebrow. “When am I ever not serious?”

  *What he said,* the book echoed.

  “So… will you help me?” I sighed.

  The adults are talking right now.

  “What did I do to make you dislike me?” I huffed.

  Your room is gross.

  I blinked.

  That’s it?

  “Uh, if I clean my room, will you help me?”

  Vaarg chuckled and sipped his mug as I bargained with a cantankerous book.

  Will you keep it as clean as Aisle 3?

  I paused. Cleaning where I worked was easy. Cleaning my house… I was tired when I got home, ok?

  “She asked for marble floors,” I said instead.

  Vaarg snorted into his mug.

  I get to choose how and what happens.

  While I wasn’t sure how I felt about the book, I was sure I didn’t want to upset or disappoint Mrs. Blurtz.

  She had been kind to me.

  “Tomorrow?”

  The book sat blank for a moment.

  I get a book stand by the window.

  I blinked.

  “Deal.”

  Did this really just happen?

  “Excellent, now get back to work, Beeg,” Vaarg smiled, clapping his hands. “Stupid, return the book to where you found it.”

  “Yeth Boss!” Stupid saluted, appearing out of nowhere.

  I watched as my new roommate left tucked under Stupid’s arm.

  “Thanks Vaarg,” I sighed.

  He nodded.

  “You… wouldn’t happen to sell book stands here, would you?”

  The smile on his face told me everything I needed to know.