Waiting

Edward tapped his foot and suppressed a sigh, shifting his football from one arm to the other. Beth had been crouched down beside the bookcase for over five minutes now and she seemed unlikely to move anytime soon.  In fact, even as he watched, she sank backwards to sit cross-legged on the floor, absorbed in the book she was looking at.  He ran a hand through his hair and glanced at his watch, fighting to suppress his boredom.  He hated the shabby little bookshop in their village. At least when Beth dragged him into the huge bookstore in town there were magazines and a coffee shop, in here there was just books.  Overflowing form the shelves and piled up on the floor.  In no discernable pattern that Edward could see, so you couldn’t even get what you wanted quickly and go, you had to search for ages.  Beth claimed that was part of the charm that you found all kinds of interesting things this way; things that you’d never come across in a normal bookstore.
“Why don’t you just buy it!” he burst out, unable to stay silent any longer.  Beth lifted her head, startled.
“Buy it,” Edward repeated, “You obviously like it.”
“Yes, I do but I like these two as well and I can only afford one.” She grinned at him. “You don’t have to wait for me Ed, why don’t I meet you back at your house?”
Edward shook his head. “No it’s fine, I don’t mind.” Beth’s grin widened.  They’d known each other all their lives, growing up next door to each other and she knew perfectly well he was lying.
“Okay,” she shrugged. “I won’t be much longer.” She returned her eyes to the book, catching her lip between her teeth as she plunged back into the world between its pages. Edward watched her, hugging the football tightly to his chest, suddenly glad of a chance to be able to stare at her unobserved.  Beth was his best friend but lately she’d do something, something as simple as biting her lip, and it would catch him off guard.  His heart would start beating faster and his mouth would go dry. He studied her face, so familiar to him that sometimes he didn’t even see it. Her fair hair was caught back in her usual ponytail, she’d shrugged her coat onto the floor in the heat of the bookshop and the long line of her neck was exposed. The skin startling pale against the navy blue of her jumper.    Edward found himself wondering what it would be like to run a finger along her throat and feel the beat of her pulse.  As if she could hear him Beth glanced up again, her dark eyes meeting his and his heart gave a guilty jolt.
“Alright,” she slid two books back into the bookcase. “I’ve chosen, we can go.”
Standing up she hauled her thick coat on and reached for her bag.  Edward looked away relieved that she’d noticed nothing strange in his expression.
“Mr Thomas,” Beth called through to the back room.  “I’m ready.”
Edward watched as she paid for the book and stowed it away in her rucksack and then followed her out into the cool afternoon.  It was winter and the street lamps had already come on, little pools of light in the gathering dark.
“So are you coming over for tea?” he asked. He knew the answer but he was still feeling strange and he wanted to speak.
Beth looked at him in surprise ‘Of course, it’s Sunday.”
She’d been having tea and watching TV on a Sunday night at Edward’s house for as long as she could remember.
“Great, I think we’re got ice cream and that new American thing starts tonight on channel four.”
“Oh I’m looking forward to that.”
Beth skipped round the road works on the pavement pony tail bouncing. Edward paused wondering if tonight when they’re curled up in the TV room together he should try and kiss her.
“Come on,” Beth turned to glance back at him. “I thought you wanted to get home, stop dithering.”
Edward grinned and ran to catch up with her. He probably wouldn’t try and kiss her he’d probably wait. At the moment it seemed too big a risk to take.

This is just me trying to practise writing in the third person.  It’s from a story I am working which is written from Beth’s perceptive.  I thought it might be easier to do when I already knew where the story was heading (it wasn’t) any tips, comments appreciated

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