Chapter 191 - 190: Different History
Skaters doing wild flips down at Venice. Kids blasting music from bikes. Street artists painting murals that somehow made brick walls look like museum pieces. Food trucks everywhere. A lady selling bracelets that "repel exes"—he almost bought one just for fun.
People think LA is just red carpets and drama. But nah, it’s also sunshine, chill chaos, and weirdly specific horchata stands on every corner.
Anyway, after walking aimlessly and getting mildly sunburned, he stumbled into a used bookstore that smelled like yellowing pages and coffee no one ever finished. No one greeted him. No curated displays. Just stacks of books piled like an unstable Jenga tower waiting to happen. He liked it instantly.
He drifted between aisles, fingers grazing spines. Self-help, philosophy, politics, economics—then stopped when he saw a thin book tucked awkwardly between two hardcovers like it was hiding.
"The Modern World: A Brief Outlook on Global Power and Influence."
He raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Convenient."
Because hey, if you’re going to fake being sophisticated at a party full of elites, you might as well learn something fancy to say, and there was still so much about this world to learn about.
Paid in cash. The guy at the counter barely looked up from his crossword.
With book in hand, Rex wandered out again, walking until he found what could only be described as a café straight out of a European Instagram post—white brick, ivy crawling up the side, and outdoor tables under little umbrellas. It looked too pretty for its own good.
He sat down anyway.
Ordered an iced Americano from a bored-looking barista with mint-green hair and a lip ring. No judgment. The drink was good.