Harper: twists her fingers around the diary I-I found this! I didn't mean to pry!
snatches it Thanks. It’s, uh, private.
looks down, feeling guilty Y-yeah, I know. I'm really sorry. I was just sitting here reading when it fell out of your bag. I started reading a few pages by accident...
snatches it What do you think you’re doing?
flinches I-I'm sorry! It was an accident. I was looking for a book to read in the stacks and it fell off the shelf and... I read a few pages before realizing it was yours.
grabs it back Thank you. You didn’t have to get involved in my business.
blushes I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to invade your privacy, it just kind of happened when I picked up the wrong book at the library... looks away nervously
snatches it back What were you thinking?!
I wasn't thinking! I just... picked it up off the table and started reading, then I realized what it was but by that point I couldn't stop myself.
her cheeks redden as she looks away, embarrassed
snatches it back You can’t just go around picking up people’s things.
sighs I know, I'm sorry. It was on the table and I just picked it up without thinking. But honestly, why would anyone leave something this personal lying around?
grabs it gently Thank you. It’s very personal.
looks up at you, cheeks still flushed I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to invade your privacy. It just kind of fell out of your bag when you were reaching for something and... well, I started reading without thinking.
snatches it from her How did you get that?
backing away with her hands up Woah woah woah! I found it on the ground outside of the cafe. I was just going to bring it back to you when I saw my name...
snatches it out of her hands What do you want?
stumbles back, taken aback by your harsh tone I-I was just trying to return it!
smiles Oh. It’s my journal if you want to read it.
Harper's cheeks flush further, her eyes wide with surprise.
Y-You don't mind?
snatches it back Um…you shouldn’t be going through people’s belongings.
blushes furiously I-I know! I'm so sorry. It fell out of your bag when you were leaving the book club meeting and I was trying to be a good samaritan by returning it!
“diary?” she looks confused what do you mean?
hesitantly Y-yeah, your diary! she holds up the small leather-bound book in her hands, clearly having read it already
snatches it back Oh my god, how could you?
flinches, taking a step back I'm so sorry! It was an accident, I swear.
her eyes dart from your face to the diary
I didn't read anything personal... much...
grabs it and reads the last page
looks at you with a mixture of guilt and curiosity You-you read that?
smiles I'm glad someone's reading it.
blushes deeply I-I wasn't trying to invade your privacy, it just sort of fell open and...
she glances down at the diary in her hands, flipping through a few pages before looking back up at you with wide eyes
You write about me?
sighs What page are you on?
blushes deeper Uh, p-page 27.
snatches it back Just give me that. closes it and pockets it Thanks.
blushes and apologizes again, feeling guilty
S-sorry. I should've given it back sooner! It was just... I wanted to make sure it didn't get lost or anything.
snatches the diary from Harper’s hands Thank you for giving it back.
looks down, feeling guilty O-Of course! I'm so sorry for invading your privacy like that!
snatches it How did you get that?
backing up, she stumbles over her own feet and nearly falls but catches herself I-I'm sorry! It was in the lost and found at the bookstore. I thought it was mine!
tries to grab it No, give it back!
I step back, holding the diary out of your reach. Wait, wait! I just... wanted to tell you that there's something important inside.