A Second Time Around

Chapter Five

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"Are you sure you can't come to the library with me?" Stacey asked for the tenth time after lunch.

"I really can't, Stacey." Jenna said. "I still have to go to work."

"Not even for a few minutes?"

"I can't spare the time. I'm almost late for my shift as it is." Jenna explained.

Stacey pouted.

"Oh, don't give me that Agnes-like sad face now, Stace. It's not going to work this time." Jenna spoke, shaking her head slowly.

Stacey rolled her eyes. "Okay fine. I hate you."

"Aww but you love me too." Jenna said sweetly.

"Pssh whatever." Stacey sulked.

"Maybe Tiffany and Tamica are still in the library." Jenna cajoled.

"Maybe. I'll go and find them." Stacey said. "Now get out of here."

Jenna shrugged carelessly. "Okay, I'll see you around."

Stacey smiled slightly. "See you."

They split up, and Stacey went to the library to browse new textbooks about their major subject. Currently Mr. Gibson was teaching that subject, but since he's on leave at the moment, Stacey decided to read some topics in advance.

She tried her best to understand what she was reading. But when she realized that she has stayed on the same page rereading the same paragraph over and over again, she gave up.

Instead of forcing herself to give it another go, she replaced the book back to the shelf and wandered to the fiction section of the library. Stroking the spine of each book heedlessly, she found a copy of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and extracted it from its place.

She curled herself up on the carpeted floor of the library with her back resting on the shelf behind her, ruffling through the pages as she began to read.

She was on the part of the story where Percy magically threw Nancy Bobofit in the fountain, when someone above her cleared his throat.

"If you would please excuse me, you're kinda blocking the way." A guy's voice said.

Startled, Stacey looked up. The second she did, her astonishment changed to vexation.

"You!" Stacey cried.

Travis grinned. "Me."

"What are you doing here?" Stacey asked, scrambling to her feet.

"Why? Am I not allowed to be here?" He asked.

"No, but..." Stacey shook her head. "Why in the library?" She asked dumbly.

"Well, I'm a student here." He said simply, browsing the shelves behind her. "I have every right to use the library when I want to. Rory says hi, by the way." He grinned at her.

Stacey wanted nothing more than to wipe that insufferable, self-satisfied smile on his face.

"Tell your, er, inanimate skateboard which you seem to have a knack of talking to, that I say hello back." Stacey replied, simpering.

"Oh, I will." He said pleasantly, but with the amusement still in his eyes.

Stacey looked at him strangely. This guy is weird, she concluded.

"I hope you and Rory haven't bumped on another poor and unfortunate fellow lately?" She asked conversationally.

Travis made a show of reading each one of the book titles. "Nope. Not since you, actually."