haunted || l.h.

2

  I went to the library for lunch like I always did. I was here everyday either doing my homework or helping Mrs. Cole organize some books.

  I had to find a book for my English project so I have been looking through every shelf for something interesting. I found a book that caught my eye up on one of the higher shelves. I went up on my tippy toes to see if I could reach it or not, which I couldn't. So I was just going to go ask Mrs. Cole for a step stool or something.

  I felt someone stand next to me and reach up to grab the book from the shelf. I went back on my flat feet and looked to give the person a glare when I saw Luke standing there holding the book.

"I saw you struggling and thought you could use the help." He said nonchalantly and handed me the book.

"Thanks but I could've gotten it myself." I said.

"Well from what I could see it seemed like you needed some help." He said and leaned against the bookshelf.

"I was fine." I said and went to go back to my table where my stuff was.

"I still don't know your name you know." He said and followed me over to my table.

"Why do you care?" I asked and started putting my stuff in my bag since the bell would be ringing soon.

"Well I always see you around and I'm curious. You have this mystery about you." He said and sat down in the seat across from where I was.

"Curiosity killed the cat you know." I said and zipped up my bag and threw it over my shoulders.

"Maybe it won't this time." He said and watched me pick up all of my stuff.

"Why are you even here?" I asked and headed over to Mrs. Cole so I could check out this book.

"I was looking for a book but got a bit distracted." He said and followed me to the desk.

"You might want to get back to looking, the bell is going to ring in about ten seconds." I said and handed Mrs. Cole the book.

"It can wait till tomorrow." He said and stood next to me. Mrs. Cole handed me the book and told me when it was due as the bell for next period rang.

"Paisley Blake." Luke said as he watched me sign out on the sign out sheet.

"You're in my bubble you know." I said and stepped away from him and walked towards the big doors of the library.

"Where are you going?" He asked and walked next to me.

"To class." I said in a duh tone and focused on walking in the halls.

"Obviously, but which class?" He asked while I watched him looked down at me from the corner of my eye.

"Calculus." I said and walked down the stairs to the second floor.

"Me too, who do you have?" He asked and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"The same teacher you have." I said and continued walking to class.

"You have Mr. B? I didn't know that." He said in surprise.

"I didn't expect you to. I sit in the back and keep quiet, you sit in the front and cause a ruckus with your friends." I said and took a left into our classroom.

"Sit with us." He said and followed me to my seat in the back of the room.

"No." I said and sat down in my seat.

"Why not?" He asked and sat in the seat next to mine.

"Because I don't want to." I said and started taking everything for this class out of my bag.

"Well can I sit back here then?" He asked.

"No." I said firmly.

"Hemmo what are you doing back there? Come up here dude." One of his friends said and waved him up to the front of the room.

"I'll see you later." He said and went up to the front of the room once I didn't respond.

///

"I want you guys to get with a partner and do this packet. This will be our study guide for the test on Friday. As you can see, it's very hefty, so you'll have the next four class periods to work on it with your partner." Mr. B said which made me internally sigh. At first I thought we'd get to pick partners, which ended up with me by myself because I'd rather be by myself. But then he pulled up the list of names that would be working together which made me frustrated.

"Would you look at that, we're partners for the rest of the week." Luke said as he walked over to the empty desk next to mine.

"Unfortunately yes." I sighed and wrote my name at the top of the packet.

"It'll be fun, we can get to know each other while we work." He said with a cheerful look.

"No we can't. I work better alone, and I don't want to get to know you." I said and wrote my name at the top of the packet.

"Why not? I'm a nice guy, and a good friend. You won't regret being friends with me." He said and wrote his name at the top of his packet.

"I don't care if you're nice, I don't want to be your friend so I won't have to regret anything." I said and started the first problem.

"Give me one good reason and I'll leave you be." He said and twirled his pencil around his fingers.

"I don't do friends." I said bluntly.

"I'm a great friend though. We could be best friends." He said which made me sigh.

"We could, but we won't be." I said and started the first few problems.