2|| Whispers in the Wind

14|| discoveries and... accidents

Kalyani

"Sorry what the fuck?" Arlo snapped. "There is no way-"

"Yes way!" screeched the rest of them (except Aria). "We aren't playing a sport, Arlo. Stop being a baby. This is for Kalyani and her family," Wilder huffed.

"But why her? I'd rather even have Evelyn!"

"Gee, thanks," snorted Aria. "I'm not that hyped for it either, just so you know. Wilder, let's switch up. I'll go with Arlo if you go with Kalyani. Leo and Jacob can team up and Evelyn can handle the rest."

"Why am I alone?" Evelyn protested.

"Cause I don't want you to get distracted by Leo and also because I'm trying to be nice to Jacob's brain."

"Thank you, it's much appreciated," said Jacob wryly.

Things quieted down after that as everyone went their separate ways. Kalyani turned to Wilder. "Sooo. Library?"

He nodded. "Yup. Still can't believe Leo's house has a library?"

"Yeah. He never gave any hints that his house was actually a mansion. He's nice that way," Kalyani said, and it was true. Leo was the sweetest, shyest person ever and the last thing he would do was act stuck up. Wilder and Leo had apparently been best friends for ages, along with Evelyn, so Wilder was used to the whole library-in-mansion thing.

Wilder tugged on her arm. "C'mon, let's go!" Kalyani laughed as he started almost dragging her up various staircases. She goggled at the sight of some of the room's contents. "Here we are," Wilder announced finally. He pulled a key out of his back pocket and stuck it into the door handle.

"There's a key? How come it's not just unlocked?" Kalyani asked.

"Leo's parents are very strict about the care of books. They say books contain more worth and knowledge than a thousand spoken words- or something like that. His great grandparents were important scholars in Taiwan."

"Wow, you listen more than I'd thought," Kalyani teased.

"It's one of my many unique surprises." But all thought of humor faded from Kalyani's mind as they entered the room. At least twenty wall-high shelves were arranged slightly circular, like a maze. Each of them were filled with books, with not one space to spare. In other words, Kalyani's dream room.

"Okay, this may be the coolest place ever," she decided.

Wilder wrinkled his nose. "If you say so. I mean, I appreciate books and all, but isn't it kind of boring?"

Kalyani stared. "Of course not! Books are the base of everything we learn. If books didn't exist, so many great scientists wouldn't have developed an interest in what they did!"

"Alright, I believe you, chill. So what are we looking for exactly?"

"More info on Roxanne. Leo said something about there being very old texts around here. There could be books that are banned- but nobody bothered to check his house," Kalyani replied promptly.

"A'ight. Ladders at the far edge."

Kalyani looked to where he pointed and walked off. Wilder was kind of annoyingly tall. Like very tall. Some of the high books he would need a ladder for, but not right now.

She, on the other hand, was barely 5'6. It was irritating as hell. A ladder stood at the corner of the room, as promised. Kalyani decided to start at the center shelf. It was an odd urge, but she obeyed it. At least there was nobody here to push her off. According to Jacob, Leo's ghost problem was all his fault for dubious taste in girlfriends.

Kalyani scanned the bottom shelf. There was some pretty cool stuff, but not what she was here for. This went on for a while, until she reached the one at the very top. Wilder was off somewhere at the other side of the room. One book in particular, leather bound and navy blue, called out to her. The ladder didn't exactly help in reaching, because she stumbled.

The ladder was wobbling. The only way to save herself would be to grab the edges of the shelf, but Leo's parents probably wouldn't appreciate it. So, she let go. With increasing panic, she realized the ladder was about to give out. She tried to steady herself, but- curse her clumsy feet- she stumbled again, and tipped backward.

She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the pain. But it never came. She floated a foot above the floor. Her first thought was that Roxanne had somehow followed her here, but no. She turned her head to face her rescuer.

"You should really watch where you're standing," Wilder smirked.

"Wha- wai- how? You were on the other side-"

"Nah, I just wanted to check on you. Good thing I did, since you were definitely a damsel in distress."

"Ew no."

"You are a damsel. And you were definitely distressed, based on the whole squeezing-your-eyes-shut thing." Wow, he didn't really know when to stop did he?

"Um, you can put me down now," Kalyani flushed. He was sort of half carrying her.

To her surprise, Wilder set her down gently, then turned the exact same color. Worse even. Again, Kalyani felt like floating. As she had the other day.

"Looks like the book you were trying to get fell out with you," he pointed to the floor.

"Oh, that's odd. Lemme see." The cover read 'Secrets of the First Haunting'

"That's not about Roxanne..." Wilder pointed out.

"No," Kalyani agreed, "but it could help. We were going to see whether Roxanne was the first person to be able to communicate with spirits."

"Sounds good. Maybe check the person the book is about."

Kalyani flipped to somewhere in between the book. It read: so it is concluded that it is very likely Roxanne Wesner was the first to ever have a problem of the supernatural.

She froze. As Wilder peeked over her shoulder at the text, she knew she'd just hit the jackpot. More proof. More ideas of what the girl could want. "Well, that's informative," Wilder attempted at a joke.

Kalyani abruptly snapped the book shut. "I'll read it later. Let's show the others."

"Not yet."

Wilder approached her. She expected him to take the book or something, but he just kept coming. He stopped inches from her.

"What're you doing?" He was close. Way too close.

"Well, I think we've done enough for you to be in my esteemed friend circle," Wilder snorted.

Kalyani scowled. "Personal space, please."

"Who's she? Anyways, to enter it, there's a price." He leaned in to whisper in her ear. "You tell a secret and I'll tell one of mine."

Kalyani shoved him in the chest with both hands. He staggered back. "Shut up. No way am I telling you a secret, you creep."

"Fine, we'll skip that part. Let me tell you one first."

"What is it?"

"I think we should have that friendly date tomorrow."