At the Back of the Library || On Hold

Ch. 02.: The Girl I've Never Talked To

Sean's POV:

I'm sitting at my table in library with my friend Shem, and we're playing Clash of Clans when Careena comes up and starts talking to us.

After like five minutes, I get aggravated. I like hanging out with Careena and all, but nobody interrupts me in the middle of a game. So I finally tell her to f— off, and, judging by her glare, that was a really bad idea.

"Run," Shem mutters. I decide to take his advice, slowly getting up and backing away, just as Tasha calls Careena over.

Thank God. I run to the back of the library, just in case Careena decides to follow me when she's done talking to Tasha. Even though the library's kind of small, hopefully she won't be able to find me. I stand against a bookshelf, panting, until I notice the girl next to me, who's shooting me a killer glare.

"Damn it," she says, "You guys don't have any manners, do you?"

It's Ashley R., and I guess she likes being alone or something, because she never really talks a lot. Or not to me, anyways.

"Hi?" I offer, trying not to make the situation worse.

She still doesn't look happy, but she says, "Hi, Sean. And now, I'm trying to read, so would you please leave, you annoying idiot? Thanks in advance."

I step back, a little shocked. Most of us think of Ashley R. as a sort of good girl, who gets grades in the 90s all the time, would never tell anyone off, and so on.

But clearly, that's not who she is.

I glance at the cover of the book she's reading. Basketball: A Beginner's Guide. I laugh without meaning to, because I don't know how anyone can learn a sport from a book. It's two totally different things to read about basketball and then go play it.

Ashley R. scowls at me, even though I'm not laughing at her.

I probably should just go, but I can't help but say, "Ashley R., you've got to practice on a court, or you'll never get anywhere with basketball."

"Oh, really?" She tries to sound sarcastic, but the look on her face betrays her. Ashley R.'s determined to play basketball.

"Yeah," I tell her.

"Well..." she bites her lip, looking nervous. I wonder why, since we've had a pretty lighthearted conversation. At least to me.

"Sean, will you teach me how to play basketball?" she finally asks.

I'm totally caught off guard. I've practically only just met Ashley R. five minutes ago, and she's asking me to teach her a sport?

But then again, I've got nothing to lose.

So I say yes.