Once Upon A Sketch

1. Between the pages

One, two, three, four, the books kept going on and on. Mandy had been searching for 30 minutes already but she just couldn’t find the book she's looking for.

Finally between the 24th and 26th book on the 3rd shelve Mandy visited she found the book she had been looking for. Squished between two taller books was the History book she needed. Just as she opened it something fell down. It was a folded page of a notebook. Mandy opened it expecting notes from class or something but instead she was blown away by what she saw.

It was a sketch of a girl reading a book, wavy hair falling down her shoulders, a slim hand holding a book while the other hand holds a pen. Whoever made this is really good, Mandy thought and she also envied them for having such talent and skill. She was interrupted from admiring the sketch when the librarian announced that the school library was closing soon. Mandy hurriedly went to her so she could borrow the history book and go home.

It was already 9 pm when Mandy had already done her assignment when she remembered that sketch again. She opened the book from where she put the sketch between the pages and stared at it. 'I wonder who drew it?’ ‘They're really talented, and who's the girl?’ Mandy stared at the girl's face for a long time but the girl wasn’t familiar.

Mandy was staring at it for a few more minutes when an idea popped in her mind, she took her pen and wrote at the bottom of the sketch. Whoever drew this, you're really great and I hope it went well with her. :)   ‘Wow what a weirdo I am’

Before she had the chance to question and berate herself on how stupid that was she quickly put the folded paper between the book's pages and slammed it shut. ‘I don't even know if that's the girl they like and I don't even know if it's a boy who drew this but whatever. It's not like they'll know I wrote it and I'm not even sure if they'll see this.’ Those were Mandy’s last thoughts before going to bed.

The next day Mandy returned the book and put it at the exact same place she got it from yesterday before going to class. For the first time Mandy felt that the classes were so long and boring, by the time the last class started she was already itching to run out the doors.

When the bell finally rang she bolted out the doors and ran straight to the library. She got the book out of the shelves and flipped the pages to where she slipped the sketch and it was still there. When she opened it the same sketch greeted her along with the note she put last night. She inspected every inch of the paper but there was nothing. Mandy was quite disappointed that nothing happened but quickly shook her head. ‘What did I even want to happen anyway?’ ‘A response? Seems impossible’ Mandy thought before she returned the book and just went home.

A few days later when Mandy was doing homework in the library she remembered that sketch again. ‘I wonder if the one who drew that remembered the sketch they did and went back for it. Surely they want it back? I mean if that's the sketch of the girl they like they wouldn't want it lying around right?’

In the end her curiosity prevented her from continuing her homework and deciding that it wouldn't hurt to take a look, she went back to that same shelve and got that same book. She nervously opened it and slowly turned the pages. It was still there, and when she opened the folded paper to look at the sketch she gasped. There at the bottom of the sketch was her note and below it was a new handwritten note, the penmanship was better than hers so she couldn't have written it. Thank you, actually I drew this a week before we broke up. This was five months ago and I only remembered this sketch today.

Mandy just stared at the note for a whole minute before a smile broke out on her face. ‘Wow they actually responded!’ She was just so amazed that she continued to stand there staring at the paper like an idiot. She was only pulled to reality when a guy reached over her to get a book. She immediately apologized and moved out of the way.

Back at her table she got her pen out and wrote below the new note. Oh I'm sorry about that, but why did you break up? You don't have to tell me of course but I'm just curious. Your sketch just made me feel like you were really in love with her at that moment.

Once again Mandy put the book back to the same place and went back to her homework. A few minutes later someone sat down beside her and when she looked up, it was just Jess.

"Hey Jess, how's practice?" Mandy asked as the brunette laid face down on the table.

"Horrible, that Parker is training us like the devil's on our asses" She groaned as she massaged sore spots on her arms and shoulders from her volleyball practice.

"I can give you a massage as soon as I'm done with homework" Mandy offered with a sympathetic smile.

"You're a godsend! Please adopt me!" Jess squealed and Mandy just chuckled.

Thew were in a cafe that just opened and Mandy couldn’t help but admire the place. The interior and ambient was nice, the tables and chairs looked cozy too, but more importantly the food was great. They also had a variety of sweets that were mouth watering, from cakes, pies, breads, cookies to drinks and even ice cream.

"Hey have you heard about the exchange students?" Jess asked after devouring a large piece of chocolate cake.

"Exchange students?" That made Mandy’s brows raise, she didn't know there were exchange students in their school. Well at least in her classes they didn't have one. ‘They all must be in different departments.’

"Yeah, there's five of them, three girls and two guys" Jess whispered as if sharing a big secret.

"And?" Mandy questioned since she doesn’t really care about them and usually Jess doesn’t also care about new people that much which made Mandy a bit suspicious.

At her reply Jess leaned in even further and even held up her hand on the side of her mouth as if someone would hear her when they’re already a good distance away from the other customers in the shop.

"I heard the guys are hot" Jess whispered with a wicked smile and waggled her eyebrows.

Mandy just sighed and looked at her unamused.

"Okay, and?" Mandy just rolled her eyes at Jess. ‘I should've figured that was what caught her attention.  Like she really just base her feelings on their faces. Sure she had a lot of good looking boyfriends up until now thanks to her looks but all of them sucks. I mean I know there are people with good looks and with good personality but the ones she lands on are those that just have their face to boast about, no brain nor decent personality.’ Mandy rambled on inside her head.

"I saw the other guy this morning and he's really fineeee" Jess continued not the least bit bothered by Mandy’s lack of enthusiasm in the topic.

"So what you're after him now?" Mandy sighed disapprovingly.

"Oh come on Mandy! When you see him I'm sure even you'll be interested" Jess nudged her on the shoulder and Mandy just sighed again. ‘There's no helping this girl.’