The Tales and Tellings of Hallows' Grove (MLM)

CHAPTER TEN.

                The drive to the library was not a long one, but Edward's tapping foot and head whipping around at every bird that flew by the window made it seem much longer.

"He's not there," Henry said. "He can't fly, I don't think."

"Very funny," Edward said angrily. "Why did you call him over? Why are you talking to him? Or his sister?"

"Talking to his sister was the only reason we were able to find out anything about your family."

"And what a treat that was!"

"Edward," Henry said calmly. "Settle. Nothing's going to happen to you."

"And you?" he demanded. "Do you think I'm happy to uncover the truth if it means you're put in harm?"

"You're so sweet," Henry chuckled.

Edward clenched his jaw, but a pink tinge spread to his cheeks and the tips of his ears. "It's not funny."

"It's endearing."

"No, it's not!"

"It's very cute."

"Stop it!"

"Why?"

"Because . . ." Edward pulled his hair. "It's making me blush!"

Henry's smile widened. "Is it?"

He hid his face. "ARGH!"

Henry laughed and reached over, brushing back his curls with his fingers. Edward swatted his hand away.

"Don't touch me!"

"All right."

Edward held his head in his hands for a long while. Then he muttered, "I didn't mean that. You can touch me when you'd like."

Henry glanced over and saw him blushing furiously, unwilling to meet his eyes.

He had the urge to laugh again, but kept his voice soft. "Thank you."

The library was the only building wider than the diner. It had long windows with shelves of books on display, a ladder shelf outside beside the door, and a wooden sign that read, Hallows' Grove Public Library: You're Too Dumb Not to Read.

"Charming," said Edward with distaste.

"I should warn you," Henry said, pulling his coat collar up against the wind, "before we go inside."

"Yes?" he asked.

"My friend can be a bit . . . pragmatic." Henry pulled the doors open to the smell of books, sconces on the walls with lightbulbs lit the space, turning the deep red walls and book spines to gold.

"Don't wander too close," Henry murmured.

Edward's eyes narrowed at a few of the spines. "I've never even heard of half of these."

"You wouldn't," Henry said, his footsteps echoing on the long tiled floor. "He keeps all the books you would want to read in the back." Only a circle of the library was lit, the back engulfed in shadow. It always seemed like night time in here, and so much smaller than it actually was. "Displays the more underrated novels up front. I suppose he thinks it'll spread the authors' names around, but this place is almost always empty because no one can find what they actually want to read."