Exclusively Hers

6 - A long way from home

Six weeks later, Monday @ Evermall High School Library
Aspen's POV

Peering down the row of sweeping numbers, it doesn't take long for me to find the desired book I sought out. My fingers slid between the column, removing it from its tight encasement on the shelf.

"Biology's greatest achievements." The unfamiliar voice sends a foreign feeling of disquiet to my brain for a second, much like a brief hot flash. It's been two and a half months since I've been away from home. I have gotten so acclimated with seeing Miss Hope's family and friends everyday, that I am becoming unaccustomed to seeing new faces and voices everyday.

I have never been around the same company for this long, every bare body I encountered being one that I am estranged with. Only Madam Katrine has been a constant in my life until now.

"You into that?" His voice rang out again and I allowed them my attention for a moment before looking down to the book in my hands. It was Vincent, a friend of Kyle's. He was one of the people Raffael told me so long ago to stay away from, but Vincent would stop me sometimes and casually consult me about random things. He was a very nice person. It makes me wonder if Raffael does not think as fondly of him.

"If you mean interested, yes." I had not heard from him in a while with him being out of school for a few weeks and his voice dismembered into little particles in the back of my mind at some point. A habit from hearing so many that I'd never confront again. Names I knew, I must remember those.

"For someone as popular as you, It's a surprise how smart you are. What are you doing at a school like this?" He was leaning against the bookshelf I had been previously browsing but slightly leaned to the side to peer at Miss Hope and her friends at one of the lounge tables a few feet away from us. "And living with the ass kissers?"

"You must have been misinformed," I declare before crouching down to slide the newly acquired book into my bag. "Madam Maragret's family do not kiss ass. I am not sure about Miss Hope, but Raffael does not, he prefers his ass kissed on." Standing, I lift my bag into my arms. "Madam Maragret and Sir Nick do not kiss ass either. In fact, they haven't been doing much of anything ever since I walked in on them once. I think Sir Nick is having issues with an impotent genital."

Vincent paused to gawk at me for a few seconds before erupting in laughter. His dark locks fell forward with him as he bent over, holding onto his stomach. I merely watched him, pondering why he would find such joy in this information. Perhaps he does not like ass kissers.

"You are one weird kid, but I have to ask," he starts as he straightens. "Rumor has it that you're actually eighteen and behind. That true?" Miss Hope did tell me I was eighteen years old, but-

"Behind?"

"Held back in school."

"This is my first time going to school," I vocalized honestly. His gaze appeared to be gauging my face, trying to seek out a lie that wasn't told.

"Well, I should get going. Your pussy prosy noticed my presence." His tone sounded gladden, accompanied by a smirk. I followed his line of sight and sure enough, Wesley who had been previously slouched in his chair was now leaning forward with his hands clasped together on the table in a defensive tenseness, his hard gaze on us. Or, me. When I turned back around, Vincent was nowhere to be seen.

"Aspen, did you find what you were looking for?" My attention pivots back to the table at the end of the aisle when Carla calls out for me. I allow my long, but slow strides to take me back to their company, sliding in my saved seat beside Miss Hope and May.

"I did."

"Ms. Wanda said you got the last book in here on biology, you've just about read them all," May stated as she stared into a mini-mirror, applying what I learned was makeup.