Summary: In this high school AU short story, Perth is put on library duty as a form of detention for skipping class. While there he notices Chimon, a focused student, sitting by himself each day. Over the course of a few weeks, they grow a sort of friendship that blossoms into a first relationship. Told from Perth's pov.
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"I can't believe I got detention! I didn't think I'd get caught"
Gemini laughed. "Perth you've been skipping class a lot lately so they were obviously looking out for you." He continued laughing harder. He laughed the way a best friend laughs at their silly and thoughtless counterpart.
I grimaced, still shocked that the teacher gave me detention. "I guess it's fine if the punishment is a library duty type of detention..."
"Yeah. That last time didn't you have to mop all the floors?" He laughed again. It was almost annoying how much he was enjoying my pain.
"It's not funny dude!" I rolled my eyes. Although, I have to admit that it would've been hilarious if it was someone else. But me? No way.
~After school~
I still can't believe I have to report here for three whole weeks. As I entered through the doors it was surprising how big the library was. Who knew it was this big, with large windows and so many tables and even a couple couches.
"You must be young mister Tanapon" someone yelled towards me from a large counter. I guess it was the main librarian that I have to report to.
The librarian, ms. Tonnam, explain what I had to clean each morning and how to put away the books in the afternoon. I'm still not sure why the organization of the books is so complicated. I don't get it. Numbers and letters to organize books? Why not just put them by the title?
Looking down at the short stack of books she gave me I was confused on where to start. I looked at them as if I've never even read a book. Of course I have but, this is a whole new thing.
Six books. This is all I have to do then I can go home. Six books. And yet I don't know where this first one is supposed go based on the numbers on the side.
I slowly walked down the aisles of books to find similar numbers. There's probably thirty different long bookshelves with several shelf's on each one.
"Why does this school have so many books? Rarely anyone comes here, so why would they need to have this many?" I said in a hushed voice.
I haven't seen a single other person so far, so who's even checking these out? "The Anatomy of The Sacred Fig: Buddha's Tree. Who checked out this book? What does this have to do with typical high school classes?" I said aloud as I turned the corner to the next aisle.
"Uhmhmhm"
Someone cleared their throat. "Oh. Sorry." I said and bowed to this guy sitting alone. I guess I was talking a bit loudly.
I stood there looking at him then back to the book. I wonder if he's the one that checked it out. He the only other person I've seen so far. Maybe he'll know where it goes.
As I walked up to him, I noticed he had three other books. One was a math textbook, the same one that I have at home, then two others that are unfamiliar.
His black hair had a nice shine that dropped down to just above his eyes, but parted above his right eye. "Umm...hello. Are you doing homework?" I asked with a friendly smile.
He looked up to me from his seat. His eyes were dark brown. I would think they were black, but the sunlight shining in from the large windows highlighted the walnut shade.
"Hello" he greeted.
"Well I'm Perth. I don't think we've meet before."
"Oh yeah. I think we had history together during freshman year, but you wouldn't have noticed me." He said plainly.
I almost felt bad that he would remember me, but I didn't know him at all.
"But I guess I didn't know your name." He said, then looked back down to his book.
I put the stack of books down on the large desk he was sitting at. "Ummm. So, what's your name?" I asked, feeling a bit awkward. I didn't want to intrude.
"My name's Chimon." He said with a slight smile.
"Oh Chimon. Okay. Well...do you by any chance know where any of these books go? I'm having trouble finding their spots?" I said with a wide smile, showing my teeth.
He looked at me curiously. It was like he began debating whether to help me or let me continue searching like a lost puppy.
"Let me see" he said with his hand out for the books. I handed the first one to him.
"Oh. I just returned this one at lunch."
I knew he was the one to check it out. I felt pretty proud of my detective skills.
He got up with the book still in his hand. He was almost the same height as me. I didn't expect it. I thought he would've been shorter just from the look of him sitting down. From the looks of him, he didn't seem to standout, but he still seemed to carry himself with confidence.
"Follow me" Chimon said.
"Uh yeah okay...lead the way" I followed him as he walked a few aisles over and between two shelves. He walked with the type of confidence you have when you come from money and decent privilege, just like me and everyone else at this school.
"You see this book is classified starting with the number 575, which means it's in the biology category, and more specifically it's the physiology of plants" Chimon said, holding the book up so I could see it at he kept walking down the aisle.
"Ohhh" I wanted sound like I knew what that meant, but it still didn't make any sense. How was I suppose to know what 575 means?
"Ooof." He suddenly stopped and I walked right into him. "Sorry. I wasn't paying attention" I said, rubbing the back of my head.
He smiled. It wasn't just a friendly smile, he must've thought I was funny at the very least. Then he pointed to a shelf.
"Look here. This is 575. So now we look at the next character on the spine. The next one on this book is J.90 which means we need to look for the similar book here on the shelf." He looked and his finger dragged across the books.
"Here. This one is 575.J87 so this book would go next." He said, pointing at another book with a dark green color. He smirked and put it back.
"Wow, thanks. How did you know?
"Well when you read as much as I do, you kind of memorize the system. Plus, I did pick this book out last week so I could somewhat remember where it goes." He smiled but seems a little embarrassed. I guess he does read a lot like I thought.
"Do you mind helping me with the other ones as well?" I asked humbly.
"Sure. I'll try to help you figure out the main categories so you can do it on your own next time." Chimon said as he walked past me and back to the table with the rest of the books.
As I followed him, I analyzed the details of his backside, the stands of his hair, the movement of his uniform, and the way he walked. He seems quite different from the rest of the rich kids in my classes. This includes myself. He has a certain aura that is warm and light and sophisticated all at the same time.
