A Book Nerd's Guide to Falling in Love

Chapter 17: Wishing was a Gamble

Finn hadn't texted me like he said he would. He hadn't called either. I couldn't deny I was expecting it. After he Face-Timed me the other night, I kind of wished he'd do it again.

He was likely busy celebrating over pizza with his team last night after their semi-final win, which gained them a chance for the championship. It was a big deal. He'd be hung over that and not thinking about me.

I was getting annoyed with myself for obsessing over Finn so much. I was crushing on him big time, but these kinds of feelings faded eventually. I just needed to wait it out.

I had a crush on this boy back in middle school, thinking he was my forever, which was deadass embarrassing and stupid now that I thought about it. I was glad I didn't act on it because it lasted only a month.

Wondering how long my crush on Finn would last, I tried to recall when it started. Maybe a few days ago—when Lotty asked me if he was cute, and I started to notice it, or at his party after talking to him alone in his uncle's library.

Oof! Waiting it out was frustrating. I couldn't act on it. I just couldn't! And even if I could, I wouldn't even know where or how to begin.

Shrugging off the infatuated thoughts, I tried to refocus on the present as I handed out a printed infographics to a woman carrying a bag of vegetables from the Farmer's Market. I'd been standing near the parking area for more than two hours now, giving away hundreds of papers for my save-the-library campaign.

For the first time, there was a burning hope in my heart. This could work—all it took was ten people visiting the library every day. I was so sure the government wouldn't close it down if they saw the townsfolk appreciated its importance.

"Visit the Littleton Public Library and save your memory," I said as I handed the print. The woman took it without looking at me. I watched as she folded and pocketed it. I could only hope she would read the information.

People who came to the Farmer's Market were too busy with their grocery bags to take a moment to read the infographics, but most of them accepted my offer. A few scanned it and seemed interested. And some had refused, which was alright because I wasn't expecting one hundred percent of the population to fall in love with reading.

"I need to find a better spot to give these out," I said to myself, looking inside the tote bag I carried over my arm, trying to estimate how many handouts were left—hundreds more. "Maybe Lotty and Cathy had better luck."

Deciding to leave the Farmer's Market, I made my way around town still giving away the infographics to anyone I passed by. I even dropped them in mailboxes, saying a little prayer every time and hoping each one would make a difference.

I walked by the library but didn't go in, knowing I didn't need to hand out infographics to people who already went there. But I peered at the statue from the sidewalk at the bottom of the library's front steps. "We're going to save the library. Don't worry, Pollyanna," I said, smiling at her.

It sounded like a promise, and I held it close to my heart—a promise I would do my best to keep.

I found my way down Main Street with a lighter load. Most of the handouts I'd taken with me were spread to the people of Littleton now, and I finally came to a satisfaction. Though my bag hadn't emptied yet, I decided it was time to call it a day.

The book, The Shadow Desert by Althea Basilio, was waiting for me at home. I had about a quarter of it left before I could mark it Complete on my Goodreads. The setting and plot of the story were terrific, and I loved it. Most of the characters intrigued me. Something about it seemed realistic, and I had been praising the author since I started reading it. It made me proud to be a Filipino because of Althea.