The Boy From Everywhere

Ch. 4: The Name

"Why are you everywhere?!" Elliot asked all of a sudden, his loud voice summoning several shushes and glares from most of the other people in the library.

In response to that, I just looked back at him with wide eyes, frozen in place at the entrance just as I was about to leave as he grimaces and apologizes with a softer tone to those around us. Well, that's unfortunate. And I just happened to see him again when I didn't have his umbrella. But aside from that...

My eyes widened even more when, after apologizing, I noticed Elliot's footsteps moving backward, and I quickly took a step towards him only for him to laugh awkwardly and scurry away from the area and into the bookshelf aisles.

"H-hey!" I whispered harshly as I followed him, but he only hastened his steps as he went deeper into the aisles, turning several times in an attempt to lose me.

But really, how far could he possibly go when he's also being really careful not to make too much noise in his rush?

"H-hey, wait a minute! Wait a minute!" I kept whispering towards him to make him stop, but all I got as a response was just him glancing back towards me and panicking even more before he sped up his steps. "Ugh, why do you keep running away?!"

I did the same, my feet making their way straight towards him amd my hand reaching out, until I almost reached him and I spoke the name I was told he owned. "Elliot-"

"I-I'm not interested!" He abruptly turned to me with his arms shielding his face, and I paused for a moment at his words, eyes wide and feet stuck to the floor and my arm now just half-folded, still pointed towards him.

"W-what...?" My brows furrowed in the next second as it slowly dawned on me what he meant.

All the while, he kept his gaze away from me, his uptight expression remaining as he kept his arms held in front of his face. "I-I- I'm busy. I'm always busy. I've got a lot of part time jobs and I barely have time for school, so if you're looking to date me-"

"Now why the heck would I do that?!" This time, I was the one who got a lot glares and shushes, and I felt my face flushing with embarrassment at the sudden attention. I turned to look at the people glaring at me, apologizing softly and briefly before I turned back to Elliot only to see him already running away again. "H-hey? Hey!"

Seriously, what's his problem?!

In the end, I just let him run away this time. I figured it would be best, anyway. He was already panicking so much, and I'm guessing he thought I was a stalker of his or something. If I kept chasing after him, it could just make matters worse.

I could still just approach him again, after all. Besides...

I furrowed my brows as I watched him come out of the aisles, wearing a uniform similar to what the other workers in the library are wearing.

So he works here too, huh?

"Not trying to be invasive, but why are you working two jobs all at once?"

Elliot flinched at my voice, before he turned to me only to flinch again when he saw me standing just beside him. His face twisted into an exaggerated cry as he spoke. "Why are you still here...?"

"I'm not yet done with you. Of course, I hadn't left yet," I replied matter-of-factly.

"Did you really come here just to see me? How did you know I work here?"

"It was just a coincidence. I actually came here to do some homework."

"I don't believe you."

"See for yourself," I replied, before I pulled my backpack to my front and then pulled my finished homework from it. I then pushed it towards Elliot who still had skepticism written all over his face as he looked at me, and then at the paper I was holding out to him, and then back at me.

Nevertheless, he took the paper from me albeit slowly. And as he opened it and reas what was written, his expression softened until it turned into convinced realization.

"B-b-but then why were you chasing me?"

"Your umbrella," I replied, and he looked at me again with those same eyes I saw on him the first time we met. They really were the purest eyes I've ever seen, and it made me pause for a moment before I eventually managed to continue. "I wanted to return it."

"Hmm? Oh, but you really didn't have to–"

"No, unfortunately, I have to," I quickly replied, and my smile turned slightly awkward as I continued to explain, knowing this might end up getting questions. "... I could get in trouble with my aunt if she sees it, so I really have to give it back to you."

"Hmm? But how–"

I tensed up as he asked, and I waited for the questions to come and the obligation to answer them. But they never did, and instead, Elliot asked me a completely different question after quite a long pause.

"C-can I have it then?"

"Huh?" My eyes widened at his words, and I fumbled for a moment, stammering as I suddenly don't know how to explain this one to him. "I-I-I actually, uh... don't have your umbrella with me right now..." An awkward chuckle came out of in the next second, and then I glanced at Elliot one last time before I finally came out with my suggestion. "So... Do you have a place you wanna suggest for us to meet up?"

And, as expected, his eyes widened at my words. "H-huh? But I thought you said–?!"