Wings

What Are You Doing Here?

The library was like a sauna compared to the snow storm outside. I looked up at the time and I saw that it was 2:45. I sighed and leaned back in my chair. I was sitting in the fantasy section with a book called Mila 2.0. I enjoyed the book but kept thinking about what Emily had said to me last night. Chris couldn't like me. He was just going to do the same thing that all the newbies did. Make friends with the outcast girl until they can find a place to sit on the totem pole.

I winced at my thoughts and leaned back over the table. I pressed my cheek against the cold surface of the wooden table and closed my eyes. I hadn't slept very good. I'd been tossing and turning all night, thinking about Chris' wing drawing. Something about them had been extremely unnerving. They'd seemed almost familiar. It was weird.

"Hey Isabelle." I heard someone say softly. I opened my eyes and looked up at Chris. I gave a small wave and he sat down at the table right beside me. I quickly scooted over toward the wall. Chris leaned back in the seat and he turned his head to look at me.

"You look like crap." He told me. I narrowed my eyes at him and scowled. I then rolled my eyes. I pointed at the clock and Chris grinned.

"Yeah. I know I'm early. I didn't want you to leave." He replied. I rolled my eyes and smiled. Chris pulled a backpack from behind him and he opened it, revealing a whole bag full of books. He pulled one out and he revealed the cover to me. It was a leather-bound journal with Chris' name emblazened upon it in gold. I gently reached out and trailed my fingertips over the letters. They reminded me of something familiar. Chris let me do that for a second and then he reached out and touched his hand to mine. I flinched away and bowed my head.

"It's alright. I wasn't telling you to stop. It's just... you seemed so sad looking at it." Chris turned his body to look at me and I swallowed hard. Chris suddenly put his hand on top of the notebook and he closed his eyes, breathing deeply.

"So what books are you into?" He asked. I smiled and stood up from my chair. I then walked through the shelves, pointing out my favorite genres.

Fantasy... Science fiction... Adventure... Mystery... History... Biographies... Poetry...

I reached the Computer section of the library and I looked over at the desks pushed against the brick wall. Each desk had a large desktop computer and a chair. The library was empty besides me, Chris and the librarians. I sighed and turned to see that Chris was standing very close to me. I froze and looked up at him with wide eyes.

"So you seem to like a wide range of all these books. That's interesting." He said softly. I swallowed hard as he leaned down towards me. He put his hands on the side of the bookcase and I pressed my back against the shelf. Chris leaned down to where he was eye-level with me.

Oh God... Please don't kiss me. Then Emily will be right!

"Nothing anybody says about you is true. You're much more amazing silent than if you were to speak. You have a certain... beauty that nobody can see other than me." Chris tilted his head slightly and looked down at me. Then, he bent toward me and pressed his lips to mine. I felt a spark of emotion. But it went away as I froze up. Chris kept his lips against mine for a minute before he pulled away. He looked down at me sadly and then he stepped back, leaning against the bookshelf across from me. I bit my lip and looked around just as someone walked around the end of the shelf. It was a guy wearing a black leather jacket over a white t-shirt and black, tight-fitting black jeans. He stopped and looked at us with dark, almost black, eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Chris demanded angrily. The guy tilted his head and his dark brown hair fell away from his eyes.

"I only came to check on you. One can only be so careful. So, is this the mute girl Mother told me about?" The guy asked, his tone almost teasing. I blinked in surprise as Chris surged forward. He grabbed the front of the guy's shirt and slammed him against the bookshelf. I gasped and moved forward to stop him. Why was Chris attacking him?!

"Leave her alone. You have no business here! Get out of this town and leave my family alone." Chris snarled. His eyes burned with so much hatred that I wanted to run away. The guy only smirked.

"I'm not here to do any harm. I just wanted to see how my baby brother's doing." The guy smiled in a harmless way and I finally gained control of my thoughts. I jumped forward and grabbed Chris' shoulder. He turned and I gave him a begging look. He scowled and released the guy.

"Isabelle-" He began but I held up a single finger to hush him. I turned to the new guy and I saw that he was staring at me. He had a bad-boy air around him that made me think of Jacob... I winced and glared at him.

"This is my brother, Chase. He dropped out of school to move to New York." Chris muttered bitterly. I narrowed my eyes at Chris. He was holding something back.

"He's a criminal. That's why he's an outcast from the family. He's chosen his lifestyle of drugs and drinking, and we've chosen ours." Chris snarled. I took his hand gently and gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder. His hand was soft in mine. Chris looked at me and he attempted a smile.

"This is cute and all, but I need to steal my brother. Nice meeting you though, Isabelle." Chase grabbed Chris by the hair and I gasped as Chase dragged him away. Before disappearing around the corner, Chase turned to look at me.

"Did you know that your name means 'Devoted to God'? I bet the Big Guy would like that." Chase chuckled darkly and he turned again, disappearing.

I could hear Chris protesting from all the way across the library. I was frozen as I stood there, staring into space. This day had NOT gone the way I had expected. What was the deal with Chris' brother showing up here?

I sighed and carefully made my way toward the table where all of my stuff was. I picked up my backpack and slung it over my shoulder, picking up my book. I glanced down at Chris' stuff. He had left the journal out. I carefully reached out and picked it up. I hesitated. Should I read it? No. No, this was Chris' privacy. I gently put the journal in Chris' bag and turned, starting to leave the library.