Celestial Ties

CHAPTER 2

"I noticed you had another clash with grumpy Arthur," a familiar voice teased from behind the shelves, breaking the silence that had settled after Mr. Arthur's departure. I glanced up, and there was Cassandra, one of the other volunteers, grinning widely as she stepped into view.

I couldn't help but smile, her presence always a welcome one. "I think he likes you," Cassandra continued, her tone playful, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I let out a laugh, the tension from earlier melting away as we both giggled. "He's old enough to be my father, Cassy," I said, shaking my head as I placed a stack of books onto the shelf. The thought of Mr. Arthur having a soft spot for anyone seemed almost impossible, yet the idea was too ridiculous not to laugh at.

Cassandra just laughed harder, her laughter contagious, filling the otherwise quiet library with warmth. "Maybe that's exactly why," she said, winking as she grabbed a few books of her own to shelve.

"Anyway," she continued, her tone shifting from playful to excited, "I've got good news for you." She paused for dramatic effect, her eyes dancing with anticipation. "Guess!"

I descended from the small ladder I had been using to reach the upper shelves, my curiosity piqued. I loved a good surprise, though my mind instantly jumped to my ongoing wish. "The library is extending its hours until 9 PM instead of 6 PM?" I asked, my voice tinged with hope, though I knew it was too much to ask. Still, the idea of extra hours surrounded by books sounded like heaven.

"I wish that too," Cassandra said with a mock pout, her excitement bubbling just beneath the surface. "But this is even more exciting..." She paused for a moment, her grin widening. "Editions 2 and 3 of 'A Part of You' just arrived!"

The words barely left her mouth before a squeal of excitement escaped mine. "No way!" I cried, and in that instant, the two of us were jumping up and down like children, our laughter echoing through the aisles.

My heart raced with excitement. 'A Part of You' had quickly become one of my favorite series, a story that had wrapped itself around my heart and refused to let go. The first edition had left me on such a cliffhanger, I'd been counting down the days until the next installments arrived. Now they were here, and the thrill of diving back into that world filled me with pure joy.

Cassandra's eyes shone with shared enthusiasm as she reached into her tote bag and pulled out the books, their covers glinting under the library lights. "I thought you'd want to be the first to know," she said, handing them over with a knowing smile.

I took the books from her, my fingers brushing over the smooth covers, anticipation thrumming through me. "You know me too well," I said, my voice soft with gratitude.

For a moment, I just held the books close, savoring the moment. In a world where everything could be so chaotic, so uncertain, there was something beautifully simple and grounding about this—about stories that could transport you, about friends who understood your passions without needing to ask.

"Thank you, Cassy," I said, my smile widening. "This just made my day."

"I knew it would make your day, which is why I grabbed a copy for you before they all disappeared," Cassandra said, her voice laced with a playful sense of pride.

"Thank you, Cassy," I murmured, clutching the book close to my heart as if it were a precious secret. The thought of sinking into the story later made my heart flutter with anticipation. But Cassandra, always cautious, leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Just make sure you return it before Mr. Grumpy finds out."

We both couldn't help but burst into giggles, though our laughter quickly drew the attention of several patrons. A few of them shushed us, their stern looks serving as a gentle reprimand, while others simply frowned, clearly displeased with our disturbance.