Course Of Action

CHAPTER 4: Flutters

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F L U T T E R S

PoV: Wilma Morris...|

"There should be 26 of them in total."

I watched as the young librarian recounted the books before her on her desk before quickly noting down the return.

"Thank you both." She said with a snappy voice, being quick to leave us both standing as she went to put the books back in the storage.

"Well, that's that." Leslie sighed, hands deep down in his pockets. He gave me a small smile as I looked over for a moment, and I couldn't help but recount the conversation we had had on our way over to the library in my head. The many things which he had been so open about sharing, despite having not talked in years. I was flattered in a way, as I felt it was a sign he trusted me. A sign that he didn't see me as some weirdo after all those years. That, despite the time which had passed, I was still a friend.

It was unexpected, and left me feeling embarrassed over assuming he'd never want anything to do with me. Over having painted him as less of a friend than he was, and that perhaps it had been me all this time who had kept our distance remaining as far as it had. That my reluctance and inferiority had been the only thing keeping us from resuming our friendship for all those years.

As he had bid his goodbyes, I quickly realised how quiet it got when Leslie wasn't around. Even if he didn't speak every second, he somehow managed to fill the room. He was so present in the moment that even his silence communicated with you when his words didn't. It was odd, but at the same time comforting, and it had me reminisce about when we were all kids, playing without a notion about the hierarchies I would soon categorise us in.

"Thank you young man."

"It was nothing."

On my way out of the library, my ears perked at the familiar male voice speaking to the other older librarian. Peaking between the books on the shelves to find the second return desk I spotted his shiny, luscious locks under the colourful lights of the library's old stained skylight.

I caught myself holding my breath, being indecisive over walking over to him or not. It was the perfect opportunity. It would've been the first time in a while that we crossed paths without anyone else standing around. A moment for us to talk undisturbed, even if it was at school.

My eyes followed him between the bookshelves, my fingers finding themselves combing through my hair quickly as he approached my direction. Or rather, the exit of the library. I had to take my opening, and it was a matter of seconds to come up with something good to say.

"Hi Xander!" The words came out in a pitched whisper, the soft greeting being that of nothing compared to the magnitude of the emotions putting pressure on the inside of my rib cage. I had given him a small wave as he had looked over at the sound of his name, and having expected nothing more than a greeting back, I was more than ecstatic to see him change his course to take a step in my direction.

"Hi." His whisper was deep as it resonated from his chest, equally as careful to not disturb the peace of the room as mine. It was certainly a hard time keeping up with the small talk which commenced after that, my eyes struggling to find a good place to focus on as his words surrounded me.

Was I supposed to look at his eyes? To see how he looked down at me would be enough to have my voice shake. His forehead? The shiny locks coming down over it would have had me too distracted. His lips?...It was pretty obvious why that wasn't an option. Wherever I looked I either got too nervous or too distracted. It wasn't until the thought of the party crossed my mind that I could feel my focus shift from his face to the words bouncing between us.