Hold Me Close

three : the library

The best part about working at the library for Riley were the access to all of the books.

Riley loves to read; the books fascinate her. Also, the library is a great place to study since there are textbooks there. So, whenever Riley was arranging the books, she would sneak away into a corner and get lost in one.

Riley doesn't work at the front desk; she spends most of her time in the books are. Luckily for her, she doesn't work alone. Her old friend, Darby, works alongside her. There is never a moment when Darby isn't stuck to Riley like glue. Riley doesn't mind it much, she likes having someone to talk to who isn't Maya from time to time even though she loves her Peaches.

While Riley was sorting books into their correct categories, Darby pops up from behind her and gives her a big hug. "Riley!"

Riley laughs. "Hi, Darby. Did you do like I asked?"

"Hey, I was on break," Darby protests. "I need my candy breaks." She whips a lollipop out of her jacket pocket and puts it in her mouth.

Riley pushes the cart as she and Darby walk along the aisle. "Darbs, you're break ended an hour ago."

Darby looks down and twiddles her thumbs. "Do I have a problem?"

"I would be lying to you if I said you didn't," Riley sighs. "Now I'm going to sort all of those books on my own?"

Darby sits in a cushion next to Riley and asks, "What's got Smiley Riley not so smiley?"

"Besides your laziness," Riley says. "I bumped into this guy yesterday and I have no idea how I'm going to pay for his camera. Those things are like hundreds of dollars!"

"Ooh! You met a boy?"

"Darby, it's not like that. I barely know him."

"Yet you're willing to buy him a brand new camera," Darby says jokingly. "Hmm. Good logic."

Riley pushes the cart down the aisle and loads some books onto the shelves. "Laugh all you want but I have to do this for him. You know I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't pay him back in some way."

Darby stood up and followed Riley down the aisle and helped her sort the books. "You don't have to please everybody, Riley."

"Yes I do," Riley insists. "Anyway, I have no idea how I'm going to get my hands on a camera. They're just so expensive."

Darby instantly perked up. "Oh! What about that camera your Uncle Shawn gave you those many Christmases ago. How old were we again? I think we were in middle school."

Riley remembers that Christmas. She kind of felt bad afterwards since she never used it. Luckily she still has it, it's on top of her closet collecting dust. Riley wouldn't mind giving it away. And she didn't have to spend a dime!

"Darby, you're a genius," Riley says.

***

The next day, after Riley studied a bit and cooked herself breakfast, she looked in her closet for her camera and sure enough, there it was good as new. She took it down from her shelf and blew off the dust.

"I'm sorry I've been ignoring you." Riley speaks to the camera. "But you'll be with someone better now instead of people who isolate you in closets and oh my gosh. I'm talking to a camera."

Riley shakes her head and heads over to the park. She's not even sure if Farkle will even be there this day, but this is the only place she'd think to look. She wanders around the path for a while, wondering if she missed him or if he had even shown up at all.

"Oh this is ridiculous," Riley concludes. "Darby was right, this was pointless. I am wasting valuable studying time. Maybe I should just head back home."

Riley places the camera on her bag and turns around to head home, but when she does, she notices a group of cyclists riding straight towards her. Before she has any time to react, she's pushed out of the way and pummeled to the ground.

Riley and whoever knocked her over lay on the grass for a moment to catch their breath. The man on top of her mumbles, "Are we always gonna run into each other like this?"

Riley turns her head and sees Farkle right above her. "Farkle," she gasps, pushing him off her quickly. She stands and dusts herself off. "Sorry," she chuckles softly. "I guess I'm the obstacle in the middle of the path this time."

"A simple thank you would suffice," Farkle says.

"Oh! Right! Thank you. Sorry. Again," Riley stammers.

"Would you stop apologizing?"

"Sorry." Riley stops herself. Um, I mean. I brought you something." She reaches into her and checks to see if the camera survived before taking it out and showing Farkle. "Since I broke your other one, I've decided to give you mine. Good as new."

Farkle takes the camera from Riley and smiles. "Thank you."

Riley sighs in relief. She's glad that Farkle has accepted her gift and is sure he'll forgive now since he has a new camera. "I'd know you like it," she says cheerily.

"And you wanna the best part," Farkle starts. "I have one exactly like it." Farkle pulls his own camera out of the bag he was carrying and reveals it to Riley.

Riley's mouth falls open and she suddenly doesn't feel so cheery anymore. "You really weren't kidding when you said you had others."

"I'm a photographer, Riley. Of course I have others." Farkle hands her camera back to her. "But thanks for thinking of me."

"Oh darn. What now?" Riley sits down on a nearby bench and rests her chin in the palm of her hand.

"Don't feel bad," Farkle says as he takes a seat next to Riley. "I know you were only trying to help. Tell you what, how about I make it up to you? There's a really great cafe nearby."

Riley shoots up from her seat. "No, no no! That's not how this works Farkle. You've done so many nice things for me and I have to return the favor! I want to! I broke your camera!"

Farkle laughs. "You're very sweet, Riley but I insist."

"No."

"Riley."

"Fine," Riley says. "But only! Only if you take my camera. It'll make me feel better knowing you've accepted my apology."

Farkle was going to explain to Riley that he'd already forgiven her but considering his last experience with her, he knows she won't take no for an answer so he just sighs and gently takes the new camera from Riley's hands and puts it in his bag.

"Good," Riley says with a satisfied smile.

"Shall we go now," Farkle asks.

Riley is taken aback. "Wait, you were serious about the cafe thing?"

"Of course," says Farkle. "I mean, why not? It's a beautiful day, it's lunchtime, and I'd like to take a pretty girl like you out."

Riley couldn't help but smile at the compliment. "Thank you, Farkle. But--"

Farkle stops her and waves his index finger in the air. "Ah, ah, ah. I won't take no for an answer."