Upside Down

Chapter 1: Looking for Something?

                I work at a library. It was small, at the far edge of town, and probably older than any fossils that have ever been found. The building was an eyesore, with peeling pasticcio coloured paint, cracked white window trimmings, and a very sad looking ebony door. But the flowers in the window boxes always managed to be perfectly bright and happy, despite the melancholy weather that sat over London, and despite the horribly ugly building that they sat upon.

                  I got a free job entry to work at this library. It’s a university program. I get three fourths of my pay, then the other quarter goes towards my school loans. It’s slow, but it’s something. Every little thing counts. Especially with the loans, which are absolutely ridiculous.

                It was a particularly busy day; Some new novel about vampires had just come out, and our library had 10 copies of it. I was forced to listen to all of the banter about it. I didn’t need a bunch of hormonal teenage girls running around my library all day. I hated Twilight as it is, so another made it worse. I was forced to organize shelves, and I made sure I was in the far back, away from the girls fighting over the best copy. I turned down the dark row of books towards the lighter part of library. Several of the girls had brought their boyfriends, who were possibly the most miserable looking lads ever. I smiled. Poor bastards.

        However, one boy was alone. He was quite familiar, and I had most certainly seen him before. He was in my secondary school. That’s what it was. Back in Birmingham. He’d grown a substantial amount, and his hair had been pulled back in a bandana. He had dark brown hair that came out in short ringlets that sprung out anywhere it could. He, along with me and many others, moved to London for university and other job opportunities. We were friends for a while.

        My first instinct was to duck behind my cart of books, and pretend to arrange them. There were several shrill screeches. He was in a band as well, I remembered him being in the papers once or twice. I continued to fumble with several physics books when I heard feet coming towards me. No, no, no. It was him, I knew it was. Sure enough, a pair of old worn Oxfords were beside my cart.

        “Lost something?” Asked a voice. It was him. Jesus.

        “Just my dignity,” I mumbled under my breath as I stood.

        “You work here then?” He asked. I nodded, brushing off my knees, “Wow, Andie Telmar working in a library. You hate books.”

        “Yeah, but I like money,” I replied, “How’ve you been Brad?”

        “Fine I guess. You?” Brad asked.

        “Tired, working my ass off. Same as always,” I smiled, “But I know you’re not here to catch up.”

        Brad, almost guiltily, looked at his feet. He used his left foot to scrape dirt off the other shoe. I leaned on the shelf and nudged his shoulder with my fist.

        “Oi, spit it out. What’s going on then?” I asked.

        “Well, can I put flyers at the counter? My band’s got concerts all around the city this year. I couldn’t think of anywhere to promote it. I saw your status about working here, and well…” Brad said, “Would you mind?”

        “That’s it? Brad, of course. Jesus, I thought you’d broken a law or something. Looking like a guilty little puppy, mate,” I laughed, “Let’s have those flyers then.”

        Brad smiled. He knew I’d say yes, because I never say no. Brad pulled a folder from his jacket and took several papers from it. I took them. They were pretty well made as well. The Vamps was printed in a very loud font across the top. Vamps. Like Vampires? Christ.