Boy vs. Girl ✔️

•I•

The shelf came tumbling down, spilling all of the contents resting upon it, onto the floor, narrowly avoiding hitting my head.

"Great. Just great," I muttered, frustratedly, glaring at all of the books currently laying carelessly on the floor. I kneeled down, digging through the pile of books, impatiently, careful not to crease any of the spines. My eyes landed on the book I was looking for, finally, and I breathed a quick sigh of relief.

My phone managed to buzz uncomfortably loudly, as I crossed the room, to the front desk, where an intimidating librarian sat.

"Hello," I squeaked, as the librarian's piercing blue eyes found my face.

"Yes," he said politely.

"The shelf... in the back... it fell," I explained, as he huffed, aggravated.

"Wonderful," he muttered, grabbing the book from my hand, roughly, and scanning it swiftly. He handed it back to me with clear precision, his movements jerky with annoyance. I managed to piss the guy off with seven words. That had to be a new record.

"Sorry," I threw over my shoulder, as I walked away from him, stuffing the book in my messenger bag. I, occupied in shoving the heavy book in my overfilled bag, had to find something to crash into.

"Oops," I stammered, looking down at all my possessions lying on the floor, and up at the person I walked into.

"Watch where you're going," he breathed out unevenly, glaring at me, his nostrils flaring. Now I managed to piss someone off without even speaking. If only I could turn this into some profitable occupation.

"Sorry," I mumbled, as he rolled his magnificent brown eyes, twinkling in the dull library lights. Now that his face wasn't contorted in terrifying anger, I absorbed his features. His brown eyes were complimented by dirty blonde hair, and a strong jawline. I recognized him immediately. Asher Lawson. I hated him immediately.

"But," the words rolled off my tongue before I could stop them, "it was also your fault that you ran into me."

"Really?" he asked me amusedly, his brown eyes mocking me.

"Yes," I replied firmly, glaring at him with my own, less intimidating, brown eyes.

"I was just standing here, you're the one who was trying to multitask, but failed miserably," he explained to me, a slight smirk playing itself onto his lips. Well shit.

"It's not my fault," I defended feebly.

"It is," he told me, rolling his eyes, once again, as if he was already bored with this argument. I huffed angrily, bending down to pick all of my stuff up. Contradicting his oh-so gentlemanly appearance, he offered me no assistance whatsoever, as I stacked my things, and placed them carefully in my bag. I felt his stare on me the whole time, but when I got up off of the floor, he was gone. Like he just dissipated into thin air. That was highly unlikely. Unless I imagined the whole conversation. That was worrying.

"Hey Jace," I heard Asher say from behind me. I felt relief course through my veins. I wasn't crazy. Yet.

"Hey Asher," a familiar voice replied, except this time it wasn't as virulent and annoyed.

"You ready to leave?" he asked, a faint creaking of wood suggesting that he was leaning over the counter that separated him... and Jace.

"Yeah, give me a second," Jace grumbled. I heard the shuffling of paper, and then two pairs of footsteps nearing where I stood.

"You leaving yet?" a voice asked me, his blue eyes finding mine as he crossed me.

"Yeah," I assured him, and started walking towards the doors.

"Wait," he called out as I walked away from him.

"What?" I replied, slightly annoyed.

He walked towards me, and handed me something, cool and metal. He leaned in, close to my ear then, and said to me, "don't take it personally."

My cheeks tinged red as I glanced at what was in my hands; my keys. I must've forgotten to pick them up. I mumbled a quick thanks, and walked to the doors quickly.

The cold air hit me, and it seemed like salvation from the stuffy library. I calmed, as the cold air whipped at my neck and hair, cooling me down to my bone. I shivered involuntarily, as my car grew closer with each step.

I reached to take the handle and open my car, a sleek, black, beautiful thing, gifted from my father. But I stopped in my tracks when I saw what was on it.

And I tried not to take it personally. I really did.
•••
Boy: 1        Girl: 0