Teacher and the Thief

Chapter 6

I didn't have many places I could relax.  Most were from my childhood and either torn down or too far away, but there was still one place I could go and not worry about work.

The library.

The Long Beach library knew me pretty well because I used to go there all the time. I haven't in a while, but I was pretty confident that they'd remember me. The hours that I've spent here… half of my childhood…

I parked in front of the large, architecturally beautiful building, in the spot that was reserved for me a long time ago. Stepping out of the car already made me feel better, made me feel like I belong somewhere… right here.

God I missed this place.

I pushed through the large wooden doors, breathing in the deep smell of books and hearing absolutely nothing. The best feeling in the world. I walked for a while, past the rows and rows of books, browsing, seeing everything new. Everything that changed.

But when I saw the librarian, it made everything better.

"She's still here…" I muttered, heading to the desk. "Mr. Ramirez!" I whispered loudly, being courteous of the other around.

The man at the desk looked up from what she was doing, smiling at me. "Well, hello there, Belle. It's been a long time."

"I know, I've been busy. But I needed to get away." I replied, looking around the shelves that haven't changed since last time I was here. "You got anything new?"

"Well, since you asked." He smiled, pointing up the stairs. "That way."

"Thanks." And I headed up the stairs, remembering the very few things that were up here last time. I gaped at the sight I saw.

So many more shelves with so many more books that were calling me to read. There were more spots to relax and read, I could stay here a week. A month. A year. I could skip college and just stay here forever. Away from work. Away from my family. Although I did need my car back…

"Maybe an hour…" I reasoned with myself as I headed towards the rows, scanning the books, finding something interesting.

~~~~~~~~~~

After picking out a dozen books and three hours later, I was finally sitting at a table, reading something interesting that I picked out first. I was so into it that I didn't see or hear the person that sat next to me.

"Well, funny seeing you here." I jumped as the person said it quickly, and I slammed the book shut. "Is it interesting?"

"What are you doing here, Me. Princeton?" I shot at him, pushing it aside on the table. "I came here to read."

"Sounds like you're avoiding somebody." He stated, and I moved my gaze from his crystal blue eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I just need to be away from everything right now, okay?" I snapped at him, standing up with all my books. "I'll see you in class."

"Wait." He ordered, and I sat back down. "What did you pick out to read?"

"Oh, just some stuff. Mr. Ramirez said the new books were up here." I answered, but he stood up, waving two fingers at me to follow. I followed him down the rows of books until he picked an aisle, and then scanned it for something. He smiled as he pulled a book from the rack.

"Here, read that. It's pretty great." He stated, but I didn't exactly know what it was, only because I never heard of it.

"Um… thanks, Mr. Princeton." I replied awkwardly as I left the aisle to go sit back down.