Mean Girl Tendencies

9|"It's not everyday, you get to walk Elsa to her carriage."

Gosh, I hate book reports. I mean we could honestly just look up the book on the Internet, but my stupid English teacher wants a real copy. It's not that I dislike books, but I just dislike the library. It's too quiet. It's so quiet, I feel like when I breathe, someone could hear me. It also has the weirdest people in it. Kids who are not liked, or like reading or playing chess in their free time, come here. Public spaces just freak me out in general. Think about how many people have sat in that chair you just put your butt in. Disgusting right? I just want to get in and out as soon as possible.

People obviously stare at me as I walk by. They don't expect the reigning mean girl to walk into their sanctuary. I look among the faces of the people here and recognize a few, I mean I should recognize them. I've banished most of them here.

"Harold, h-h-h." I scan the large wooden bookcase for the authors last name. I rung my fingers along the old wood, but stop when I see dust gathering on my index finger. You can pay 50,000 dollars of tuition to this school, and they can't afford a maid?

My Mary Janes slide against the ancient carpet as I reach the h's. "Shit." It's not here, and the report is due in a couple of days. I check again and take a book off the shelf. "Well if I don't-"

Right across from me is a pair of dark blue eyes. I can't see Nolan's lips but I know he's grinning at me. "Hello princess."

"Don't call me that." I sneer at him. I shove the book back in the book shelf, and decide it's time to go. I'll just order the book off of amazon or something. Before I'm able to turn the corner Nolan does it first, and walks into my aisle.

"Why not? That's what you think you are, right? And I can't believe the princess is in an actual public library, surprise, surprise." He's holding three hardcover books in his hand, and I notice the name tag hanging from his neck.

I give the boy a wicked grin. "Queen actually, now if you'll excuse me."

I move to the right, but he blocks my path. I slide to the left, and he blocks my path again. "What is this? The cha cha slide? I don't have time for this." I slap the books out of his hand and they land on the floor. Something strange happens. My stomach feels like it's being stabbed, and mushed all together. Are these pre period cramps or something? I don't know what's wrong with me, but I immediately bend down to the ground and pick up the books.

"Sorry I don't-" did I just apologize?

"Did you just apologize?" Nolan puts out his hands and receive the books from me.

"No I- uh well actually- um, it's been a long day, I've got to go." This time he lets me pass.

"Princess?" I stop in my tracks and turn to him. Why did I respond to that nickname? "May I walk you to your vehicle?" He bows to me in the most corny way ever.

"If you want." I respond nonchalantly, but my heart starts to beat really fast. He puts the books back on the shelves. Then he speed walks to the front and drops his name tag at the desk.

"You seem a little too eager to walk me to my car. Do you have a crush on me or some thing?" I tease him.

He waves me off. "It's not everyday, you get to walk Elsa to her carriage."

The walk from the library to the student parking lot wasn't that long. It helped that the library was at the front of the school, next to student services. "Ha ha, an ice queen reference. Not like I've heard that one before."

"But Elsa was good, she was just so scared of herself that she closed herself off to protect the things that she loved." Nolan looks down at me with knowing eyes, which pisses me off because he says he doesn't know me.

I brush off his implication. "You've watched Frozen?"I tease him again.

Nolan puts his long arms in his front pockets and shrugs. "When you've got two sisters, you tend to watch all the Disney movies."

I allow myself to chuckle a little bit. "You're so lame."

He shoves me playfully. "You're the one whose name is Aurora, you've had to have watched that movie."

I did. Like a thousand times when I was little, but not for the reasons you would think. My mother adored the shape of the Disney princesses. She always wanted to remind me to look like that, and like that. Through Disney movies she told me to be strong, but to be strong you'd have to be pretty as well, or your prince wouldn't come for you.

"I hated those movies." I spit out. We open the mental doors and a burst of cold wind hits my face. It was cloudy out, which meant either snow or rain was coming. Nolan doesn't push the conversation any more and we reach my car.

"Thanks but-"

"I want you to come with me somewhere." He cuts me off. Unlike Sam and other normal people, Nolan didn't look affected by the cold. He just stood there, not shivering, not huddling up next to me, and not blowing warm air into his hands. He stood there, tall, with a smile on his face and asked me out.

I scoff. "Look Nolan, you've managed to get me to talk with you a couple of times, but I'm not going to go on a date with you." I unlock my car door.

From behind me he slams my door shut with his left arm, and once again we are nose to nose. "Cut the crap Aurora, I think you need me more than I need you. So will you come with me or not?"

"If you left a scratch on my car, you're paying for it."

He shakes his head and releases the car door. "Forget I asked." He tucks his hands in his pockets again and start to walk away.

That feeling is in my stomach again, and it's bubbling like a cauldron. I think it's... I think it's guilt. I want to call him back, I want to say something that'll make him stay. But the words are caught in my throat, I open my mouth and nothing comes out. I just watch him walk back into the school without giving me a second look or glance.