Hidden Scars

Running Into You

Noelle's P.O.V.

I started to slow down when my house came into view and had caught my breath after standing on the curb for a little while. I cannot believe that had happened. Jeremy Johnson had not only spoken to me but he saved me?

No wait. Why was he trying to unbutton my jacket? What kind of first impression is that anyways?

Shaking my head, I decided to run the rest of the way home as well. By the time I got there I learned that running wad the worst idea ever. I could've walked..just walked.

Rummaging through my pocket for my house key, my neighbor had caught me by surprise when she shrieked my name in that obnoxious high pitched voice of hers. "Oh Noelle! Noelle!" I turned around to face a slim figure that was making its way across my lawn. Ms. Lawrence was woman in her forties who already had a head full of grey hair and wrinkly, sagging skin. "Noelle, how was school?"

Before I could answer she placed her short and narrow finger on my lips as if trying to hush me. "Never mind that sweetheart. I need a favor from you. I need you to go to the library to..."

The library! I absolutely adore the library. I used to go there to read books and play games with the staff there whenever my mom had to work the night shift. Years passed and after a while I started to help the staff and they also offered me a job opportunity. I turned them down but I'm always there helping out anyways.

As a matter of fact, just thinking about the library made me lose interest in whatever Ms. Lawrence was saying to me until she snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Noelle! Did you hear a single word I said?"

Still in a bit of a daze, I answered truthfully as if I were drunk. "No Mam, I didn't hear a word after library."

She shook her head at me and chuckled a little. "I thought so. I said I need you to go to the library to pick up a couple of books on World History and drop them off at my house this afternoon. Can you handle that cupcake?"

Other than the obvious change in nicknames, I didn't understand why she wanted me to get books on such a subject. I didn't even understand why she wanted me to do so. Therefore, before she walked off I ran after her before she walked into her house. "Excuse me Ms. Lawrence, but I don't understand why. Aren't you the grammar type of person?"

She covered her face and furrowed her eyebrows at me. "I am in fact a "grammar type" and if you continue to frustrate me with your ridiculous wording, then I will sit you down and teach you proper grammar."

I was a little confused at her so-called "threat". What kind of punishment was that? "Ms. Lawrence, I meant why do you want me to retrieve these items for you. I do not understand."

She patted me head and said, "That was a whole lot better. Anyways, the books are not for me. They are for my grandson."

"Which one?"

"Ms. Noelle, I don't think telling you would make a difficult. I have six children and they each have at least five of their own. That would be around thirty children and it would be very difficult for you to keep up with them all. Plus the one who needs the books is going to be tutored by his cousin so it surely wouldn't do you any good trying to memorize all that is kin to me."

I stood there wide-eyed and baffled. I knew Ms. Lawrence said that her family was large but that was a bit much. Not wanting to get dragged into a deep conversation, I said my goodbyes and walked back to my house. I returned to searching for my house key and when I finally found it I entered the house, locked the door behind me, then threw my book bag on the couch and began my journey to the library.

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I stayed in that building for who knows how long. I love being there and losing myself within pages and pages of literature. I absolutely adored it. I'm pretty sure I've said that already.