Cry Wolf

Chapter Three - The Stranger

The Stranger

"Man, you look awful."

Brushing the rain drops off my new jacket I give my boss a dark look. "Thanks."

Holding up her hands she shrugs. "Sorry, girl, but you do. Why you here so early anyway?"

I shrug, slipping off my coat and hanging it on the coat rack beside the double doors. "Rough day."

Picking up a stack of books she asks casually, "What happened?"

"Nothing to worry about," I dismiss.

She gives me a knowing look. "Did you have an attack?"

I give my new coat one last lingering look. It's dark green, with white fluffy wool around the collar. It's too big for me, hanging nearly to my knees, but I love it nonetheless. "It was nothing."

She snorts. "Liar."

I ignore her, brushing my fingers through my wet hair. Serenity Rose was the only person in this whole town who knew me well enough to call my bluff. She's a few years older than me and I would almost call her my friend, except I don't have any friends and she's simply my boss. We don't hang out or grab coffee together.

Then again I can't recall ever seeing Serenity outside of the library. I'd long since come to the conclusion that she lived in some secret room behind a bookshelf.

Giving her a quick glance I smirk. Serenity certainly looks the part of a librarian. Her strawberry blonde hair is always pulled back into a neat bun, red rimmed glasses perched low on her nose. Her white blouse and black pencil skirt fit her slim figure like a glove, her legs going on for miles. She's naturally tall, even more so in a pair of red heels. She loves the color red.

Plucking at my still wet sweatshirt I cringe. I'm such a mess.

Heading for the counter I search around for a rubber band to tie my hair back with. I still feel strange from my encounter in the woods. My stomach is a bundle of knots and butterflies, and it has nothing to do with my earlier panic attack.

I feel...elated.

Serenity is watching me, a curious look on her face.

Not good.

I hate when people pry.

"You look...strange," she comments.

Finding a pink rubber band, I quickly tie my hair up into a messy bun. "How so?"

"I don't know. You look giddy...but sullen...as usual."

I give her a look. "I have never once in my life looked sullen." She made me sound like a child or some angst teenager.

She rolls her eyes. "You are the definition of sullen. Which by the way, is not a desirable trait in anyone."

Got to love her honestly.

I don't reply, knowing she's only just getting started. I've heard this all before.

Serenity continues, absently stacking more books into her arms. "I mean, really, you could try smiling once and awhile. You're too pretty to be sulking all the time. What seventeen-year-old goes around moping all day?"

"All of them?" I offer, half-joking.

"Oh, shut it." Going to a bookshelf she starts putting away the books in her hands. "Seriously, you look like you've gone through hell and had the best day of your life all at the same time."

"Well, I have had an interesting day," I reply absently.

She waits expectantly for me to say more. When I remain silent she rolls her eyes again. "You are such an enigma," she states with a shake of her head.