The One Fanfiction

Chapter 29: Part 1

        A few hours later, I met Maxon by the staircase leading to the library. My mind wandered to the last time we'd been here together. I'd been so happy to finally find out what Halloween was. Maxon had been so eager to please me. It seemed like a lifetime ago. I missed those times when everything felt so simple.

        I was brought back to the present when Maxon grabbed my hand. He smiled at me and pulled me along behind him up the stairs. I was nervous to go up again. The last book I'd gotten from up there had caused me so much misery. Gregory Illéa's diary was how I'd almost been eliminated from the Selection before I realized I loved Maxon. It was why Maxon had been kidnapped. That book deserved to be thrown in the fireplace and burned. This time I would be more careful with what book I chose.

        As soon as I entered the room, the smell of dust and old paper overwhelmed my nostrils. Maxon headed straight for the computer. It was a catalog for the hundreds of books. I was still awed by the computer. People from my caste didn't have access to technology like this.

        Maxon looked up at me and asked, "What should I search for?" I searched my brain for an answer. It would have to be specific so we didn't get random books that would waste our time. I also didn't want to make it so precise that the computer couldn't find an answer. I leaned over his shoulder and glanced at the screen. I saw a button that said Search Keywords.

        "Maxon," I started slowly. "Click that button, right there." I pointed at the screen. The mouse moved across the catalog. Maxon clicked.

        "Okay, now type in: anxiety, stress, cure." He typed in the words and pressed Search. After a few seconds, the names of ten books popped up on the computer screen. Maxon reached for a pen and paper from near the computer. He jotted down titles and locations and then hastily got up from his chair. Maxon turned to the correct shelf and started grabbing books. Soon, all ten books were sitting on a desk in front of us. Their titles ranged from Psychology 101 to Stress Happens.

        Maxon looked around the room and at the books with his brow furrowed. He looked at me and said, "It's too small in here. Let's go somewhere else." It wasn't that small in here. It was about the size of the cell we'd shared- Oh. This place reminded him of being confined in that mildly cramped cell for months. Now that I thought about it, I'd heard a little panic in his voice. I felt a small stabbing pain in my heart, but I used it to fuel my determination. Maxon was going to get better.

        I didn't want him to know I'd picked up on his fear, so I pretended not to notice and said, "Sure. It's a nice day out. Let's go to the garden. We haven't been there in so long." Maxon smiled gratefully. He picked up half the books and started toward the door. I grabbed the other books and followed him.