Him and Me.

Him and Me- Thirty Three.

Eliza plopped down on a seat across from me, her long white skirt fluttering along with her movements and whispered, “So, what is this thing I’ve heard about you and Colby?”

My eyebrows rose. “What thing?” I whispered back.

It was just lunch time, and I decided to spend some time in the library, hoping to get some peace and quiet. I went to the fourth floor of the library, wherein the novels and literary classics were kept. People didn’t usually hang out at this section, and I was right. There were only a handful of people scattered around, some already had a book in their hands, while some were still milling about the bookshelves, probably trying to find a classic to read.

I found a secluded corner, hidden by a bookshelf, and was seated at one of the plush seats by the window. It was only the second day of classes, but it seemed like all of my professors had already been dumping work on me. On every subject, I had a reading assignment. And I already had vocabulary exercises for Spanish! I had Mr. Cosner as my Spanish teacher. He was a terror.

Lucky me.

And now, it looked like the gossip mill was running as fast as ever.

The redhead ran a hand through her hair and scooted forward in her seat, as so she could be slightly closer to me. There was a small wooden table between us though, and she rested her elbows on it. Her normally calm hazel eyes were wide open, and she cleared her throat before speaking.

“You went to school together in a motorcycle, and he walked you to your locker,” Eliza said, her hand playing with the sun-shaped pendant resting just between her collarbones.

I blinked in surprise. Wow, people got it right. It was true that Colby and I went to school together in a motorcycle, and he had walked me to my locker. I was expecting something more outrageous.

“And you guys started making out in the corridor, just before the first bell rang,” she added. 

I rolled my eyes. And there it was. The twisted part of a gossip that everyone seemed to love. It wasn’t that bad, but still. It was all a lie.

Rubbing my temples, I took a deep breath and glanced at the pretty artist. I let out a quiet groan and said, “Do you really believe that stuff? That Colby and I will make out in the halls? That Colby and I will even make out at all?”

Eliza’s eyes returned to their normal size and she sighed. Shaking her head, she leaned back against the cushioned back rest of her seat and murmured thoughtfully, “Nope.”

I shrugged. “There you go.”

She suddenly straightened, and there was a spark of interest in her eyes. Her chin rested on her hand, as she looked at me. I looked back at her, my eyebrows lowering over my eyes in confusion due to her sudden aura change.

“You two had gotten close, haven’t you?” Eliza asked as her free hand played with the hem of her yellow tank top. She raised her eyebrows at me, the interest in her eyes not dimming.

Clearing my throat, I nodded. “Yes, we have. We’ve been together most of the summer volunteering at Corwin’s.”

“And, he didn’t ask you out or anything like that?”

I shook my head as a frown marred my features. “No.”

Was everyone going to ask that question? I wouldn’t be surprised if the librarian suddenly approached me and ask if I was dating Colby.

Before Eliza could reply, I pushed on. “I don’t mean to offend, but why the sudden interest? You’re not one for gossip, Eliza.”

Eliza fell back again, her small frame sinking into the seat. “That’s true, I am not one for gossip. But I can’t help it this time.”