Beauty and the Geek Boy

Chapter 3-Ellie

*Beauty*

Ms. Marsh shoved a list and a tower of books towards me. Glaring at me from beneath her thick circular glasses, she gestured to the list. "Find these." Then she gestured to the pile. "And arrange these."

Then she turned and shuffled back into her minuscule office, slamming the transparent glass door shut behind her.

Sighing, I hefted up the books, balancing them in one hand as I squinted at the list of book identification numbers.

The library lady hated me. Over the last twenty minutes of the last period, Ms Marsh had made it increasingly clear that she despised my existence. Her hatred was clear in every clench of her wrinkled face and in every glower she shot through her glass door. I was beginning to think that the only reason she even had a glass door was so she could watch me with her acidic eyes.

I sighed as I spotted the sole reason I'd traded study hall for this torture.

Will sat at a table in the corner. Sunlight poured in from the window next to him, reflecting against his onyx hair and making his emerald eyes appear iridescent. In his hands he cupped a book, every few moments letting his fingers caress the sheets as he turned the page.

And so I swooned.

Some girls liked watching guys work out but, frankly, watching Will read was enough for me. Every feather light caress he made towards the book set off billions of butterflies in my abdomen. His focused gaze made my face burn. And, at the best moments, his lips would slowly mouth the words he was reading, sending my heartbeat into a frenzy. What would it feel like if he watched me that attentively? If he touched me with such care?

I bit my lip. And dang he made reading look good.

In his Junior year, Will had completed multiple advanced senior courses and so he spent the last period of every day in the library doing individual study. He could have chosen to graduate last year but chose to stay in school so he could sharpen his skills and gather more qualifications. Oh why, oh why was he so smart?

I couldn't have picked someone so out of my league if I'd tried.

When I could finally peel my eyes off him, I stumbled my way between the bookshelves, my eyes scanning the books for the ones listed.

After arranging most of the books and finding several mentioned on the list, all while sneaking glimpses between shelves of  Will, I was almost done. But, since things never go perfectly,I hit a wall.

Cradling the books I'd gathered in one hand, I gazed up at my latest foe.

The book was perched on the top shelf, its tattered spine peering down at me mockingly. Taking a deep breath, I gave the book my best determined glare before stepping onto my tip toes and stretching my fingers towards its spine.

Just one more inch...

I miscalculated my balance.

I fell forward, colliding with the bookshelf. The shelf trembled, rocking back. My eyes widened

Oh no, oh no, oh heck no.

Suddenly, a hand reached out, clamping down on the top of the bookshelf.

"Thank--" I turned, blinking up at my saviour.

I was looking into a pair of soulful garnet green eyes.

The words locked themselves in my throat, barricading my breath.

Will.

He stood only inches from me. His arm, which had stopped the bookshelf, was literally a centimetre from my shoulder.