Library Strangers

Chapter 4

In the course of an hour, both Ella and the boy continue to look and stare at each other, without the othernknowing. It was almost a game. Both glancing back and forth hoping to not be caught trying to encourage themselves to go up and speak to the other or open that the other would come to them. Guess who was the first to move.

Ella stood, actually very intrigued with her book as the boy was fidgeting in his seat. He shifted to the edge of the couch hesitantly before taking his unfinished book in hand and beginning to walk over. Ella smiled widely at him as he did her. But with him only a few feet away another man jumped into the picture. He had long shaggy brown hair and was somewhat built. He handed Ella a book and started conversing with her.

The boy froze, he would look stupid if he sat back down without doing anything. So he placed his unfinished book into the return slot and walked back to the couch what he saw it. The man glanced at him for a moment whereas Ella watched him the whole time. The boy sat down defeatedly, then pulled out a book called "The Life of a Tragedy" from his backpack. Just a coincidence.

The man continued to talk at Ella and never paid attention to the fact Ella wasn't listening at all. She nodded and hummed along heedlessly to everything the new man said but was too busy staring at the boy who sat down and read another book with a sad face to actually comprehend anything. She wondered, what would happen if she just talked to him?

"Hey?" The man said a little louder, seeing she was zoning out a bit but still oblivious to the idea she hadn't heard a word of what he said before. "Yeah?" Ella faced the man once again. She didn't even know he was still talking until now. "I'll see you around—" he squinted at her name tag sitting sloppily on the desk, "—Ella." He winked. "Yeah..." She said to herself nodding, confused as to what she had missed out on.

She attempted to return to her book is the man strode off back to wherever he sat with a smug smile. Ella could barely finish the first sentence whrn she noticed a book and return slot. Perfume of the Lady in Black, a favorite of hers. She did a  double-take between the book cart behind her and the single book in the box. The cart was ample, almost full. Checking the wall clock, she only had 10 minutes from the end of her short shift. It wouldn't hurt to help the next girl and put some books away. She grabbed the book from the slot, scanned it quickly and put it in the cart, pushing it toward the encyclopedia section.

The boy, deep into his book had thought to give up. That was until he saw her singlehandedly pushing the book cart smoothly away from her desk. She was alone, now would be the perfect time to chat. Step one, stand up. He jumped from his seat so quickly he made himself confused. Okay what now?

Hesitantly, he placed the book in his bag by the side of the couch, and looked over and she disappeared behind the shelf. Just go up and say hi, he told himself. Sighing, he stood up and jogged over to the shelf she was at. He stood at the end of the aisle, just watching her push and look. He sighed again before shaking himself up walking over.

"Hiya," he said softly with a tiny wave and a smile. Ella gave a big smile, "hi!" The boy walked between the side of the car in the shelf. Moving as she did along with the cart. Ella hid red cheeks by keeping her hair over her face.

"So you work here?" He asked trying keep in movement with the cart. She stopped pushing to look at the shelves. "Yeah," she answered. Shaking her head to imply she was in the wrong spot but the boy didnt notice.

"You like to read a— OW!" The boy shouted, surely getting the attention of other students but that wasn't important. Ella stopped in surprise having realized she ran over his foot. She turned around swiftly with book in hand and banged it right onto his nose. She dropped the book immediately and slipped on it trying to see if the boy was okay. The boys attempt to catch her resulted him falling along with her.

Ella landed sideways with her cheek on the boys mouth, making it feel like a kiss even when he sucked in his lips.  Ella lifted herself up slightly, looking down on the boy with wide eyes. "Hi," he chuckled. Ella stuttered uh's and err's."Ella?" A voice called, finally setting of a switch in Ellas brain as to what happened. "I—I have to go!"  Ella blurted hurriedly as she placed the book on the cart, standing up and bolting off with a distant "sorry!"

"I started putting books away the cart is by the encyclopedias, SORRY!" She  sputtered to the girl, grabbing her stuff without bothering to put it on rushing out the door full speed. Only running past the first block did she stopped catch her breath and put her coat on she wasn't thinking straight all she could think of was to get away. Her naturally fast walking pace quickened until she made it to her thankfully empty apartment.