The Girl Behind The Books #2

Chapter 6

Emma's POV

"This sucks," I groaned, staring at Ian tie his shoelaces. "What sucks?" Ian asked, pausing for a moment. "You having to go to work or some shit, I have to be here in this house all alone, what the hell am I supposed to do? Tell Charlotte you'll babysit me," I complained as he gave me a small smile. 

"Dude I'd love to stay but I have to go if I want to get paid and shit plus you have Simon to babysit you," He said as we looked over at Simon who was reading a book. "But he won't even talk to me," I said, sucking in my lips as Ian stood up and pat my shoulder. "You'll be fine, I'll see you later," He said, waving then walking out of the room I was staying in.

I sat still staring at the grey wall then sighed. I needed something to distract me, I didn't want to start thinking about Brendon and cry again. "Hey Simon, do you have any more books?" I asked as he slowly looked up.

He didn't answer. 

Not a surprise. 

After putting his bookmark in place, he put the book down then stood up. "Come with me," He said as I smiled and got up quickly, walking up next to him. We walked down the stairs, then past the giant living room then turned left, right, another left. 

"Where we going?" I asked, trying to keep track of the lefts and rights we took. Simon didn't answer and just stopped walking and stood next to a door. He turned and pushed the door open as I followed in behind him. 

My jaw dropped when I saw the shelves that probably had a billion books stored on them. "Holy fuck, this place is amazing," I marveled as Simon nodded. I quickly ran to one of the shelves and began my search.

..

"One last one," I muttered under my breath, pulling out a book from the shelf. I smiled and turned to look at the stack of books I've collected on the ground. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11..." I counted and bit my bottom lip. How the hell was I going to carry all these books out of here, and find my way out of this damn labyrinth to get to the living room where Simon is?

You can do this. 

Wow, look at you trying to be all positive. 

So fucking pathetic.

I frowned and slowly picked up all the books and stood back up slowly. I let out a deep breath and made my way out of the room.

I started walking down the fancy hallway trying to decide whether to take a left or a right.

"I remember taking a bunch of left turns then a right so, take a left then a bunch of rights," I told myself. I took a left turn and started walking.

The books in my arms seemed to only get heavier and heavier as I walked further down the hall way.

Just then a dooe caught my attention. Unlike the other random doors I came across, this one was red, and the words "no one's fucking allowed in here" in white.

Charlotte. This must be her room?

I slowly put my books down on the floor next to the door and looked to my sides. No one seemed to be here, Simon was reading books, thinking I was in the library.

I gripped onto the door nob and walked into the room. I flipped the light switch on and my breath hitched.

There were BILLIONS of pictures of my dad, all over her walls. Billions. None of them were selfies or pictures they took together- no they were pictures someone or possibly Charlotte herself took while he was just walking or getting into his car or at work or grocery shopping. There were even pictures of my dad drinking coffee in the living room, and working in his home office.