LAW OF ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 5 : WORK SESSION

10.10. The tick-tock is almost mocking me in the silence of the room. Only some whispers from here and there are being heard, therefore even my discreet sigh escaping my lips echoes loudly. I nibble on my bottom lip to avoid letting out another loud puff of air that would earn me another disapproving look from the librarian.

I glance around for probably the millionth time. Apart from a few regular books lovers – or as most would call them, 'nerds' – almost everyone in the library is people from our class working on the project. The first report being due for next week, everyone is starting to work. I guess the teacher has planned it to make us all work seriously from the beginning, and thus, avoid last-minute works – not something I would do anyway. But I guess I will have to work alone...

My gaze slides on each pair seated in front of computer screens and the few ones strolling through the aisles. My stomach shrivels at the contrast with the empty seats around me, and my gaze finally goes back to the large round clock in front of me.

10 minutes that I'm waiting, he is not going to come... I should have known... What has made me think he would come? That we would work together? I would chuckle or exhale another sigh if there wasn't the librarian just a few feet away, but instead, I bite harder on my lip as I come back to my senses. He is a bad boy; he doesn't care about a stupid school project with a nerdy girl.

"You should stop biting your lip. It's gonna bleed."

My thoughts stop with the jolt of my heart, and I release my bottom lip to gape at Alex smirking at me. I may blink one or two times, but no, he is really there. In faded blue jeans and a simple black tee-shirt, with his messed curls and his mesmerizing dark aura, looking so out of place, there is no way it could only be my imagination."Alex?!" I say, a little too cheerfully, I guess.

"Yeah, you seem surprised?" He raises an eyebrow, and since he is still standing, it just intensifies the unsettling feeling of his gaze on me.

"I thought you wouldn't come..." I admit, gazing down.

"Yeah... sorry, I'm a little late." He takes the seat next to me. "I see you've already started to work." He looks at my notes spread out in front of me, getting closer to me to read. All his movements seem so smooth and casual, while I feel the nervousness creeping back on my skin.

My breath gets caught in my throat as his intoxicating perfume engulfs me, clouding my thoughts and warming my cheeks. I don't know how I will be able to concentrate and work for more than half of the school year on this project if I'm a dazed, nervous mess every time he's around. But I have to find a way because this work is a big part of our mark.

"Er... I think we should start our researches individually. One searches on the Internet and the other searches for books," I suggest, my voice quavering. I know that I'm kinda just dodging the issue, yet for now, I just need to clear my thoughts before I find a way to not be so intimidated by his presence. If I wasn't reminded of my stunt at the supermarket every time he is smirking – and it happens a lot – that would maybe be easier.

"Er... yes..." he replies, his eyebrows furrowing.

"What do you prefer to do?" I take the initiative to be able to escape as quickly as possible.

I look up for his answer, but his penetrating gaze fixing me with his brows still creased quickly makes me glance back to my notebook.

"It doesn't matter, like you want."

"Okay, I'll search for books and you online," I don't wait for his reply. I grab my notebook and disappear in a whirlwind to one aisle.

I finally breathe once I'm alone between the columns of books. The comfort of papers and ink quickly soothe me, and I let the familiar quietness wraps me in as my cheeks are cooling down. I don't even dare to think about my weird behavior and what he must think of me. Being so close to him unsettles me; it's like I act even more awkwardly than I usually do with other people.