Teachers Pet

15: Moments Like This

        "Will I starve?" I smiled as I shrugged my shoulders at him. Nolan laughed a little loudly, causing us to get shushed at for a second time. We were probably going to get kicked out for being too loud. The librarian here had a knack for kicking out just about every student that came here. The community library was pretty big. It had a second floor and a downstairs area, yet the old woman still managed to hear a pin drop from the front desk. She was scary when I was little. Now she was just as annoying as Mrs. Burns was. I'd told Nolan how she didn't bother me anymore, that I wasn't afraid of some old lady.

       "I'll tell you after you answer the question." He made a face at me with a big smile.

       "You can't ask me that question and not give me any details."

       "Yes, I can. Just answer it." He put his hands into his jacket pocket as we walked into the 'Popular Choices' aisle. Seeing him get a little frustrated made this whole thing more humorous. In my head, the question was very simple.

       "Well, ask it again." I sighed as I turned to face him. I wasn't sure why we chose the library to hang out. I couldn't think of anywhere else though. Not having Cassie here made me a little happy too. I kind of just wanted time alone with Nolan. I was trying to figure out what it was I really wanted out of this friendship. I think I wanted something more, but I wasn't entirely sure yet. I just knew that I liked being around him and that when we talked, I felt like he understood me more than others.

       "If you were stranded on an island, and you were able to have one thing, what would it be?" I asked more slowly this time so he would understand. He waved his hands in his pocket as he shook his head at me still smiling.

       "See? You can't ask that and give no detail on whether or not there's food on the island." I covered my mouth, trying to muffle my laugh.

       "Just pick something. What is the one thing you would have?" He looked around, trying to decide.

       "Pizza."

       "Pizza?"

       "Unlimited pizza." I pulled a book from the shelf next to me and glanced at its cover. It was a popular book that I wasn't interested in. The title sounded familiar though. Had I read it?

      "Stranded on an island and you choose unlimited pizza?"

       "Alright then. What would you choose?" I shoved the book to him and laughed.

       "A boat, genius." He rolled his eyes at me and shook his head at the book I gave him. He looked it over, making faces at the cover.

       "I still choose pizza." I continued to walk, trying to keep my laughter and voice down. I could see at the end of the aisle, there were sofas and tables. I decided to make my way there.

        "Why, when you could get off the island and have pizza at home?"

       "Because my home doesn't have unlimited pizza." I laughed louder than he had before and right before we could reach the end of the aisle, the old librarian popped out of nowhere and shushed me in my face. I gasped as I jumped back into Nolan. She eyed us angrily before mumbling something and walking away. At least we didn't get kicked out. I looked up to see Nolan looking down at me from behind.

       "I take it back. She still scares me." He silently laughed as I turned to face him. I noticed he was still holding the book I gave him. He flipped it over again and made another face.

       "Why are we in this aisle? Is this what you read?" I took it from him with a sigh. Leave it to Nolan to complain about everything. The weather was nice out, hardly any wind. If we went to the park, I'm sure he'd find something to complain about there too.