Shift (Wishing Well #2)

Prologue

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"How can you stand him?" one of the patrons muttered as she placed her returns on the counter. Emily shot her a confused look.

"Who?" Emily asked, looking around for the source of the girl's annoyance.

"Him," the girl spat, jerking her thumb over her shoulder. Emily looked past the disgruntled girl in front of her and saw Taehyung making his way toward the exit. When he reached the doors, he turned and waved at her before leaving.

"Taehyung?" Emily asked, arching an eyebrow.

"If that's his name, then yes." the girl huffed. Emily pulled the books off the counter and pulled up the program she used to check out and check in books. That anyone could dislike Taehyung completely baffled her. She hadn't known him that long, but her gut, which was usually correct, said that Taehyung was the same person with everyone else that he was with her.

"He's usually very sweet," Emily said gently. "What did he do that was so terrible?"

The girl, Lily, Emily saw on the computer screen as she scanned the first book, looked at her, mouth agape. "You're kidding, right?" Emily took the books she scanned and moved them to the returns cart, rolling her eyes once her back was to the girl.

"No, actually I'm not." She answered, dropping the books onto the cart harder than necessary. Emily turned to face Lily, taking in her perfect posture and neat as a pin hair and clothes. "Do you actually have a reason to dislike him? Or are you just a snob?"

Lily's jaw dropped at Emily's harsh tone and part of her immediately wished she could take it back. Another part of her, the fiercely protective part of her didn't regret anything she said, but the horrified gasp from behind her made her cringe in shame nonetheless.

"Emily!" Angela said, horror apparent in her voice.

"What?" Emily sniped back, as she whipped around. "She's making snap judgements about someone that's precious to me and she has yet to give me any reason for why she can't stand him."

"That's no reason to--" Angela started before Lily cut her off.

"You want a reason?" Lily asked through gritted teeth, hands fisted at her side. "I don't like him, because every time I see him he's lost in the clouds, running into things and causing general chaos!"

Emily opened her mouth to respond, but Lily brought up a hand, cutting her off.

"And he's nothing but a disgusting playboy! One who has obviously got you under his spell!" Lily spat, crossing her arms in irritation.

Emily gaped at Lily. Taehyung? A playboy? And I'm under his spell?

"What on earth are you talking about?" Emily asked in a quiet voice. She couldn't make heads or tails of anything Lily was talking about.

Lily shook her head and closed her eyes. Tipping her head back, she drew in a deep breath muttering something along the lines of "You poor little fool" before fixing her gaze on Emily.

"He's playing you." She said bluntly. "He's surrounded by a gaggle of girls all the time and they all fall all over themselves to talk to him. You're not the only one he flirts with." Emily didn't even know how to respond to that.

"Wait," Angela broke in. "Who's Taehyung? I thought you were seeing Jimin."

Emily's head snapped toward Angela at that and her eyes narrowed. "That's none of your business. Jimin and I aren't on speaking terms anymore. I'm sure that's no shock to you." Hurt flashed across Angela's face at the bite in Emily's words.