Battles of Darkness and Strife

Library Discussions

Paige POV

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Sometimes I really do not like my best friend. Chey is insisting that we get the group back together and have a meeting in the library like old times. I do not feel like talking to anybody besides her or Anthony, and besides, I've had yet to visit Finn in the hospital wing. 

But everyone else seemed excited so when lunch came, I ate quickly and hurried to the library. The new kids weren't at lunch either, but they might have just gotten lost; I wasn't really paying much attention to Leo when we left Transfiguration. I navigate the familiar halls to the library, a sense of nostalgia washing over me, for various reasons, not all of them good. 

When I get to the library, there's Chey, nose buried in a book, Amber curled up as a fox, and Anthony arguing heatedly with Draco. A smile crosses my face. 

"Hey, Paige!" Anthony calls. Madam Pince hushes him, and he smirks. 

"Hey Anthony, you all," I smile. "What's up?"

Draco puts his legs on the table. "Absolutely nothing, which I must say, feels absolutely wonderful."

"I know, after last year, doing nothing is amazing," I reply. "But I have to say, those exchange students sure are something."

Amber shifts back to normal before speaking. "They're a little off honestly, and it's not just the accents." Then, as if on cue, all seven of the exchange students enter the library talking in hushed tones. The other Chey is in a fierce argument with her alleged boyfriend and Merrily is gesturing excitedly while whispering about who knows what.

We chat a bit more and the exchange students go off into the depths of the library when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and it's Merrily. 

"Hey, sorry to bother you, but do you know where the books on Greek mythology are?" 

I smile and point to a shelf in the far corner. "I think they're over there. Why do you need them?"

"Just for fun," she says. "I really enjoy mythology and stuff like that." Her eyes slide to the left and then back again, but that might be a coincidence and I'm just paranoid. Merrily wanders away. 

"It's the first day of school," Anthony frowns. "Who looks for extra work on the first day?" The rest of us shrug, except for Chey who still isn't paying attention, except to look up irritably every so often when the other Chey and her boyfriend's voices raise above a whisper.

Thud. "Will you shut up?" The other Chey whips around to glare at my Chey. 

"Will you mind your own business?" she snarks back angrily. Merrily and another girl (Abigail, I think) peep around the edge of a bookcase. 

"Keep it down," I whisper worriedly, glancing over at Madam Pince who is beginning to look very snappish. 

Chey turns to glare at me. "If you want quiet, tell her and her stupid boyfriend to shut up!"

"We're so sorry to bother you!" Nico snarls. Merrily comes up behind him and rests a hand on his shoulder.

"Let's all just calm down for a second," she says softly. "You and Chey can argue later. Plus, I found the book we need." Merrily looks apologetically at me and mouths "I'm sorry". I wince and give a half-hearted smile and a little wave. 

Chey glares at me. "Are you agreeing with them?"

"No, not exactly," I reply. "Merrily seems nice though, don't you think?" As I'm saying this, Abigail slides into the seat across from me.