The Fallen

Kat

"How about this one?" Sam hands me a gray and blue book with a boy holding a small kite.

I grab the book and hit Sam lightly on the arm with the book. "Really?"

Sam smiles and sits across from me with a thin tablet in his hands. "Why?"

I roll my eyes and say, "Because it looks so depressing. Duh." I smirk and look around again. "Plus. Weren't you helping me look for books on medicine?"

"Ah right. I forgot." Sam gives me one of his perfect grins and winks.

I roll my eyes at this and push his arm lightly. "C'mon now. You were the one that brought me here, now do your job."

Sam chuckles lightly and walks off to another row of the many shelves surrounding this huge room. I had told Sam to bring me here. It was more to distract my uneasy thoughts on yesterday's decisions than to actually read a book. I sigh tiredly when I remember yesterday night and start observing the room around me to push aside the nervous pit in my stomach.

People bus around quietly. Most people wear earphones, blocking out the world around them and others put on white eye contacts. At first, I nearly jumped when I asked someone if I can use their computer and they looked up from their seat. If it weren't for Sam's strong hold, I would have probably ran out of the library. "Those contacts are used for digital videos or books that create some sort of image to the reading," Sam had told me.

The room is the brightest room I have ever seen so far. Nearly everything in this room is made of glass or white tile. The shelves all carry thin tablets; each with a different kind of coding in white neon colors. Sam had explained that each coding identifies the book to their title or genre of article. Yet, the only shelves that broke the pattern of perfection in the room is the single shelf that stands next to a rusty elevator. In contrast to the glowing white of the shelves, this shelf is made of old wood and its books are just like the one Sam was carrying the first day of school.

We walk up to the lonely shelf and the touch of each book feels odd underneath my skin. Sam had explained that the elevator leads to a second floor that carries many more books like these on the wooden shelf. He believes he is the only one up there since he has never seen anyone use the elevator.

Now, my attention is drawn back to that wooden shelf. Curiosity brings my feet to slowly start walking towards the elevator. No one seems to notice me passing by through the shelves as they are all stuck in their own world. My fingers long to touch the small button showing an arrow going up. As I'm getting closer, the sound of Sam's soothing voice snaps me back and makes my feet stop in their tracks.

"Alright. I guess it's time to go now. We only have like five minutes."

I quickly turn around and smile at him; the curious feeling still moving through my system. "Okay. Let's go." I shove my hands in my pocket and start walking towards him.

Sam lifts up his bent arm and waits for me. I stop in front of him and laugh at this gesture. "What is this? A ball?"

Sam laughs at this. His smile makes his beautiful yellow eyes shine. "Very well then. If we're ever in a ball will you take my hand?" The tenderness in his eyes sent butterflies to my stomach.

"Mmm...I'll hold your arm, but not your hand. Deal?!" I let the playful part of me take part in the conversation. The smile forming on my lips gives me a better feel of today.

We smile at each other for a moment; letting our eyes study each other. His firm jaw and broad shoulders give him a bold posture even if he's not trying.

I can't let myself fall for him. It's just not right. It doesn't feel...right. Yet, the butterflies in my stomach fight against my own thoughts. I push aside these butterflies and grab my bag. Before I can awkwardly begin the conversation, the annoying bell rings to my luck. We both shove our hands in our pockets and start walking towards the exit. Glad that moment's over. 

Students start getting up and walking out of the building. The quiet bus has now turned into a loud bus as everyone tries to fit through the exit. In between this massive group of people, I feel someone shove me as he passes by. I nearly lose my balance and Sam quickly grabs my side to steady me. 

"Hey. Watch where you're going," Sam says. His voice was loud and strong this time, almost intimidating.

The guy turns around and looks at Sam. I immediately feel a sense of authority as his tall and strong posture stands before me. With a lifted chin, he smiles at us and nods. "I'm sorry about that," he says with a voice that reminds me of Alex. He looks at Sam in a way that seems to calm his anger and makes him nod back. And without another word, he turns around and rejoins the crowd. I find myself trying to look for him, but he has disappeared among the crowd.

Sam shakes his head and says, "People just don't have manners these days." He looks over at me and says, "You okay?"

His voice takes me out of my curious thoughts on this mysterious boy. If there's something I know, he's different. I can feel it.

"Oh yeah! I'm fine." I do a nervous chuckle and start walking faster as the fresh air finally hits my face. "We should get to class."

Sam looks at me for a moment. I can see that he's trying to look for something inside my head, but then his eyes get softer and he smiles. "Okay. Let's go. Hey. Since when do you care about getting to class early? You and Nikki seem to share that same gift."

I laugh at this; distracting my thoughts on the boy. "Shut up, Sam. You're no fun."

We both smile playfully at this and as we continue our conversation, the image of that boy can't seem to disappear from the back of my head.