One Last Time

Chapter 1 | Afternoon

The holler of kids outside puts a smile on my face as I hear them chase after an ice cream truck with the humming of its familiar song from the parents who are following them. Old couples who visited here wave at me or ask about how I've been as they sit themselves in one of the benches near the entrance door.

I look around the library to check if there are any newcomers, only to find at least fifteen people either reading the library's books or doing what can possibly be their school requirements. I stride towards my desk in front of the doorway and sat down. After getting myself comfortable, I observe the area if any assistance is needed. There aren't many people today compared to the usual amount that visit here. I crossed my arms and lean back as I let out a puff of air. Today might be uneventful. Again.

The library is quite average with two floors and a set of windows on the back walls with a few on the ceilings to let light in, giving a calm and soothing atmosphere. You can see the beautiful trees outside reflecting the brightness of the sun. There are desks with their own lamps in different sections of the library, surrounded by bookshelves that others still need to be filled soon. I should take note of getting that sorted.

There are even single couches placed in some corners of the library. Teenagers mostly use that to chill or nap for breaks in between studying. Amazingly, this place kept itself standing for many years. Its woodwork supporting the ceiling shows its age with scratches and faded paint. Nonetheless, it still looks only a few years young. My father originally built this library so I can read as many books as I want, for as long as I wanted. When I was old enough, I opened it to the public then later worked here officially. I felt like everyone should experience the chance to have a space to study and read, especially book lovers. Keeping this all to myself does not help compared to sharing it with others.

Working as a librarian doesn't have much action or excitement in my life, but I find it enjoyable and comforting. Yeah, I could have chosen a better occupation. It's the fact that I wanted to stay with the only piece I have left of my parents is what made me decide to work here. Luckily, I don't have to worry much about having any financial problems since I worked multiple part-time jobs as a teen with enough inheritance money for me to live off on. Wait, when I put it like that Im basically doing volunteer work since I don't even get paid to work here.. Eh, it makes me happy either way. A bonus is that people pitch in donations for the library and sometimes sponsorship from time to time.

I should probably be living the "Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving" life. Instead, I'm living the life of "Thirty, Flabby, and Trying" since all I do is basically eat, sleep, and work all day. Pretty much a mundane life for me 24/7. I don't go out often or do things other than work. At least, to relieve stress, I jog during early mornings at a small park a few blocks from here. Occasionally, my best friend Ronnie would make sure I experience fun every now and then so not much of my life is dull like I thought it would be. Well, Ronnie makes sure I won't experience a dull life.

Ronnie and I met in high school. When we became closer in sophomore year, I couldn't help but trust her with my family's secret. She had a hard time believing it at first. That's until I asked her to come along with me to a few family funerals. In junior year, my cousin Wyatt experienced endless heartaches after his long-term girlfriend cheated on him. He eventually went crazy and overdosed trying to stop the pain. Months before that, my aunt Nita wouldn't stop crying after her husband left her, having all the water in her body drained. The word "literally" is an understatement to what those kinds of suffering felt like in our family blood-line. Since then, Ronnie has been really protective of me. I laughed at the memory of her interrogating guys that've shown signs of having a crush on me. She was close to beating up a guy in junior year when she overheard him talking about me to his friends with not-so innocent intentions.

I really miss her. I haven't seen Ronnie in a while since she traveled to Italy for a wedding. She works as an event planner and is on high demand in the business. Hopefully her client isn't a bridezilla, yikes! I cringed at the thought. I've only seen ones in movies so Ronnie better be prepared for what she's possibly gotten herself into. Maybe I should call her when I'm done with work. I remember her mentioning some gossip about the bridesmaids—

Ding!

The bell's ring made me turn to a man standing across the desk. While scanning him head to toe, a cough snaps me out of my thoughts, reminding me that he rung for my attention. He's probably in his early thirties but can also be younger based on his looks. He has light brown, short wavy hair with cream skin. There's a hint of impatiences in his ocean blue eyes as they stare into my own hazel ones. Towering over me with his six-foot self, he wears an olive green shirt with plain black jeans. The white sneakers he's sporting make sounds that are hard to miss in the quietness of the library. He cleared his throat, "I would prefer if you stand up so my neck wouldn't hurt so much from looking down on you." The corner of his lips perked up at that. My face scrunched up at that.

I already don't like this guy

I stay seated. "Why don't you back away a few steps? Lessens the neck pain," I replied as my hand motioned for him to scoot back with a sickly sweet smile. His smirk drops but doesn't move from his spot. He lifts a velvet covered book titled The Lost Key and places it on my desk pushing it towards me.

"How much is this book?"

Is he serious?

He stood there still waiting for my response.

Yup, he's serious.

"Sir, this book is not for sale. I don't know if you've noticed but this is a library, not a bookstore. You have to borrow this book with a registered library card and return it within three weeks from today," gesturing my arms wide-spread in motion to emphasize my point.

Unfazed by my statement he replied, "I know that, but this is the only copy available around here. I don't even know if I have the time to return it back. Plus, I'd always be going back to it here and there. What's wrong with buying it anyway? Can't you just get another copy?"

I sighed, "Exactly, can't you just get a copy online? Waiting for the shipment is the same time as borrowing that book, so why not just do it in a way you won't be spending money." I stand up this time crossing my arms while waiting for his comeback.

Looks like he's starting to get annoyed from the way he's lips formed into a thin line. I can also tell he's losing his patience. Good, because Im close to kicking him out myself. "Look, this book is really important to me and I'd rather have it without a time limit on it. So, why not make an exception this one time and we can go on with our lives, hm?"

There were a few seconds of silence between us. "What's your name?" The guy's eyebrows raised, clearly shocked I didn't give a snarky comment back at him.

"Reed Alaster."

"Well, Reed Alaster. If you can't follow simple instructions then please leave and we can go on with our lives, hm?"

And there it is..

After Reed got over his state of shock, he was about to retort back until I cut him off, "Thank you for coming here today, but unless you get it in your head that you can't buy this book then you better get your sorry keister out of here!" I make sure not to speak too loud so I won't disturb the people in the library.

Instead of fuming in anger, Reed laughed for a good three minutes before saying, "Whoo! That gave me good laugh. I haven't had one in a while. Who says that phrase nowadays? You're strange. Just for that, I will borrow this book and not cause any more trouble for you. I apologize for my behavior. I've been stressed lately." What the heck, is he bipolar? All negativity from him completely gone.

"Why the sudden change of heart?"

I thought he wouldn't have backed down seeing how he's been stubborn so far. His one-eighty rift might just be an act. Besides, wouldn't it be suspicious at all that he's suddenly nice? He only grins at me like our whole argument didn't happen.

"Because you just won it over."