Eli
It’sher.
The one from the bar last night.I clocked her as soon as she walked in the front door of the library, then watched her head over to the library information desk. A few minutes later, a Justin Bieber wanna-be approached her and led her away through some office doors in the back. A few minutes later, she came back with that same Bieber jackass. Discreetly, I watched them head up the stairs to the second level. I was tempted to get up from our table and follow her then, but I waited. When the Biebs returned without her, that’s when I decided to I search for her. I mean, at the very least, I wanted to know who she was.
It took me over an hour to discover her at the study room reserve desk. I’ve never used a study room before. I don’t know why I’ve never tried it. I’m constantly looking for places to study without being bothered by people.
Looking down at her, I can’t help noticing she’s not wearing all the makeup. And her hair isn’t all big and puffy either. Well, it is at the top. The hair she wore down last night is now piled on top of her head in the messy way girls wear it now. I have to say, she’s even more adorable than she was last night. Sure, she’s… unique. The wordpeculiarcomes to mind. But she’s so fucking cute with her big glasses and her hair extra messed up after the insect incident.
“Umm….”
I give her a smile and it feels so foreign to me. Probably because there hasn’t been any reason to do it. Not until now. “So itwasyou last night?”
Her face flushes to hot pink. It looks like it may be warm to the touch. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No?” I lean forward and rest my elbows on the desk. “You sure about that?”
“Positive.”
God, this girl. I’m pretty sure there’s a bead of sweat on her forehead. “Well, that’s a shame.” I’m going to get her to fess up if it’s the last thing I do.
“A shame? Why?”
“Because…” I lean in closer to her. Just as I’m about to say something provocative, I feel my body lurch to the left.
“There you are,” says the person who, literally, just ran into me.
Oh, shit. I left our table on the first floor of the library and didn’t tell anyone where I was going. “Hey, Lacy.”
“Did you get us a room or something?” She giggles. I watch as she looks at the library girl. “I guess we’re going to ‘study.’” She says raising both hands and using two fingers in each hand to create air quotes. Then she makes a big deal out of winking, giving the tiny girl behind the desk the impression we’re going to use the room for other things.
“Where’s Cody?” I look back over my shoulder.
“He’s still at the table. He’s into my roommate Kendra.”
I feel like I need to clarify with this girl. The one behind the desk. “We’re really studying.” Looking over at Lacy from my psychology class, I say, “Come on.” I turn toward the study rooms. Before getting too far, though, I turn back to the library girl. “Hey. What’s your name?”
Her face is no longer pink, and her expression has morphed into a frown. Luckily, she answers, “Emma.”
“Emma,” I repeat. It fits her. Emma is a name that belongs to a sweet girl with a pretty face and beautiful smile. Yeah, it’s perfect. “Nice to meet you, Emma.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, dragging the old MacIntosh back off the counter. “You too.”
She sounds a tad sarcastic. Why does that bother me? Hell, I’m not going to let it. “Talk to you later.”
“Yep.” She’s now gone, no doubt putting the ancient computer back where she found it.
“Bax,” Lacy whines. “Come on.”
Reaching for my phone, I send a message to my best friend:
Me:I’m up on the fourth floor. Study rooms. Room 3B.
I only have to wait a second before he sends me his smartass response.
Cody:Have fun “studying,” dude.
