My parents got divorced when I was eight, but they are somehow still best friends. Mom is all loud and boisterous while Dad is anxious and reclusive.They could never stay in the same room long enough to enjoy one another without someone getting up to either play music or read. They’re just two very different people who were better as friends. Dad bought the house next door, so I grew up with both of my parents whenever I needed them. Nothing changed aside from the fact that in order to peruse the library, I’d have to use the gate in the fence connecting the properties. It’s unusual, I know, but my parents getting together in the first place is beyond my comprehension.
The library isn’t as busy as I thought it would be. I only had two classes today and both of them are before lunch. I thought the after-lunch study rush would be in full effect, but people must have had other plans.
Scoping around, there’s a table tucked in the back corner lit with natural light from the large windows.Bingo. I might have come here to get out of my room and into public, but baby steps.
Setting up my workstation, I pull up my Spotify playlist and get to work. I’m almost certain I have one of the most random playlists out there with everything from the classic music of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, all through the 90s and 2000s, to Niki Manaj and of course, the great Taylor Swift. Some of the bands I don’t even bother mentioning to people since they’ve never heard of them.
After a while though, I completely forget that I’m cocooned in the silence of the library and that I am, in fact, in public. My head is bobbing and I’m jamming out in plain view of anyone whostops to look around. Thankfully no sound leaves my moving lips as I mouth the lyrics, but it’s not all that mortifying.
What is mortifying is that I don’t notice what I’m doing until I catch movement in the corner of my eye, and I see a laughing Jaxon adjusting his backpack on his shoulder. Once again Jaxon has switched on my fight or flight instincts, and in this case, I freeze. My hands on the keyboard stop all motion, my eyes locked on Jaxon, my mouth stuck wide open as Kelly Clarkson belts out “Since U Been Gone” in my headphones.
Jaxon smiles at me, the corner of his eyes crinkling a little as he does. His mouth moves and he points to the seat across from me, but I can’t hear him through my headphones and right now, it appears that my muscles are refusing to work. Wide-eyed, I blink slowly at him while my body reboots back to full function.
Finally composed, I rip my headphones off my ears and manage to close my gaping mouth. “Um…?”
Jaxon chuckles at me again before clearing his throat. “I asked if this seat was open?”
“Oh, sure.” Sitting up, I adjust my belongings on the table to make sure I’m not taking up too much room.
He sets his bag on the floor and starts placing huge business textbooks on the table along with a notebook and a laptop.
“So,” he exhales while dragging out more items from his backpack without looking at me, “Do you perform here often or is this a special occasion? I’d hate to miss the next show.”
Can I just die now? Maybe the amount of pure embarrassment flooding my veins painting my face red will end it all for me. Who am I kidding? I’ve never been that lucky.
Right on cue, heat blooms across my face and I know my blush is in full effect, no doubt stretching down my neck and chest, visible in the black tank top and green jacket I threw on this morning.
“This was a special tour only. I hope you enjoyed it because it won’t be happening again.” I try to sound confident, but my voice comes out a tad wavery with my humiliation.
A smile pulls at the edge of his mouth as he coyly looks up at me. “That’s a shame. I was hoping for an encore performance.”
An unflattering puff of air leaves my lips, “I find that hard to believe.” Unsure of where this conversation is going, I pull my headphones off my neck, my long hair sliding across my shoulders, and settle them back over my ears. Leaning back into the uncomfortable wooden chair, I try to focus on the paper that I was so caught up in writing five minutes ago.
Thankfully, Jaxon doesn’t say anything as he cracks open his book and gets to work. I’m a bit confused as to why he decided to sit with me. Sneaking a peek around the library, many tables are empty, so why did he choose the one with me sitting at it?
There’s no way that I’m turning my music back on, not with my complete inability to realize that I’m in public when doing so, and while he’s sitting across from me. Instead, I’m stuck listening to the thoughts that fill my head instead of writing my paper. Thoughts like,I wonder what Jaxon’s working on. Is he still here? Yep, definitely still there. Okay, focus. Focus. Look at his hands… What is it about guys’ hands? Crap, did he see me looking?
My eyes dart between the computer screen and Jaxon, completely unable to focus on one thing or another. Unfortunately, it seems that he has noticed my super discrete observation skills. The corners of his mouth pull up and his shoulders roll while he jots down notes in his notebook. If he can sit here and get his work done, then so can I.
Working out some of the tension that has gathered in my neck, I turn my attention to my computer screen instead of the attractive baseball player sitting across from me. Before long, I’m back in my writing groove, even without music blaring in myears. Time fades into the background with the clack of each key, the sun slowly making its way across the sky in the window next to me.
“Hey, Candi?” Looking up, Jaxon has started to pack his items back into his bag while I was too engrossed in my writing to notice.
“Yeah?” I ask while sliding my unused headphones off my head.
“I’ve got to go to practice, but I wanted to let you know about the Valentine’s Date before I go.” He hoists his bag over his shoulder.
“Um, okay.” I’m almost ninety-nine percent certain that he’s going to back out of it, so I’m mentally preparing myself for the letdown. I’m disappointed, sure, but also a tad bit relieved. The bright side is that I no longer have to agonize over the possible awkwardness and uncomfortable silence that will most likely be the majority of the date. I highly doubt I’ll be able to string enough words together without turning red.
He pushes his chair back to the table, “You live in Stone Hall, right?” I give him a quick nod and he continues. “I’ll pick you up at six thirty on Friday. See you then, Candi.” With a dazzling smile, he lowers his head and walks away.
My brain is short-circuiting as he walks through the library and out the doors. Wait? This is really happening. Is he for real going to take me on a date? Anxiety rolls through my stomach, coupled with confusing excitement over this turn of events.
Chapter Nine
Jaxon
Anytime I think of Candi, a grin slides across my face. She’s always surprising me, whether it’s throwing a book in my face, or acting out a full-on concert in the library. Then there was her genuine fear when her name was called forCupid’s Shuffle, and the way she always seems to struggle with the right words. I can’t wrap my head around her and I want to know more.
