‘Are you kidding? It’s Friday! You just wait until happy hour,’ he warns me before loading up his cart with returned textbooks. ‘Professor Orenson’s philosophy lecture finishes soon and there’ll be a mad rush. Those students know how to go off.’
I raise an eyebrow.
‘Once, in 2021, I had to ask them to go outside if they wanted to watch the video of the ten-minute version ofAll Too Well.’ He presses a hand against his heart. ‘And it killed me to do it.’
‘I’ll keep my guard up and hope there are no surprise drops in the next five minutes.’
We exchange salutes as Del pushes the cart into the stacks, whistling softly to himself.
It really is quiet in here. Eleven a.m. on a Friday morning, and now Del is gone I’m the only person on the desk of the Hazelwood Library. I hate myself for not applying for this job in the first place, but like Billie said, blaming myself for past decisions isn’t going to help me make better ones in the future. Easier said than done but it’s something I have to keep reminding myself. Like every time I enter or leave my room and risk running into Ethan. But I haven’t seen him, not since Tuesday on the soccer field. According to Michael, he’s staying with Assad. It’s for the best. I have nothing to say to him. I’m positive it’s for the best.
I bite my lip when a rush of grief rolls towards me, gripping the back of a rolling chair until it passes. It’s crazy how much I miss something I never really had. Billie agreed it was a good idea to take some time, get my thoughts in order before I try to speak to him, but after three whole days, it’s starting to feel like too much time.
At least I can stop worrying about myBleak Houseessay, I remind myself. It was agony, sitting through my nine a.m. seminar, waiting for Quinn to hand out our graded papers but I survived, somehow and no one on this planet has ever been so happy to see a 64. It doesn’t fix my overall average but the 72 I got on my first renaissance drama paper will help and I’m confident about the history of English test next week. I’m almost excited to get started on theHard Timespaper Dr Quinn assigned today, ready to rise to the challenge. Almost like my old self again.
Voices echo off the elegant dome above me and I find a smile for the two students walking in.
‘Hey. Mia, isn’t it?’
The blonde from Texas I met at the welcome meeting holds up a hand in a hello.
‘Right. Riley?’
She nods. ‘And this is Kennedy.’
‘I saw you play with my friend Bryn a couple weeks ago,’ I tell the dark-haired violinist. ‘You were great.’
‘Lol, playing with Bryn,’ Riley snickers. ‘I’ve been telling her that’s exactly what she should do.’
‘You work here?’ Kennedy asks, jabbing her friend in the arm.
‘As of today.’ I hold out my hands, a little ta-da moment. ‘Can I help you with anything? Keeping in mind the length of my employment.’
‘Nah, we got it,’ Riley replies. ‘I thought you worked at the student bar?’
‘Used to. It didn’t work out.’
I take a deep breath in, waiting for them to start laughing but they don’t.
‘I get it. That place is cray-zee,’ Riley says with an eye roll. ‘Hanging out in a library has to beat bar work hands down.’
‘So far one hundred per cent fewer drunk dudes trying to look down my shirt,’ I agree. ‘But like I said, I only just started.’
‘We kept meaning to say hi, but you were always so busy,’ Kennedy says. ‘I’m planning a US student meet-up thing next week, if you want to come?’
‘I would love that!’ The breath I’ve been holding in bursts out happily. Until I remember another US student who might be there too. ‘If I can make it, I mean. I’ll have to check my calendar. Things are hectic with this new job and class and all.’
Riley elbows her friend with a teasing smile. ‘Told you she was too cool for us.’
Me? Too cool? I don’t even know how to reply.
‘We’ll put a note in your cubby,’ Kennedy says, as she writes both their names on the library sign-in sheet. ‘Come if you can. Very low-key, no pressure but I did get the tiniest budget from the student union so there will be snacks.’
‘Then I will do my best,’ I reply solemnly. ‘Thanks for the invitation.’
I can’t avoid him forever, and what am I going to do, pass up new friendsandsnacks? I’m not a sociopath.
‘Sure there’s nothing library-related I can help with?’
