Chapter 21 Just Imagine Us
She smiled a little nervously, having no idea why. She didn’t really like being helpless and, now, that was exactly what she was, not knowing where to go or what to do. She hated the role of damsel in distress. She never played it well.
“Well, what are you looking for?” he asked.
“The librarian, I guess,” she told him, not wanting to depend on him for help.
“She’s out at the moment. I’m looking after the place.”
She eyed him strangely. A student looking after this ancient, valuable library? Yeah, right.
“You are?” she asked, frowning.
The disbelief in her voice was almost palpable.
“Yes,” he nodded, enthusiastically. “I’m the librarian’s assistant, sort of.”
“Never heard of such a thing,” she murmured.
“Psst!”
Someone from across the room warned them to be quiet.
“Sorry,” they both replied simultaneously.
“Come,” he pulled her by the hand and she immediately felt how warm it was and how perfectly it slid into hers.
She followed him obediently, until they got out of the first room, through the second and entered what appeared to be a small office. He closed the door behind them. The smell of old books and worn out paper hung in the air. She loved it.
“Here, we can talk here,” he told her.
“That’s all fine but I just need the librarian so she can show me where the history section is.”
“I just told you that she isn’t here, but I’d be happy to help you out,” he grinned.
There was no malice or impatience in his voice. He just seemed genuinely happy to help. Those dimples in his cheeks were proof of that.
“Fine,” she snorted. “It doesn’t matter. Just tell me where the history section is.”
“It’s in the sixth room,” he nodded, preparing to sit down at the small desk in the corner. “It’s down the main hallway, to the right, past the water fountain, through the fourth room, then up the stairs but not the winding ones, the ones in the corner that lead straight up, then right, then the second room on the left. That’s the sixth room.”
Izabella listened to all this, then swallowed heavily. It seemed easier to find the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow than room six.
“Anything else?” he eyed her, as if she was already supposed to be out of there.
“No, just…” she sighed heavily, glancing at the door, then back at him.
“You need help?” he asked.
“Probably…” she said as quietly as she could, “a little.”
“Then go and if you get lost a little, I’ll come and get you,” he replied but there was a smile on his face that revealed he was really enjoying this.
“Can’t you help me?” she finally asked. “Just take me there?”
“I could, sure,” he nodded, “that’s exactly why I’m here, you see. The librarian, Miss Potts, couldn’t be in two places at the same time. Helping students with books at her desk and showing them where each of the rooms are. So, I volunteered to help, seeing I spend so much time in here anyway, might as well be useful, right?” he smiled cheerfully.
“I guess,” she gave a half shrug.
“And, that’s exactly what I offered to you, but then you acted like a real bitch, pardon my French, so now, I’m actually torn between helping you and leaving you to wait for Miss Potts to return, and it actually might be a while, so you might have to either wait, or try your luck on your own. But, if you do get lost, make sure not to shout too loud, you might disrupt the others…”
“Do you ever shut up?” she interrupted him.
“See? There’s that bitch I really don’t want to help right now,” he replied as nicely as he could, then opened the drawer, got some papers out and started stamping them, and filling them out.
He wasn’t paying attention to her any more, even though she was just standing there, by the door, like a statue.
Izabella felt her cheeks burning. No one had ever dared talk to her like that. He wouldn’t if he knew who she was. For a second, she wanted to show him that he couldn’t disrespect her like that, unless he wanted to open a serious can of whoop ass, which she was more than happy to deliver. But, she had to calm down. This wasn’t the time or the place. She had to keep her cool.
She took a deep breath and swallowed, even though she felt like her throat was parched. She figured there really wasn’t a need to be all bitchy to him, when all he did was offer to help, but that was how she was. In her line of work, she had to show them she was a force not to be tampered with and she could only do that if she was a bitch. Sometimes, she didn’t even know if she still remembered how to be nice to someone who wasn’t her brother.
But, that feeling of anger wouldn’t let go. She was pissed. He thought she couldn’t find the place on her own. She’d show him.
“Thanks for nothing,” she hissed, then slammed the door behind her.
As she walked down the hallway, she tried to remember his directions. Was it left? And then the water fountain, then right? Then up which stairs? Her mind was a well of
information, all of which was merged into one big mess she couldn’t untangle.
“Shit…” she whispered to herself, standing by the fountain, looking at four different directions.
A part of her wanted to go back and just ask for help. After all, how difficult could that be? Deep down, though, she still believed that asking for help meant she couldn’t handle herself on her own, like that would mean that she was letting her brother down, letting herself down. She’d never go back and ask for help. Not after the guy called her a bitch.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around. She could just ask whoever that was for the way to the sixth room. She watched as a figure emerged out of the darkened end of the hallway. To her complete and utter surprise, it was that same guy, carrying a stack of books. There was a smug look on his face, those dimples were there, his lips grinning.
“This is as far as you got, huh?” he asked, exhaling loudly due to the weight of the books in his hands.
“I stopped to take a look at the fountain,” she replied, trying to sound calm.
“Oh, right,” he nodded, passing by her.
A few steps later and he stopped. He turned around and saw her still standing there.
“Why are you still standing there? Follow me,” he said.