4

I wake up Sunday morning and text my friends. I go downstairs to get ready for my shift at the library. Today I do the horror section (I love the horror section almost as much as I love the romance section). I grab my bag and head out the door.

The library opens around eight. On Sundays I start at nine. A half hour earlier than on Saturdays. I get there around eight fifty. Ms. Gremp has no excuse to gripe at me today seeing as I am a full ten minutes early.

I work in the horror section for most of the day. Horror novels are some of our biggest checkouts. I am just about to put back a classic horror story collection book (the kind that has like ten stories in one book) when I hear him. "I'll see you guys tomorrow." He says. I turn slowly to see Kevin walking away from between me and the exit where his friends are walking towards. I turn back to my work. I have twenty minutes left of my shift. He shows up now and I am so nervous. He walks up next to me and grabs a book from the cart where I have a stack I still need to put back. He gives a half chuckle. "I love this book." He says. "Me too." I say trying to sound braver than I feel. "I wasn't going to come to the library today." He says. "Why did you?" I asked in a small voice. "I needed to check something out." He says. I don't know if he is talking about a book or if he is talking about me. "I was going to talk to you yesterday but I didn't get a chance to." He says. He reaches in his inside jacket pocket. Oh no. He is going to pull out something that will humiliate and/or hurt me. He pulls out a folded piece of paper. Oh fuck. That's even worse. "About that I am so sorry if…" I stutter. "I didn't mean to do it." I practically whisper. "I think it is actually…" He pauses. Creepy? Stalkerish? Psycho? Pick one. "I think it is kinda sweet." He says as I say at the same time, "I didn't mean for you to find it." We both freeze. "I like it." He says when I say nothing more. I am frozen. He likes it?! My mind is a whirlwind. "You…you…do?" I squeak. He pauses. "Yeah." He says with a sheepish smile. "I thought it was sweet." He adds. "I was going to tell you yesterday but…" "Oliver finish up now!" Ms. Gremp yells. "I am so sorry but I can't finish this conversation now." I say and I can't believe I am saying I can't talk right now. "I understand. I'll see you at school tomorrow." Kevin says and walks away. "Now!" The bitchy librarian screams. "I'm working on it!" I yell back at her.

The rest of my shift, twelve minutes, went by like twelve seconds. I get out of the library and text Anthony and May too meet me at my house. It is more private than Pierre's. I need privacy when I tell them what Kevin said.