Sorry for the mix up the first time. This website is a bitch sometimes. Here it is again.
Chapter One.
Late. It's the only word rushing through her head as she's bolting across campus to the library. Rushing feet hit the dewy grass of the front lawn of Siena's library, and she shoves her camera into her bag and pushes through the large front doors. It was silly to think that getting away with taking a few photos before work was a good idea, knowing how quickly time is lost when she donned a camera. She makes her way briskly to the room behind the check in/out counter of the large school library, hoping her boss would be as lenient as she usually is.
"Tsk, Tsk, Amanda. This is the third time you're late this month.. Let's lower that number by three, yea?" Coraline, the library manager says, a small smirk on her face. Amanda rolls her eyes as she clocks in, nudging the older woman with a teasing elbow.
"I'm sorry. I went to this garden a few blocks away to take some photos and lost track of time." The young blonde replies breathily. She lets out a relieved sigh, thankful for her boss' sarcastic manner. It's better than getting yelled at.
"Are they worth being late?" She asks, eyeing the younger woman over her cateye glasses.
Amanda pulls out her camera and hands it to the old woman, "I think so." the blonde retorts. Her heart swells with pride when she sees the smile cross Coraline's face as she flips through the photos on the device. "That garden had a lot of flowers I've never seen before. It was hard to pass it and not take some photos." She explains, looking over the shorter woman's shoulder at the photographs.
"Alright, alright. These are beautiful, Mandy. Let's try not to make this a habit though, okay? You gotta job to do." She commands lightly, her New York accent poking through.
The younger woman nods, clocking in after taking the camera from Coraline and shoving her stuff into her designated cubby. She runs a hand through tangled, blonde hair and blows out a breath, waiting for the old woman to give daily orders.
"Listen, there's a new professor here and she's going to be stopping by to pick up a box of Philosophy books. They're already waiting for her behind the counter, so just be sure to check them all out under her name before she takes off with them." The stout woman orders, slipping her glasses onto her head and grabbing her purse. "I have errands to run today so just keep things running."
Amanda nods once more, "Yes, Ma'am." Giving her a small smile, she follows her out of the back room and to the front desk, taking her usual seat in front of the 'dinosaur' computer. The younger woman ties her hair up into a ponytail before logging into the check in/take out account. "Christ, we need a new computer," She mutters, hitting the side of the old fashioned monitor.
When she finishes logging in and getting everything up and running, she sits back in the chair and sighs. Days at the library were always boring, to say the least. She looks at the box of books next to her and arches an eyebrow. Grabbing a random book from the top, she flips through it in effort to pass the time.
Tuesdays With Morrie. The book itself looked a bit on the boring side, but she wasn't going to knock it right away.
"That's a good one." A voice says only moments later, and the younger woman startles, looking up. A tall brunette woman, wearing a silk blouse and a pencil skirt is standing in front of the counter, hair falling in soft curls against her shoulders and black rimmed glasses perched on her nose. She looked professional and attractive and immediately, it draws Amanda in.
"Oh, I- I've never read it." She eventually stutters, shrugging her shoulders nervously. She sets the book down on the counter and smiles sheepishly, "I was just taking a look at it."
The woman leans her elbows against the counter and nods, smiling, "A young man who was close with his professor in college finds out that said professor is sick and dying, so he visits him every tuesday until the old man passes. Each visit, the professor tells him things he's learned about life and love and relationships. It's…. Very philosophical. Makes you think about how precious life is."
Amanda presses her lips together and nods thoughtfully, her eyes shoot down to the book in hand, and suddenly, she doesn't know what to say. It clicks that this is the professor that's supposed to pick up the books and she jumps into action immediately. "You must be the new Prof. My apologies, these are for you. I just need to check them all out so you can take them." Avoiding the older woman's piercing gaze, Amanda scans each book quickly. "Um. Can I see your Teacher ID please?" She asks quietly. The professor hands it to the blonde and she swipes it. The younger woman taps a few keys, clicks away with the vintage mouse, then hands it back it along with the small box of books. "There you go," She mutters, a twinge of southern accent peppering her small voice.
"Thank you," The brunette smiles softly, tucking the box under one arm and begins to turn away. Pausing before she completely does though, she pulls out the book and slides it across the counter. "Here. You keep this one, read it, and bring it by my office when you're done." Amanda blushes at the gesture, but if the older woman notices it, she ignores it. "I'm in this building.. Second floor, room 2034." She tilts her head, flashing another smile before sauntering away, heels clicking loudly on the marble tile.
Dumbly, Amanda mumbles a quick, unheard 'thank you' and glances down at the book in front of her. She was never really a big reader, more into visual arts, but something about the woman, professor, sent a chill down her spine and a rush of butterflies flapping in her stomach. Something that hadn't really happened since high school.
She glances at the 'recently checked out' column on the dino computer and smiles subconsciously, seeing the name of the last person who'd check anything out.
Dr. Olivia Benson, PhD, Philosophy and Literature.
She has a doctorate, which means she's incredibly smart, which is a little intimidating. It means she knows exactly what she's talking about, most likely always.
Amanda think briefly about how beautiful the brunette was, the way her brown eyes gazed soulfully into mine when she spoke, her plump lips shaping each word that slipped from her mouth. She couldn't be older than 40, most likely a few years younger than that really, but either way, she was absolutely stunning.
She slips off the stool and quickly makes her way into the back room. Amanda decides that it's a slow enough day to where she can upload her photos onto her laptop and edit some of them. She was fortunate enough to have people who want to buy them so usually end up selling the photographs to stores and shops, which it's a good little side job. Her salary at the library, while not terrible, wasn't the best either.
She makes her way back to the front counter and sets up her little station next to the dino computer, opening her laptop and popping in the camera's memory card. It's sometimes hard to believe that she'd gotten this far in her life, especially with the way she grew up. Shaking her head of the distasteful thoughts, she begins her work on the first photo.
It's not even a few hours later when Coraline arrives back, two hot dogs and two drinks in her hands. "Hey, Kid! I got you some lunch. Did the Philo Prof stop by?"
The younger woman looks up from her laptop and smiles warmly, thanking her boss silently for the food. "Yea, she did." Avoiding the older woman's prodding gaze, she silently chastises herself for the dreamy undertone in her voice.
"Quite the stunner, that one." Coraline smirks, "You either have to have a Doctorate, or be a model to teach here." Coraline takes a large bite and shakes her head. "You can't just be a regular person anymore."
"She hit all three of those marks then," Amanda mutters, unwrapping her hotdog. Looking up, she sees the wide smile on her boss' face. "I mean she has a Doctorate.. a-and she's um. She's pretty. Also, why can't she have both and still be a normal person?" She questions, clearing her throat and tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear. "Anyway. Her doctorate is in Philosophy and Literature."
"Very observant of you, Mandy." The old woman teases.
She scowls and bites into her hotdog disapprovingly, "It's on her ID, Coraline." She mocks back, garbling around a mouthful of food.
Coraline chuckled teasingly, "I'm just yanking your chain, kid. And don't talk with your mouth full! Common decency." She tuts, shaking her head.
"Isn't there like.. a dewey decimal system drawer you could be dusting off or something?" the younger woman bites jokingly, smirking at the huff Coraline returns back.
"I'll have you know, plenty of people use that system. It's not that dusty." She tosses her crumpled up foil wrapper at her employee and disappears into the back room.
"Of course. When all the computers are being used, that's the last resort!" Amanda calls back, laughing at the older woman's displeased grumble. She turns back to her computer and jumps when she sees someone standing on the other side of the counter. It's Professor Benson, with a tiny, but very attractive smirk on her lips.
"I didn't want to interrupt."
Amanda is mortified, wondering how much the older woman really heard of their conversation, seeing as half of it was about her. "Uh.. How long were you standing there..?" She asks nervously, a short laugh escaping her lips in attempt to lighten the situation.
"Long enough to see you insult that woman's love for the Dewey Decimal System." Professor Benson smiles back, head tilting. "I have a slight confession to make. I… still use the decimal system."
And suddenly, mortified isn't a strong enough word. "I-I.. I was kidding about that.. I mean I'm not calling you old! You don't look old, I mean.. Well obviously you aren't young but-" She stops when she sees a perfectly kept brow arch in amusement, and she mentally face-palms herself. "Wait. Let me start over-"
"I know what you mean…."
"Amanda."
"Amanda. It's okay." She laughs good naturedly.
Amanda tries to compose herself as subtly as possible. "What can I do for you, Professor Benson?" She smiles weakly, fingers tapping the counter nervously.
She tilts her head and threads her brows together, "Are you one of my students this year?" She asks genuinely, eyes scanning the younger woman's face for any recognition.
"Ah, no. I graduated from here two years ago.. I just work here."
"Well, then you can just call me Olivia, seeing as we won't be working together scholastically. To you, I'm merely a consumer." She smiles playfully, and Amanda's heart flutters. She'd taken note earlier that the older woman's smile was extremely captivating.
"Okay, Olivia.. How may I assist you?"
She sets a large book on the counter, hand resting on top of it. "I got the wrong year for this book. Can I return it for the right copy?"
"Of course. I'll check this one in and you can go grab the other one." Amanda opens the front cover and looks at the numbers on the card inside. "It should be in the third aisle, 800-900." She smiles, noticing the impish grin spreading across her company's lips.
"Now look who the old one is." She teases, sauntering towards the philosophy section.
Amanda's eyes widen and she jumps out of her seat, following the older woman, "I swear that wasn't a jab at your- anyone's age! I was just-"
Olivia laughs heartily, placing a hand on the younger woman's shoulder, "I'm kidding, Amanda."
The blonde stops, mouth opening and closing in an attempted reply. Finally she sighs and laughs shyly, "Right."
She's prepared to walk back to her station, when Olivia speaks again. "What did you major in when you went here?" She asks, gaze focused intently at the collection of books in front of her.
"Photography and Visual Arts." Amanda replies mechanically. "I'm really into… seeing things. Visual stimulation is- well for me- therapeutic. I love taking photographs, looking at art, all that stuff. My mama always told me, "You don't go out and read the world, girl. You see it." She didn't realize how much she was blabbing until she looked up and noticed the intent gaze of the older woman piercing into her. She looked genuinely interested, too.
"That's… true. In a sense. But I agree with the visual stimulation," She hums, turning her eyes back the the books. "One certainly does not pass up the opportunity to see an aesthetically pleasing visual when given the chance.." She throws her eyes towards the younger woman briefly, a smirk playing at her plump lips. Amanda is shocked silent as she picks up the almost-subtle insinuation. The brunette plucks her desired book off the highest shelf and smiles, brushing past Amanda. "In any case," She continues as the blonde follows her back to the check in/out counter, "reading is a form of visual stimulation, and can take you to many delightful places while still in the comfort of your own space."
Amanda shakes her head and takes the book from the professor, beginning the checkout process, "With all due respect, Olivia, imagination can't be compared to color and shapes and everything a painting or photograph or even real life can provide."
Olivia smiles again, leaning her elbow against the counter, resting her hand in it. "I can't argue with that, Amanda," She murmurs. Taking the book as the shorter woman slides it across the counter. "Thank you for your service today, miss Amanda." She smiles sweetly.
"You're welcome, Miss Doctor Professor Olivia." Amanda replies, her own shy smile crossing her face. It grows wider when laughter bubbles through Olivia's lips.
"Do me a favor?" Olivia chuckles. She speaks again before the younger woman can really reply, "Open your mind in that pretty head of yours a little and imagine the greatness that comes when you combine art and words, okay?"
Amanda nods dumbly for the second time that day, "Okay."
"Read that book, and then tell me that words can't be... satisfying... too."
Something in the way the taller woman said satisfying sent chills down Amanda's spine, and before she could work up the nerve to reply, she noticed that the only thing left in front of her was the returned book.
Please let me know what you think of this! Sorry for the mix up the first time! R&R! ;)
Anna