I wouldn't say I was quiet. Infact I had a quite a few associates that I hung out with, and I enjoyed school. I really enjoyed school. I love to learn and I can't think of any better way to get away from everything.

I've lived in Charming my whole life. So have my parents, and theirs and probably my great grand parents too. My mom died when I was nine, I can't remember much of her on a regular basis if that makes sense. But sometimes I surprise my self with memories of her.

I accidentally rediscover things we did. Like the other day I was walking through town and passed the library. I couldn't ever remember using it as I had no need with my schools one, but I found myself walking in there and re-tracing the steps my mother took with me when I was 5. We went over to the children's section and she read me a short story about a ladybird.

I couldn't find the book though. No matter how hard I looked.

When she went my dad went with her. Or at least I like to think so. As what's left at the bottom of his vodka and whiskey bottles is something I know she would never have married. It's been eight years and he still can't climb onto the wagon.

"Tara? Tara?". Crap.

I didn't realise I was looking out of the window.

Ms Thurgood was a nice woman, big hearted. But sometimes I think she pried too much.

"Sorry Miss, it just looks like it's going to rain, and I have to walk home today". She smiled understandingly in response, pushing her glasses back up her nose and tidying her papers.

She asked me how everything was at home, and how my friends were at school. I replied like any other person would, making sure to keep the offended tone out of voice. I mean honestly, did I look like basket case?

"Why the questions?". It was probably a bit too forward for her liking, I think she thought she was being tactful but never mind.

"Well it's just your recent grades have dropped slightly, with this last paper-" she held up my essay on Hamlet "You only managed to scrape a C. And Tara you have been my highest achieving student for the past year, I've never marked anything below a low A"

"Yea I'm sorry, it's just around the time it was given I've been busy looking for a job and trying to find some work experience, I know I should have put my schoolwork first but I guess I just slipped up".

She smile brightly at me, I wasn't sure if she thought I was lying or not but truth be told every word of it was true. I had been looking absolutely everywhere for job.

"Well you'll be pleased to know that next week I'll be handing everyone back their essays so they can be tweaked and improved"

"Thanks, and I promise the next one won't be lower than B"

"I hope so!" she called as I walked out of the door.

I guess I'm kind of a teachers pet, but it's not like I purposefully try to get in their good books or anything. I just like to work hard and get good grades.

The halls were empty with it being the end of the day, only a couple of other people could be seen collecting things from lockers or heading to after school activities.

Outside a faint patter grew on the windows. It never did rain much in Charming, but it had started just then. It was light so wouldn't last long, but I didn't fancy walking in it anyway so I headed to the library.

If I stayed there for half an hour, perhaps read a bit on Hamlet for next week, then it would have stopped by the time I was ready to go home.

It was a quick walk through the halls, the school was only small like it's population. And I anticipated the empty quiet of the library, rarely were there students that worked there despite it's surprisingly broad collection of books.

I took my usual seat at the back of the room, just in front of the beech wood bookcases. There were several tables of four but like I'd thought, none of them were occupied. I opened up Shakespeare's Hamlet, finding my selected Acts and read. All for about five minutes.

I really didn't want to be here today. I was tired and irritable. And that talk with Ms Thurgood hadn't done my mood any favours. So what I dropped a grade on an essay. She'd watched people fall from A's to E's within a week.

Why give me a pep talk?

It was almost embarrassing.

I huffed aloud just as someone walked from behind the bookcases to my right. I quickly started to read again hoping this person didn't think my huff was aimed at them. Whoever it was walked by my table and carried on to the librarian a couple of chairs away.

He wafted a distinct smell of oakyness as he went past.

I hastily looked up and was very surprised. Of course I knew who it was, everyone knows everyone in this town, but seriously? Jackson Teller? In a library after school? He's never in school during school hours.

I accidentally stared as he talked to the librarian, almost scoffing as he flirted and she giggled like a little school girl.

"But really, I shouldn't let you lend this book Mr Teller, it's strictly for non-rental purposes"

"But you see" he said with a voice like melting butter, highly calorific and bad for you "I really, really need to borrow it, and this can stay just between me and you darlin, off the record. I promise, on my mothers good name that I will have it back to you by Friday"

He had leant forward on her desk, and she giggled some more. "Well okay then" she whispered slightly flustered. "But I want it on my desk Friday".

He gave her a wide smile before turning around and walking, sorry I mean strutting, out of the library. Before he opened the doors of the exit though he looked back at me.

It was one of those moments where you've been caught staring at someone and you're not sure whether you should look away because you both know you've been staring anyway. Stupidly, I didn't look away. And he stared right at me.

I waited for him to run away and carry on walking but he didn't. He just stood there, as if trying to make a point. What the point was I had no idea but it made me feel very uncomfortable.

He smiled smugly to himself and let the library door swing behind him.

I looked over to the librarian and she was smiling and muttering to herself happily about the 'charming young lad, spitting image of his father'.

I did not think he was charming. And I couldn't believe he just flirted with a middle aged woman!