Chapter 4

It was decidedly a new routine for Richard to go to the library at lunch every day. He was beginning to enjoy the feeling of being in the concentrated quiet for twenty minutes just working on that paper. At this point, he estimated he could get the paper in at least a week earlier!

Richard read through the book at lightning speed, his pencil scribbling down notes quicker than he could pitch a ball.

"Do you always read that quickly?" a dreamy voice said behind him.

Richard jumped in his seat, concentration totally broken, turning around to face his spook. "God, don't do that!" he ordered when he noticed Chloe behind him. "Have you become a stalker?"

"I would do no such thing," Chloe answered defensively. "I'm not Jack the Ripper, except he murdered women at night, not stalk."

Richard snorted, placing a sliver of paper in his book. "So I guess you would know how to sneak up on people, besides knowing the entire literary world by heart?"

"Don't try and guess at that," Chloe replied, her eyes losing their glint. "I was only in the library when you were in, so I suspected you would be at the very least, happy to see me."

"And I am." At least I sort of am, he guessed to himself.

"Good to know," Chloe said, her smile returning to her face. "Still working on that project I see. You must be a big over achiever to want to get it done so fast. That's impressive."

"I'm a straight A student."

Chloe nodded her head, seriously impressed. "Honor roll, huh? So am I."

Richard slowly closed the book. "Honestly, how many books do you read a week?"

Chloe put her finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Good question. I'd say, oh, about three or four."

"Gosh, you really mustn't have a life," Richard said. He instantly regretted saying the words. With Chloe, it was obvious not to insult the name of reading or literature itself.

For a moment, Chloe was taken aback. Her eyes grew wide and her shoulders rose. "I don't care about that silly who's-popular-and-who's-not business, Richard," she said simply. "The whole idea of judging people based on their popularity is just a pile of dog chocolate."

"When did I ever say I was judging you like that?"

"You never did. I hear that just because I read all the time that I have no life. Oh, those people make me so angry I wish I could breathe fire. Since when is being a bookworm a sin?" Chloe slumped her shoulders angrily, her eyes losing their glint yet again.

Richard was slightly shocked to see Chloe like this. What happened to the gentle, fantastic-like girl he was getting to know. It was becoming obvious that she didn't like the popular kids or those who thought that books were nothing but wastes of time, much less who took the name of literature in vain.

"Well, I stand on your side, if you have to know," Richard said supportively. "If you don't believe me, just look at my book. I've had it one day, and I'm already half-way through. It's actually pretty interesting."

Chloe smiled crookedly. "Well, Richard Tyler, I never thought I'd see the day when a jock would say that a biography is interesting. You must be getting back into the groove, aren't you? When was the last time you read a book, anyway?"

"Dracula, actually, weeks ago. Scared me half to death, I have to admit."

Chloe's smile broadened. "Oh, I know. I read it when I was ten- ran screaming from the room at some parts. Then again, I also loved the fantastic passion Stoker wrote with, showing how deeply he explored the mysterious ways of the vampire and those that even dared to stop him. Still, that book was my first real book love." Her eyes had their glint back, her smile like that of a fairy tale princess herself.

For a long moment, Richard forgot that he was seeing a human being, and not a fantasy character that had somehow popped out of a book. Chloe's energy for what she loved was incredible. She seemed so soft, and yet at the same time she was like a knight when anyone mentioned the fine arts as a waste, the intent passion in her eyes alone like a fine sword.

Chloe's eyes wandered towards the clock on the wall behind them. "Oh, gosh, how stupid of me. There are only five minutes left before the bell. I've kept you from your paper all period! I really should get going." Quickly, Chloe clutched her bag over her shoulder, and started speed-walking for the door.

Almost immediately, Richard grabbed her bag handle, pulling her back. "What, you gonna go without saying goodbye?"

"All right then. I'll see you tomorrow, Rich." Chloe gave him one last crooked smile before turning around, her fire hair swirling like a water current.

Richard frowned at his English folder on the table. It seemed now that Chloe was becoming a frequent visitor, it would be nearly impossible to focus on this paper. He could already see the homework hours for that night go late- if he would be able to squeeze everything in.

Because, he realized, with Chloe in his life, it would be impossible; and Richard knew it.