Chapter 4

For the next two hours Mrs. Peterson showed Vera the rest of the library down to the storage closet hidden away on the second floor. Layout-wise, the library was simple to navigate, but she knew it would take her some time to learn what materials the building housed and grow familiar with its databases and workings. In this way, Vera was glad the older woman took her time showing her how they did things.

Afterwards, Mrs. Peterson excused herself to attend to some work but not before encouraging Vera to have another look around and peruse the bookshelves. Having nothing better to do, and knowing she would have to regardless, Vera took Mrs. Peterson's advice and began her own tour of the library's books. It felt more comfortable browsing through the tall shelves of bound paper on her own, more personal. Running her fingers along various multicolored spines, Vera breathed in and smiled to herself. She may not have had any idea of what she wanted to do with her life, but walking amongst a sea of books in silent solitude certainly had its appeal.

Letting her eyes wander over the letters along the spines without really reading them, Vera hooked her finger at the top of a book and pulled it from the shelf, flipping it open to a random page and skimming through its contents – something about Scandinavian folklore. It was good to see that the library had some variety in its texts; in such a small town, a part of Vera had expected there to only be books on local history, argriculture, and the like.

"James!" A harsh whisper suddenly came out of nowhere to her left and Vera gasped.

Sucking in a breath as she nearly dropped her book, Vera made several clumsy attempts to regain some purchase on the thick volume before catching it at an awkward angle, half bent over with one foot bent off the ground and the book resting precariously between her torso and thigh. Letting out an audible sigh that was meant to help her compose herself, Vera turned her head to where the voice had come from and was met with the sight of a girl staring back at her with wide eyes, her hands covering her mouth and nose in a manner that clearly suggested surprise and regret.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry," she spoke from behind her hands before lowering them. "I was just, um, I thought you were someone else."

"Yeah, I noticed that," Vera pointed out matter-of-factly with a nod of her head, and moved so as to adjust her grip on the book that was now starting to slide out from its place.

"I thought you were my cousin. We were going to meet up here, and since no one comes that often at this time of day…" the girl began explaining in a rush.

"No, it's fine," Vera assured her before she could continue and placed her book back into its proper place on the shelf. "I just didn't hear you and honestly wasn't expecting anyone else to be here either – especially during the summer." "Yeah, well, most normal people don't come here during the summer," the girl spoke with a roll of her eyes, "but older people do. Kids usually stay away 'cause they know better."

"Kids like you?" Vera inquired with the raise of an eyebrow, her tone lightly mocking.

"I'll have you know I take offense at that," the girl spoke with mock hurt, placing a hand to her chest as if she was wounded, and causing Vera to take note that she was a bit more developed than a younger girl would probably be. She had frizzy blonde hair tied back in a low ponytail that reached several inches past her shoulders, and stood near Vera's height at a little over five feet. A band of freckles across the bridge of her nose matched her light brown eyes and she reminded Vera of a mischievous child despite her notably mature features. If anything, her overly large jacket and brightly colored Keds held an air of fun-loving childishness to them. "As a full-grown respectable adult of twenty-one years, I'll have you know that I only occupy this space during the summer hours as it is my sworn duty to do so," she said quite proudly with gusto, tilting her head upwards and closing her eyes with her hand still pressed to her chest dramatically as if she were royalty addressing commoners.

"Which basically means she couldn't find a job anywhere else and this is the only place she could help out that made it sound like she was doing something productive with her time," a male voice suddenly sounded from behind the blonde and a young man who looked to be of similar age with short black hair poked his head out from the shelf to her right. His skin was fairer than the blonde's and his face narrower, but right away Vera could see a resemblance between them.

"James!" the blonde shot the young man a look and he let out an easy laugh as she proceeded to try and kick him in the shin despite smiling.

"This is Greta," he acknowledged with a nod of his head in the blonde's direction, "and as you can see, she fits in perfectly with a scholarly setting," he joked.

"Yeah, and this is my cousin, James," Greta piped in and sent an elbow towards the young man's ribs, "he's as smart as he is good-looking, which is to say 'not'."

Vera looked with amusement between the two as they seemed to be indecisive as to whether they should start bickering loudly or just deal subtle physical blows to one another.

"Um, it's nice to meet you both," Vera spoke out when it seemed like they were beginning to get carried away.

"Yeah, you too…" Greta trailed off.

"Vera," she offered.

"Vera." Greta repeated her name as if testing it on her tongue and gave her cousin a final shove that just left him laughing quietly at her side. "Are you new here?" she asked Vera with genuine interest as she seemed to settle down. "I only ask cause, you know, small town – not exactly a big destination on the map, everyone knows most everyone," she went on.

Vera nodded. "I just arrived not too long ago, but I don't know how long I'll be staying. I've got family out here and I've accepted a job at the library for a little while."

"Ah," Greta nodded her head as if in understanding. "Summer job?"

"Not exactly," Vera corrected her. "I've only just graduated, so, more like for starters," she explained briefly, not really wanting to go into her whole story of indecision and gloom that led her to where she was.

"Oh, so you're the new hire, then," James spoke up from his cousin's side. "Greta told me the other day that the head librarian had mentioned something about bringing someone new in."

"Hey, we've all got to start somewhere, right?" Greta replied, not seeming bothered by the awkwardness Vera felt she was giving off in that moment. "I'm helping out here over the summer and James down at the grocer's while we're on break. I know it's not much, but at least it's something – and it sounds and is better than cleaning dishes at some hole-in-the-wall restaurant or lifting and shelving supplies," she shot a knowing look at James, "even if it doesn't pay."

James gave her a lazy shrug. "Hey, money is money."

"So then you're both in university? I didn't realize they had one out here in Derry," Vera admitted, making a mental note to look up on the surrounding area again later.

"Well, just outside Derry, really," James corrected her. "It's about an hour from here, so most outsiders don't know about it. Most of us who grew up here in Derry go there for college, but anyone who goes to the university from elsewhere doesn't come here since it's more out of the way and there isn't too much to do or see most of the time. If anyone does visit it's usually during a break or holiday."

"Makes sense," Vera replied nonchalantly. "I honestly don't know too much about this place since I haven't been here long."

"We'd be happy to show you around later if you'd like," Greta suddenly piped up, excitement clear on her face at Vera's words. "I mean, if you're not too busy, that is. Do you start work today? I suppose we should have asked before starting this conversation; don't want to waste your time and get you in trouble if you're only just starting" She mumbled the last bit more to herself with a somewhat bothered look coming over her features.

"No, no, no, it's fine," Vera stepped forward with a wave of her hand in an attempt to reassure the two that they hadn't done anything wrong. "Mrs. Peterson was just showing me around the library today. I don't actually start until tomorrow morning, so if you guys are okay with it…" she let the end of the sentence trail off, hoping she wouldn't be imposing.

In a flash the blonde's smile returned and she took hold of Vera's wrist, almost swinging her arm back and forth. "That's great! Do you want to meet up for lunch in, say, an hour? James and I have a couple errands to run and I'm sure you'd rather change into something a little less formal, more comfortable – unless you're okay in what you've got on. I don't know what you like, so don't mind me," she stumbled over the last part realizing she might have unconsciously offended Vera. "There's a nice diner around the corner from here named 'Harvey's' with great burgers and killer sundaes –," she quickly offered to cover her potential blunder, looking hopeful, "really cheap but the best in town."

"Sounds good," Vera smiled at her and then James.

Greta's feelings were almost contagious, Vera was realizing. She was friendly and warm with an endearing sort of quirkiness to her that made one want to talk and get along with her. Vera would have liked to say the same of herself, momentarily envying the young girl for her natural charm and wishing she could be as outgoing and at ease with herself.