They walked in silence for a little while before Evelyn decided to speak up.
"So is this what you usually do?" She asks curiously, hoping to start some sort of conversation between them.
"In my spare time, yes, this is what I usually do." Jeanine replies, keeping her eyes forward.
"Doesn't it get boring?" She couldn't imagine doing this everyday, she definitely wasn't meant to be in Erudite.
"No, why would it?"
"Oh I don't know, it just seems boring, never doing anything fun, just sitting there...reading." Evelyn shrugs, almost dropping the books she was carrying.
"But that's just it, it is fun." Jeanine says, looking over at Evelyn for a brief moment.
"Yeah...I'm definitely not Erudite." Evelyn muttered to herself, chucking softly.
"What?"
"Nothing." She says quickly, hoping Jeanine didn't hear what she had said.
"Here." Jeanine says, turning to Evelyn.
They had arrived at the library, and looking up at it was certainly intimidating, Evelyn would certainly never get used to that feeling. It towered at a huge seven stories. Evelyn had only ever gone up to level four.
"I think I'll manage from here." Jeanine said, nodding for Evelyn to give her the books.
"No, no, my job is not done yet, I have to make it inside. Besides, we wouldn't want you falling like that again." Evelyn smirks, wanting to see how Jeanine would react to her words.
Jeanine squinted at her and sighed heavily.
"Fine, alright." She turns back and walks into the library.
Evelyn waits a couple seconds, smiling to herself, before following her inside. She didn't even realize how good this made her feel. She felt...useful.
After they had dropped the books off, Jeanine turned to Evelyn and sighed.
"Well...I guess this is goodbye then." She holds out her hand for Evelyn to shake. So formal.
Evelyn looks down at Jeanine's hand and bites the inside of her mouth nervously.
"Hold on, I haven't even told you my name yet." She chuckles, realizing it herself.
"Oh..." Jeanine blushes softly, knowing that she went this whole time without even asking her name. Another detail she missed. How?
"It's Evelyn, Evelyn Johnson." She takes her hand and shakes it, noticing her fingernails. It looks like she bites them. Nerves maybe? Jeanine would've been the last person on earth Evelyn would've guessed to have nerves. She always seemed to calm, so sure of herself.
"Well it's nice to meet you, Evelyn." She smiles politely and lets go of her hand.
"You too, Jeanine." She smiles, seeing the look of confusion on Jeanine's face.
"How did you-"
"Oh, come on, everyone knows you." Evelyn shook her head. "You're literally the smartest person in the entire faction."
"Right..." Jeanine tried not to look disappointed, but she knew she couldn't hide all of it.
Evelyn was taken back and she stopped smiling. Had she said something wrong?
"Did I-" She started. Jeanine cut her off.
"I have to go now, I have a lot of catching up to do. It was nice to meet you, Evelyn." Without letting her say anything in reply, Jeanine turned and walked away, hoping Evelyn wouldn't follow her.
Confused and a little hurt, Evelyn watched Jeanine disappear behind bookshelves. What had just happened? She shook her head and turned around.
Jeanine bit her lip and sat down at the end of one of the bookshelves. Pulling her knees to her chest, she buried her head in her crossed arms. Is that really how everyone thought of her? Just another walking, talking IQ score. Would she ever actually be able to meet someone who didn't already know about her? It was exhausting, having to keep this up all the time. There was no escape, it was like she was trapped in a metal box and the four walls were closing in around her. She was trapped, and there was no one to help her out.
Ugh sorry that was so short guys, I promise they'll get longer again. I love how the song lyric titles are finally matching with the chapters! Lonesome relating to how Jeanine feels if none of you caught on to that ( ﾟヮﾟ)
~8Ball