Here it is! A bonus chapter this weekend for Sri's birthday!
He was still getting used to the difference between the scent of somewhere Bella was often as opposed to where Bella was currently. This was supposed to be her afternoon off. Jasper had checked via the North Olympic Library System intranet. But as he approached the back of the deserted library, her scent grew stronger. He could hear books pushing past one another and then the knock against the metal shelf as they were let go. He heard no thoughts.
He stopped at the second last aisle. He knew if he went to the last one, she would be there. He contemplated leaving. He could wait to talk to her about this instead of letting her find out his plan from someone else. It was only a few more days until he would get to meet with her in Mike's office.
It was the hope from the end of that conversation that buoyed his confidence this would be ok. They had calmly discussed heavily emotional topics. He could probably talk to her about this. Here.
He should talk to her about this. As he thought about the progress they made in their conversation he realized how unreasonable his original plan was. He turned down the empty aisle, silently approaching the shelf Bella was stocking from the other side.
He leaned down to peer at her through the gaps in the books.
"Jesus Christ!" She dropped the book loudly on the shelf. "What are you doing here?" she whispered harshly between the empty spaces.
He smiled at her innocently and delivered his well rehearsed line. "The world of finance, while lucrative, was unfulfilling. I'm on a quest to find my calling-" her face disappeared, but her approaching heels echoed loudly in their quiet corner. He took the three steps with her, so they would meet at the end.
"Cut the bullshit! Why are you here?" She flicked her right hand to indicate the library, as she turned towards him, but only succeeded in drawing attention to herself. How had he not noticed her outfit instantly? She wore a fitted white button down, tucked into a narrow pencil skirt. Her stocking clad feet were tucked into modest heels. She was every inch the librarian fantasy, right down to her bun held with a pencil.
"Let your hair down." His commanding tone left no room for argument, but of course, this was Bella.
"Excuse me?"
"Let your hair down." He softened his tone, "it's easier, for me, if your hair covers your neck." It was a lie. He moved his hand to pull the pencil out himself.
"I've got it."
As Bella pulled the pencil and gave her head a slight shake to encourage it's fall, she closed her eyes and missed the unmistakeable lust that escaped Edward's careful control for the briefest of moments.
"Now tell me my books are late."
"You're – wait, what?"
He raised his eyebrows at her as he allowed his crooked smirk to make his meaning clear.
"Oh my god, did you just make an almost dirty joke?"
He blinked innocently at her, "I guess I did."
"Ugh," she rolled her eyes, "I should have known when you told me to cover my neck. My blood isn't a problem for you anymore."
"That's not entirely true."
"That's what you said at your house."
"I said my blood lust wasn't a problem. Not that it stopped captivating me. You mentioned that you thought it would be easier if I wasn't your singer. You still sing to me. I just know now that lust for your blood isn't the lust I struggled with the most." Bella blushed and he felt the venom rush through his body, preparing him should he decide to indulge in either of his cravings.
"Why are you here?" She sighed. "I warned you this is a small town. We had plans to meet in a few days. Are you looking for more hiking guides?"
He smiled at that. "No. Riveting as they were, I think I'm done with ecology guides for a while. I wanted to talk to you about something I would like to do."
"Sure," she leaned against the shelf. "What are you thinking."
"I'd like to volunteer here."
"What?" She stood back up to face him.
"I need something to do. Obviously I can't go to high school again."
"Obviously." She said dryly.
"I thought I could do something here -"
"Here?"
"Yes, here." She said nothing for a moment so he continued. "Would you mind?"
"Would I mind?" She paused as if to think about it. "Why are you asking me?"
"This is where you work. I don't want to infringe on your space."
"And yet you chose here."
"It's not because of you. Well, not entirely because of you." He leaned his shoulder against the stack. "Emmett inspired me. I was thinking I could volunteer to help kids with their reading. I've never done anything like that before, I know, but I thought I could use my gift. If I'm privy to how they think, I may be able to help them formulate strategies - what?" Bella's lips had parted and she looked bewildered.
"You've thought about this?"
"Yes. Well, at first I just thought I should do something here, given my mother's name now graces the place. So I did some research."
"Come on, I'll go through the paper work with you. We actually have a waiting list of kids who could use a tutor. What's your availability?" She started to walk up the aisle and motioned for him to follow.
"I ahhh..." He put his hands in his pockets and walked towards her, "I don't have a lot going on. I'll let you schedule me as you see fit."
"Ok, then. How do you feel about most nights after school and Saturday mornings?"
He smiled, thanks to Jasper, he knew Bella's schedule. They'd be together most days.
"You'll have to leave by noon on Saturdays. We have a trained dog that comes in for kids to read to."
"It's not Jake is it?"
Bella's laugh echoed through the vacant library.