Chapter 13

Spinelli POV

Why me?

Another sleepless night and back to the library I go. I really can't take much more of this and it's only my third day at this school.

I step into the library and see that once again I'm the first one here. Great just great. Well I guess I'll take my usual table. Now there's something I never thought would happen. I have a usual table in the library. Good God this going to the library must be stopped. Soon I'll be known as library girl…..Hm I wonder whatever happened to her?

"Hey Elli" I look up at Gretchen and smile.

"How goes the math?" She asks as she sits down across from me.

"Not to bad, my uncle has been helping me out. He's somewhat of a math genius"

Her eyes light up with interest causing me to pause. What exactly had I said to get that reaction? Shoot she had that whole little math club with Hank. How could I have forgotten that?

"What does he do?" She sounds a little too excited. Damn how am I going to answer this? Well Gretchen he's a janitor, Oh wait you mean you also knew a brilliant janitor; well you know that it's a prerequisite for the job. Cleaning up after children, wiping down tables and mopping up flooding bathrooms takes a higher degree of intelligence. I highly doubt that she'd fall for that. Think Elli think. Uh oh she's starting to stare at me; I'm taking to long with my answer. How do I get myself into these situations?

"Well, well if it isn't Elli and Gretchen" a voice says from behind me. Thank you God! I turn to greet me savior…… Lawson. What is with my luck?

"I wouldn't have taken you as a library chick Elli" Lawson gives me a sneer that I think he might think is sexy.

"Well I wouldn't have thought that you knew where the library was" I grin as I see the look of surprise go through his eyes as if he was surprised that I hadn't gone all girly because of his 'sexy smile.'

As quickly as the surprise entered his eyes however it disappears and another look enters his eyes as he tries to intimidate me. He leans forward holding on to the back of my chair. Since I'm sitting he towers over me; not that he wouldn't have towered over me if I had been standing. Alas the problems with being short the world towers over you. Of course this also gives you the weapon of surprise since almost everyone over looks you.

If he's looking for fight he's got one. I haven't had a good nights sleep since I got here and I have a hell of a lot of pressure on me at the moment which does not exactly put me in my most peaceful of states.

I turn in my chair so I'm facing him completely. "Do you mind" I use my iciest tone.

A friend who had been in the drama department of my school had showed me the merits of using quieter voice when I was mad at someone and wanted them to leave. It had taken me awhile to understand that being loudest wasn't always the most intimidating. After all I was a Spinelli and when we fought we always got loud. But that was another thing that had died in the accident. I had learned a new way to fight my battles, although a good fist fight would be rather fun at the moment.

Lawson's trying to stare me down and I almost burst out laughing when I see that he now looks confused as well as worried. I keep my gaze steady and as cool as I can. Slowly he backs up and then leaves.

I turn back to Gretchen with a huge grin on my face. God that felt good, mind you it would have felt better to just smash my fist into his face. But O well. You win some you lose some.

I look at Gretchen who is staring at me with a dumb founded expression. The library which was normally quiet was almost deadly silent and the students around us are staring at me as if I'm some amazing new discovery. What was going on? Hadn't they ever seen any one stand up to Lawson before?

"So… what were we talking about before we were so rudely interrupted" I ask hoping that she'll stop staring at me. Shit! We were talking about Hank. Bad topic Elli, really bad topic. I force a grin on my face as wait and praying that she's forgotten. Then much to my relief she bursts out into laughter.

"O god did you see his face" she manages to say in between her laughter. My grin gets bigger as I begin to chuckle.

Ring Ring

I pick up my phone and as quickly as my good mood came it was gone.

"Hi Cindy"