It had been a full week since Mira had started her part-time job at Lost Pages, and she could finally feel herself getting used to her routine. There was something about being lost among the books, surrounded by so many printed stories and documents that made her feel at home. Asher wasn't so bad either, once Mira had gotten the final go-ahead from Mrs. Green. After school, she'd spend her downtime at work finishing her homework and talking about philosophy with her coworker.
For History, she had to bring in a few outside sources on the Civil War. There was going to be a presentation on the generals that served in the war and duplicate ideas weren't going to be tolerated.
"Hey, Asher, do you have any books on the Civil War?" She looked up from where she was perched behind the front desk. Asher glanced away from the book he was reading – another poetry book, it looked like – and frowned.
"Civil War? That's such a boring subject, can't you find me a challenge?" He cocked an eyebrow but disappeared among the rows of shelves anyway. When he reemerged a few minutes later, he had a sizable stack of books cradled in his arms. "Here, everything we have in stock on the war. Why do you want to read about something so violent and meaningless?"
"I wouldn't go so far as to say it was meaningless." She countered, brushing her hair out of her eyes, and pulling the first book from the pile.
"Millions of people died fighting for the same country. That's not meaningless?"
"They were fighting for freedom. One side was fighting for the right for other people to be free." Mira pointed out. "That's a noble cause."
"It's a stupid cause." Asher scoffed, going back to his book. "People died for something that should have been common sense. You can't own a person."
With a note of finality, he leaned back against a shelf and seemed to shrink away from the conversation back to his own world. The way his eyes drank in the words on the pages was mesmerizing. Realizing that she was staring, Mira pulled herself back to her work and began sifting through the books for anything that she could use.
When it was finally time for them to clock out, the sky was already dark. Asher waved nonchalantly as she unlocked her silver SUV. She waved back, not really paying attention, and got into the car, locking the doors immediately as she'd been taught.
She'd picked out a handful of books that Asher had suggested that now rested on the passenger seat. Looking over at them, she smiled at the boy's helpfulness. She started the engine and pulled out onto the road. Before long, she was on her way home.
Over the weekend, Mira focused on her studies and her work. Asher was a great companion for both. Despite her normal tendency to be reserved, she felt herself getting closer to him. It was nice to make a friend here, especially after losing so many friends in California.
After school one day, she found herself chatting more freely than she had in a long time. It all started with one question.
"I never did ask you before," Asher had started with a sidelong glance at her, "What brings you to Forks? Aside from the sightseeing, obviously."
She hesitated, marking her page before laying her book down. "It's a long story, I think."
"Well, you're in luck, I don't have anywhere to be for the next," he surreptitiously checked his watch, "four hours."
Her lips twitched in an involuntary, small, sad smile. Before she knew it, she was pouring her heart out to this guy she'd met not even two weeks ago. She told him everything, from her dad's progressing disease to leaving with her estranged mom. She spared no detail, and for the first time since the funeral, she allowed herself to feel vulnerable.
The sadness came in waves, and by the time she was done talking, tears had gathered in her eyes. Clearly, Asher hadn't been prepared for that, because he was visibly caught off-guard by the sudden welling tears and at a loss for words for once.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, "I'm usually not one for tears. It's just been so long since I talked to anyone like this, it's a little hard to hold them back this time." She shrugged, dabbing at her eyes with her shirt sleeves.
To his credit, Asher recovered quickly. "That's only natural. I can't even remember the last time I cried…" He trailed off thoughtfully.
"You're exaggerating." Mira laughed, shaking it off. "But thank you for listening."
She smiled up at him and went back to her book. She managed to narrow down her list of Civil War generals and was working through the names to find someone obscure enough to do her presentation on.
Ambrose Burnside, Winfield Scott, John Bell Hood…
She froze at the next name.
Jasper Hale?
