The battle/conversation rages from the girl casually involving strangers in the mix.
In the morning for a change, a book is left upon his station. Marshall wipes his suddenly damp palms on his pants before going over to see what lies ahead. This time... they're not from this particular branch; he can tell. The Aa city library partners with Oo's library, thus being able to except books from either branch and vice versa.
The arrangement is supposed to make it easier on everyone. Now curious as ever to see an Oo book(since Oo is so far) he props his feet upon his cluttered station, cracking it open.
It appears to be a mystery-type story with some comedy; good enough. By the second chapter, a particular joke has him cackling. It's a pretty good book. Out of nowhere an older woman comes up. She waits politely to check out, but goes unnoticed by the boy.
He flips to the next page upon seeing a bookmark there, saying Flip to the next page for more fun. In his haste he does exactly that, and coming face-to-face with a graphic novel.
Let's use a better emphasis here: a graphic novel. A partially naked woman stares back at him, as his eyes dash over the scene in a panic. He jumps back a heartbeat later, chucking it on the desk, eyes wide. It's a pornographic novel, shoved inside a book. Very sneakily played. He looks up to see the old woman, finally realizing her presence.
She spares a glance at the novel, gasps, and backs up dramatically. Her eyes find his in horror as she mutters to herself loudly in distaste, leaving immediately. In the commotion, everyone near looks over, luckily too far to see. He throws the inner graphic novel in the trash, then digs it out since it is a library book after all.
Only an hour later, he gets yelled at by Miss Tuttle, the head librarian, and a stern ear yanking to leave the flesh red.
When he sees her the next day, she tries to hide a grin when going to her seat, but he catches it. Despite the consequences of her prank (a good prank indeed) and how he should feel some anger of some sort, he can't help but find himself grinning too.
Almost a month and half passes, and the two learn more about each other in certainly creative ways, not exchanging more than a fifty words in total.
Marshall learns her name is Bonnibel.
Bonnibel learns that Marshall's a college student.
Marshall learns that Bonnibel loves to work with kids.
Bonnibel learns that Marshall loves to scare kids.
Simple things, yet somehow they add up. Soon, indirectly, the two are good friends.
The phrase 'All is well' can even be applied to their situation.
That is until one day he decides to go out on a limb.
She walks in to find, Dating 101, upon her spot. Without taking a second glance in his usual placement or direction, she returns it to the drop bin, moving to retain some more novels. At checkout, they address nothing of which has occurred and the blonde leaves. He gives a slight frown, but grins in realization of their games. This must be all a part of the act, he thinks reassuringly.
For the next weeks, she comes in oddly, everyday, checking out a random variety of books. Horror, to Mystery, to even Sappy Romances litter her collection. He brings her attention to this when he raises a brow and mutters, "Wide variety lately." She murmurs in agreement, flashing a white smile before drifting through the front doors. Something irks the boy about this, but does nothing to sort out the fact.
Two weeks later, she says idly at checkout, "Make sure to put the Da Vinci Code on reserve for me."
He mumbles in a questioned response, "Can I ask why?"
With a shrug she replies, "I just find that hidden codes are interesting. Especially loved the scene in the movie where they found that message in the personal library. Very invigorating to solve even the hardest puzzles, yes?" and with that she disappears into the outside.
He frowns, and instantly types up the book search history of the peculiar girl. At the end of his shift he prints it out and strides out the library with a new puzzle in mind.