Hey everyone – thanks for the reviews! It's my first story, so not really sure what to expect ;) If you think I can improve in any way or want to just say something, then I would really love some reviews! Oh, and the next chapters will be longer, too.

"Hey Edmund, help me with this one?"

I blew a strand of hair out of my eyes and sighed heavily. We'd been in the local library for a frustrating two hours, and still hadn't found what we were looking for.

Edmund came up to me, grinning. Ever since that first horrible day when we were forced to share a desk, we'd somehow become good friends that did everything together. Just friends, I reminded myself. With his dark eyes and strong jaw, he was easy on the eyes, and sometimes I felt my heart beating faster when he got a little too close to me. But I did my best to ignore it. Mostly.

I watched now as he reached up and pulled off the shelf the heavy-looking book I was pointing to. "Famous Fairy Tales" I read out slowly. "Edmund, this could be it!"

He grinned cheekily and I frowned. "What?"

He shrugged and pointed to the words on the blue cover. "Hans Christian Anderson," he read out. "I somehow doubt he's the author of the book we're looking for."

"Okay, fine" I said, taking the book from him. "But we need to find it soon or I'm going to scream." Edmund took one look at my heated face and touched my elbow. "C'mon, let's have a break." He led me to a bench outside near the cafeteria and sat me down. He went over to the counter and ordered two lemonades.

"So are you sure this book is worth all this? I know we've got to do a project on an old legend from literature but can't we just use any title?" Edmund sat down next to me, and handed me my drink. I shook my head stubbornly.

"This book was different. It was amazing. And my dad… well, he used to read it to me." I faltered. Edmund reached over and took my hand. His intense eyes locked onto mine and I felt that familiar nervous twisting in my stomach. "This is important to you," he said softly, leaning forward the tiniest bit. I nodded, and he leaned back again, folding his hands behind his head.

"Besides," I continued, forcing a brighter tone into my voice. "There was a guy with a name just like yours in it. Edmund Pevensie, I think it was. And the…" I trailed off as Edmund suddenly choked on his drink.

"Hey, are you ok?" I said, patting his back. I could feel his body heat coming up through his shirt and I let my hand linger a second longer than was necessary before moving it. He turned to face me with a peculiar look on his face. "What was the guy's name again?" he asked in a strangely quiet voice.

I bit my lip, confused. "Um, Edmund Pevensie or something like that. Why does it matter?"

Edmund didn't answer, but got up and practically ran into the library. I watched his back disappear in astonishment. What the heck just happened? I blushed when I remembered my hand on his back. But surely that wouldn't have made him run off…

But within a few minutes Edmund was back, this time clutching a book in his hand. He came up panting, his chest heaving up and down. I smiled up at him tentatively but he shoved the book into my hand almost roughly. "Eloise, is this it?"

I focused my gaze down at the book.

"The Chronicles of Narnia", I read out loud.

I ran my hand over the smooth red cover and turned my excited face toward him. "Yes, this is it! Edmund, you're a genius!" He sank down next to me and covered his face with his hands for a brief moment before looking at me. He gave a weak grin.

"Yeah, a complete genius."