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Chapter Five

Hi Mr. Prior. It's Makenna. I was wondering if you could help me with some of my work?

Oh. I wasn't expecting that. What time is it? I glance at the clock. It's only four thirty.

Hello Makenna. I would be glad to help you with whatever you need. Is there a specific place you want to meet?

She takes a few minutes to think about her answer.

How about the library?

Sounds good.

I think Near North Library is still open

I'll be there in fifteen minutes.

I wait for her response, but there is no follow-up text. I set my laptop aside and grab my keys and my jacket. I tell Fernando I'm going to the library, which he doesn't question. I shut the door tightly behind me and walk to my car. I find myself walking with extra speed. I knew I wasn't athletic, but there is a slight burn in my calves. Maybe I should work out more.

I drive as fast as the speed limit permits. Arriving at the library, I park in an empty space nearby and walk inside. I'm assuming Makenna lives around here. I try to make it easier for her and give her a closer destination than a thirty minute drive. I don't even know if she has a car, or if she walks, or if she takes the bus.

Inside the library, the walls are lined with books and there is a special place for tables and computers. She is sitting patiently in one of the chairs at an empty table. I walk over and sit across from her.

"Hello Makenna," I say. I give her a smile and she blinks a few times before giving me a halfhearted smile.

"Hi."

"What do you need help with?" I look at the paper she is writing on. I expect to find words and questions regarding the government branches, but she snatches the scribbled on paper and shoves it into her bag. She pulls out the actual homework and sets it in front of us, tilting it so we can both get a good look at it too. There are eraser marks everywhere.

"I think I found a good book that might help." She pulls it closer and looks in the glossary before flipping to the correct page.

I go back and forth between watching her and skimming the questions Ms. Matthews has her class answer. Some of the questions are easier to answer than others, but if I dig in the recesses of my mind, I could pull out the answers.

"Got it," she mumbles as she takes the paper back and jots the solution. She writes quickly. I have never seen someone write so quickly. Her penmanship is awful, but that's a sign of intelligence.

"Guess I didn't need your help after all," she says. She looks up and my green eyes meet her blue ones.

"Can I ask why you get so behind?" Makenna hesitates for a minute. Her eyes shift from one bookshelf to the next. She waits for quite a while before responding.

"I'm too busy helping the others to do my own work."

"You put others before yourself," I say. It's more of a notation for myself, but I still say it out loud.

"Duh."

I let the silence run between us awkwardly before I stand and push my chair in. "I'm glad you got your work done Makenna. I'll see you at school."

Turning toward the exit, she calls my name. "Can't you stay for a little while longer? I want to ask you something, Mr. Prior. As friends."

"Friends?"

"We can be friends right?" I sigh and sit back down.

"Yes?" That was directed at her original question, not the reply to being friends. I don't know if that is a tremendous idea.

"Can I call you Caleb?" Her inquiry takes me by great surprise. That is not what I expected her to ask. I can't begin to imagine what I thought she was going to, but it was not that. "If we're friends, I should call you by your first name. Outside of school of course."

"Uh... Sure. You can call me Caleb."

Quite frankly I'm surprised she remembers my first name.

"So," she continues, "Caleb. You seem distracted. You're not really focused. Or you haven't been in the past half hour."

Well damn it. I just had to go and ruin the evening for myself. I had to look at her when she said my name. I had to see how her eyes nervously flutter as the sound leaves her red lips. I had to look at her to see the small rosy circles form on her cheeks.

"I'm sorry. It's um..." You. "My sister is getting married and I don't have a date. It's kinda stressing me out."

"Well, congratulations to your sister. When is the special day?" It feels like it's an eternity away and yet it approaches quicker than the end of the year.

"I shouldn't bother you with my problems," I mutter. I stand up to leave, re pushing in my chair. "It's not until next summer. I have over a year."

"Exactly," she says. "It's not for a while. You'll find a date by then."

She stands and pushes in her chair too. She grabs her bag and sweater and walks with me to the door.

"Do you want me to drive you home?" She smiles and I feel my heart sink in my chest. No you idiot. Don't fall for your boss's niece. That's just a dumb move. She bites her lip and shifts her weight. Too late.

"Thanks, but I'll walk." I can feel my heart stop. "I don't live far from here. My parents would freak out if some guy they didn't know drove me home."

"You're right," I say. "I'll just see you at school then." Her eyes narrow for a moment. She stares intently at my face. She hasn't blinked in a few seconds. I turn and walk outside. She follows and begins to turn in the opposite direction.

"Goodnight Mr. Prior," she says. I spin around quickly to look at her one last time.

"Goodnight Makenna."