There's nothing I loved more than the arid scent of a good book. Although, stargazing was a close contender. It's one of the reasons why I worked part time at the university's library. That, and the job's a decent way to make some cash. Two birds with one stone. The large room was mostly silent, minus the clattering sound of furious finger tapping near the computer area. Not many students ventured in around this time of morning and my first class started in a half hour. So, I figured now would be a great time to sort out those donated books that arrived over the weekend.
"Mona?" Sultry vocals soon stole my attention from the large boxes inside a small storage room to the back of the library. At the door's threshold, the school's librarian called me over with the tug of a finger before spinning on high heels towards the common area.
Closing the door behind me, I found my way to the front desk where the honey brunette awaited alongside a short young man. Lisa's emerald eyes met my paler ones, "I'd like you to meet Xingqiu. He'll be filling in for me while I'm out for that conference I mentioned last week." Ah, I'd completely forgotten.
Lisa's replacement seemed pretty young, but there was a studious air about him. I don't think he goes to this school. Probably an internship.
The librarian's sights flickered to the sapphire haired boy while she gestured towards me, "This is my assistant, Mona. She handles mostly everything around here in my absence but since she has classes to attend during the day, you'll be covering for her when she's unable to be here. She'll be the one locking up at the end of each day."
The young man nodded to our superior, "Understood." Bright golden eyes held mine, a small smile adorning his face, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, miss Mona." Smooth talker, straight out of a Shakespearian novel. Cultured, I like that.
"Likewise, Xingqiu." I returned his smile.
"I'll leave organizing your work schedules to the two of you." Folding her arms, Lisa glanced between us, "For now, let me show you around while Mona runs along before she's late to class again."
My brows creased until I took a look at the large clock right above our heads, "Oh no!" I had ten minutes to make it across campus. Grabbing my midnight blue back pack from behind Lisa's desk, I threw it over my right shoulder, "I'll be back after class, so we can finalize everything then." Without turning back, I quickly stride out the door.
Professor Dainsleif was a man of time. He never said anything out loud if you walk in after his lecture's already begun, but the unsettling glare that would stick to you throughout the entire lesson was enough to spur his students into arriving before he did. Speed-walking across campus must've made me look ridiculous in the eyes of anyone passing by but I've learned to tune out those patronizing stares. That, and the occasional verbal mockery.
Mostly...
With five minutes to spare, I entered the right building, heading straight for my designated classroom. Until the corridor up ahead became clogged by a handful of idle students. Refusing to let anyone stop me, I weaved through the crowd before finally emerging right into a spectacle about to unfold.
"I-I'm sorry!" Cowering on the cold ground was a lanky brunet, shivering under the frigid glare of the person standing above him.
"You're sorry?" An unamused laugh left the lips of the inky haired guy looming over his terrified prey, "That's all you have to say?" In his hands was a book he'd picked up. Its distinct purple tag at the cover's corner was one I'd instantly recognize from miles away. He flipped it open, trailing crude fingers across every page until snapping the book shut. The boy on the ground flinched, at the sharp sound or the intimidating stare ready to devour him whole, I couldn't tell. What I could tell, was that his book belonged to the library.
The pathetic male on the ground grovelled at the other's feet, "I…I didn't mean to bump into you. I-It was an honest accident!"
Indigo eyes narrowed, unlike the cruel smirk curving his lips, "Oh really. Well then, let me be real honest with you. I consider anyone who bumps into me, a threat. One that I won't take lightly." Tapping the hardcovered volume in his right hand against his left palm, the dark haired guy raised it up, "Lets see how you like it when this dumb book bumps into your head!"
His weapon vanished into oblivion.
"You do know that reading literature, as opposed to bashing books against skulls, is the way to use this thing, right?" Relief washed over me after inspecting the library book. Luckily it hadn't been damaged by these two imbeciles...wha– it's overdue!
When I tune my focus back to the deathly silent hallway, a sea of wide eyed, disbelieving stares were locked my way. Although, they couldn't hold a candle to the irresistible spell casted by the guy standing mere feet away from me.
Dark eyes latched onto mine and I matched his livid glower with one of my own. His eyes roamed my entire body – slowly – and I stopped myself from smacking him with the heavy book in my hands. Then an unexpected smirk crawled along his face, contrasting his palpable aggression, "Oh, must've been my imagination. Thought I heard something talking but it's just a nobody."
My grip tightened around the book at the hushed song of snickers surrounding us. Embarrassment began creeping onto my features when the infuriating guy spun around, attentions trailed on his initial target. He had the audacity to turn his back on me?!
"Now where were we–" The purple haired idiot choked on the rest of his sentence after my left shoulder slapped his from behind in passing, and I'm pretty sure there was a horrified gasp from somewhere in the onlooking crowd.
The fallen brunet shrank back from my approach, quivering uncontrollably. I frowned inwardly at the obvious display of fear, "Need a hand?" A slight smile graced my lips as I offered an empty palm. One he never accepted.
Scared and shaking, the brunet lifted himself off the ground, bolting away from the scene like his life depended on it. Well, it did one way or another, "This is an overdue library book by the way!" I yelled after the poor excuse of a young man. Being petrified by a more dominant persona was one thing, but tardiness with returning what you borrowed was the absolute worst!
I poked my left inner cheek with my tongue. If he thinks he'll get another chance to borrow a–
"Hey you!" Outrage bled into the dark haired bully's tenor.
Twirling around on black heels, I took in the sight of a seething child, upset that he couldn't throw his tantrum exactly the way he wanted to. Long, ebony tresses slipped sideways with a head tilt to the right and for some strange reason, "Oh, are you talking to me?" I couldn't help the smug curl of my lower lip, "Sorry, thought I was a 'nobody'."
Stunned into absolute silence, the guy said nothing. I took that as my cue to light-heartedly scoff before leaving him and his audience to their undignified gawking.