Chapter SEVEN

The library was pretty quiet when I stepped inside. Right away I spotted Ruth - the woman Mrs. Walsh had been training - at the desk. I turned the corner before she saw me, tucking into the area with computers. I chose one and sat down, tucking my school bag under the chair.

The library was not air conditioned and it was a strange sort of warm, old smelling scent. But I was used to it, and didn't really mind it. I signed into my Facebook, scrolling a bit. Finally I clicked on Alex's page. The first few first - newest - photos were from Camilla's party that Friday. Lex and Matt, making weird faces. Lex, giving a peace sign, then Camilla, Lex and another girl I didn't know, all smiling. He had been tagged in them. I clicked Camilla's name, bringing me to her page. Her profile picture was her and a girl who looked a bit younger than her. Her page was filled with photos of parties, selfies, friends. I spotted a few photos of her and Lydia, on a beach somewhere. I felt so much jealous suddenly, for this girl I barely knew.

Just as I clicked the X to close the browser, I heard a voice behind me.

"No, I'm not home yet," the guy was saying, and I realized he was on his phone. "Uh, no. I had to stop somewhere. I'll call you in a bit."

His voice stopped suddenly and I was just staring at the computer screen, not blinking, trying to seem completely oblivious. I recognized his voice. I just had no idea if he would remember me.

"Hey," he said, but I ignored it, assuming he was still talking to someone in his phone.

I wanted to disappear. I wanted to slip away, far away.

"Hello?" he asked, now coming up right beside me.

I glanced over at him, just with my eyes. It was definitely him, Winston Duke.

"This is so random," he said, going on like I'd said something to him. "I knew that I knew you from somewhere."

"From here?" I asked, straight faced. "I mean, the library?"

"Yes."

"You tried to get in before we were open, like a week ago?" I offered.

"Yeah, that was me." He smiled like this was something he was proud of.

"And then you slammed someone into me at your girlfriend's party on Friday," I added, rolling my eyes.

He hesitated. "You knew that was me?"

I shrugged. "How could I mistake that haircut?"

He stepped back, looking offended. "What's wrong with my hair?"

"Nothing. It's just..." I didn't know how to finish the sentence, so I didn't.

He touched it, flattening it a bit and then letting it go back to this weird puffy look. There was less product in it today. "Who use library computers?"

I swallowed hard. That was an insult, even if he was kidding. He didn't know me or my life. He had no idea I was there using the library computer because the library made me feel safe. Or that I had no interest in going home.

"Why are you here?" I asked finally.

All I knew about him was that he was rich and he went to a private school in Chelsea, fifteen minutes away. That did not explain why he was in the library in the East Village. Again.

"Had to return the book for my mom," he said casually. "So, wait. You know Camilla?"

I didn't want to talk to him like this. It didn't feel right.

"I guess, sort of. We go to the same school," I said, slowly.

He took this in, then nodded. "Well, I'm Duke."

I bit my lip, not wanting him to know that I already knew his name.

"Penelope," I told him.

He smiled, his teeth showing. "You work here, don't you?"

"Not today."

"So, what day, then?"

Was he flirting with me? No. He couldn't be.

"Uh, why?" I spat out.

"The truth?" He lowered his voice, as if anyone else was around to hear him.

"Sure."

"This place... it's so unique. It's quaint, peaceful. I like it," he told me.

"It's my place, too," I said, without thinking. "I mean, that's why I like it here, too."

"My life is really... crazy. It's fast paced and there's always something... so I do this thing where I find quiet places to visit, to calm down." His voice was steady. He wasn't embarrassed by this.

Was this really the same guy who had smashed into Lydia at the party? The guy who had been so drunk he had passed out? The guy Lex insisted was a douche bag?

"That's cool," I said, because it was all I could think to say. It was cool.

"You think that's weird?" he wanted to know.

"I don't."

We just stared at each other for a moment or two before I blinked and turned away. My chest felt funny and my mouth was dry. He cleared his throat as his phone started ringing. He pressed something to get it to stop.

"Are you going to tell me when you work next?" he asked me, even though I had turned away.  His voice was curious, not demanding.

But why would I tell him that? So he could drop by? This was all so weird.

"I... I work Wednesday after school," I said, but felt instant regret.

"Hmm." The sound escaped his mouth and I glanced over at him. "Good to know."

I didn't let myself smile until he turned and began walking back toward the exit.

I hadn't completely forgotten about the interaction, but I wasn't thinking about it at all when I signed in to start work on Wednesday. It had been a long day at school and I just wanted to get to work and relax.

On Tuesday, I had gone with Lex to Matt's house after school, where they played video games and I read from my History textbook. When I got home, the house was empty. My mom always worked both of her jobs Monday to Wednesday and was never home until after 11P.M.

So now, as I started work, I felt happy to be there. It always made me feel a sense of relief, pushing open that heavy door to enter the library. Ruth had just signed out, waving goodbye, and Mrs. Walsh was there, organizing a stack of non-fiction on a cart nearby. The library was quiet, as usual. She asked me about school, my classes, my friends. She told me about her son, who was in his third year of college. Then she headed back to the office and left me alone at the desk.

I worked 4 P.M. to 9 P.M., which was the closing shift. It went by fast and, to me, it was the perfect way to spend an evening. Around 8 P.M., Lex texted to see how it was going. I was just about to reply when someone strolled up to the desk. Without hesitating, I looked up.

"You're here," Duke said, a smile forming on his lips.

I was stunned for a moment. "Yeah. I'm working."

"Right." He blinked, not looking away.

"Were you... in the neighborhood?" I asked, putting down my phone that I was still holding.

"Uh. No. But I was thinking about you." Now, he kept a straight face.

I looked around, making sure Mrs. Walsh wasn't close by. Then I tucked some hair behind my ear and took in a breath.

"Look, I don't even know why I told you I was working tonight," I admitted.

"What do you mean?" he wanted to know, placing his hands on the desk between us. They were big, and looked soft.

"This is just... we don't know each other."

"That's fine," he shrugged. "The less you know about me, the better."

I was thinking the same thing. "Why is that?" I asked, curious.

"My life is... it's too much for most people," he said, watching for my reaction.

I almost told him right then that my life was too little for most people. But the people I went to school with didn't even know about my life, my family, where I lived, so I sure wasn't going to tell him.

"So, you want to check out some books?" I asked, after a minute. "Maybe another autobiography?"

He grinned, his lips opening up a bit. "You remembered which book it was?"

"It was a very specific book."

"I swear, my mother needed it for her book club meeting."

"Okay."

He lifted his shoulders and then let them drop. "I'll admit... I don't really spent much time reading. Like, it's not a favorite pass time or anything."

"Oh, really? I'm shocked," I said, not even smiling.

His expression changed to this curious look, then he smiled again. "You are... I don't know. You're sassy, and you-"

I felt my cheeks getting hot. I knew he was flirting, now, even if I'd never experienced it before. I'd seen it in movies and read about it in books.

"It was a joke," I spat out, turning away.

I wanted to look busy, but I wasn't. I wanted him to leave but I also liked him there, in front of me.

"Penelope..."

The way he said my name made my insides shift. My heart sped up. What was happening?

I forced myself to roll my eyes at him. "What?"

"Tell me when you work again," he said, then added, "Please."

I wanted to remind him that he had a girlfriend, but that would be assuming he was actually flirting with me. There was still a chance he was not.

"I don't think so," I said, shaking my head.

"What?" He was surprised, his eyes wide. I said no to him, and he wasn't used to that. He leaned over the desk a bit, the only thing separating us. "Really? No?"

I shrugged. I felt torn, because part of me liked talking to him like this. I liked how he made me feel. But we were strangers. He had a girlfriend. And I knew Lex didn't like him. There were so many reasons to stop this, now.

"You have a girlfriend," I spat out, my voice low.

"So? Maybe I need a friend? Maybe I just think you're cool?" he answered right away.

"Do you need a friend? Because I'm not that cool," I told him, blinking and then looking down at my hands.

"Yeah, I do. And if I'm being honest... I've been thinking about you since you let the library door slam in my face, last week..."

"Why?" I asked, now seeing Mrs. Walsh coming around the corner, nearing us.

It was almost closing time. I had things to do. I needed Duke to go.

He noticed Mrs. Walsh, too.

"Thanks so much," he said loudly to me. "Great service!"

I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering what he was up to. He grinned back, then whispered, "I'll be back. Don't worry."

"Not worried," I said quickly, then once again watched him turn and walk away.