"Lucas and I would've came to your house and walked you here if you just would've told us where you lived."

Cleo sent a thankful look to the two boys. She didn't want them to go through the trouble or happen to run into Zoë at this time. Zoë may have a good job, but Cleo wished that she could be her usual self at times.

"I know, but I didn't want you two to do all that. Thanks anyway, Farkle." Cleo smiled at Farkle as they neared the front door of the apartment building. They were about to call Maya and Riley down so they could finally go to the library.

Farley nodded and looked at the intercom box. "So who's going to speak first?"

"1,2,3, NOT IT."

"Not it."

Farkle looked between Cleo and Lucas and playfully glared. He stood in front of the intercom box and did 'vocal warmups' before finally pressing the button and hearing it buzz.

"Farkle."

"Be ready in a minute."

Lucas then stepped up and mouthed, "watch this," before pressing the button.

"And Lucas."

"READY NOW!"

"Riley, I want to eat first!"

Cleo gently pushed Lucas out the way and pressed the button herself.

"I'll buy you a snack on the way if ya come now, Blondie."

"Riley move faster."

•••

As promised, Cleo ended up buying Maya a bag of popcorn from a store nearby. Maya thanked her with a very muffled, "I love you," and finished it before they even got to the next corner.

Eventually, they made it inside the library. Cleo smiled once she entered one of her favorite places. The others were VERY confused since they were in an unfamiliar place. Cleo mentally rolled her eyes at the group; if they would just realize there was a world outside their phones.

"What is this place?"

"A library."

"This is where the ancients stored all of their wisdom."

Cleo facepalmed and very quietly cursed under her breathe, careful not to curse around the 'children'

"Look at all those..."

Cleo looked hopelessly at Maya. "Not you too."
"Books." Cleo spoke with the group to help them out. She grabbed a book aloft the shelf and showed it to them, turning it in all directions. "This is like an Ebook except it's real and you read it yourself."

Lucas grabbed the book from Cleo and read the title of it. "Tales of Human Interaction." Maya snatched the book out his hands quickly saying, "We'll take it," before dropping it on the table and telling Farkle to do whatever they were supposed to do with it.

Cleo instantly gave up and walked over to Lily, the librarian. "How have you been, Lily?" The old lady looked up and smiled at Cleo. She had grown fond of the girl who one day randomly walked into the wrong building and never ended up leaving until her aunt came.

"I'm quite well, thanks for asking," Lily paused as she looked behind Cleo to notice the others, "new friends?" Cleo nodded and grabbed a book off the counter. "Take care of them for me."

Cleo walked over to her 'spot' that was in a deeper part of the small library that no one goes over to. It was supposed to be a place that anyone could sit at to be comfortable, but no one really comes in except Cleo from time to time. Lily likes to tidy it up the pillows, quilts, and blankets to make it look a little different for Cleo.

Truthfully, Lily didn't want Cleo to feel like she spends her money for nothing. She even bought some letters and stuck letters to the wall to spell out Cleo over the area. She allowed it to be her personal spot when she came.

Anyway, Cleo got comfy and opened up the book she picked up. "Romeo and Juliet." Cleo rolled her eyes playfully at the book. She read it before on a few occasions and always hated the ending in different ways. She opened up the book, only for a note to fall out.

She curiously picked up the note and opened it.

I think your name is Cleo considering that it's the name above where the blanket and stuff are at. You don't know me, but sometimes I see you walk back to that spot in the library when I come to New York (No, I don't live in New York). You leave this book back here a lot, so I thought that this would be the best way to speak. I always hear how you hate the ending when you talk the librarian but I think you just have to look at it from a different perspective; try this:

Love is infinite, before, after, and even IN death.

I hope that we get to speak one day, maybe talk about the book.

Or maybe you could leave me a note.

- J.M

•••

Cleo walked back to the front to see Maya and Farkle actually reading. Riley has just walked away from the librarian went back over to actually talk to Lucas.

"Thank you, Lily."

Lily held her hand up. "No need to thank me. Anything for you." Cleo smiled and thought back to the book. She held it up, letting her know that she'll bring it back win she finished it. "Ah, I see you're gonna read it for the 100th time. Did you find the note in it from the boy?"

"J.M is a boy?"

"I've said too much. Have a nice night sweetie."

Cleo raised her eyebrow at Lily when she started to go around to 'organize' some books. Cleo shook her head and walked over to Maya and Farkle. She wanted to have Riley and Lucas have their moment.

Maya seemed to be arguing whether or not Farkle had a soul or not. Out the corner of her eye, she saw Maya with a pencil in her hand and a picture of the night sky and buildings outside. "Maybe you could paint with me one day, Maya."

Maya's head snapped towards Cleo. She covered up her picture more and turned towards Cleo. "You paint?" Cleo nodded and sat on the floor near her. She leaned her head on Maya's leg when she put them on the ground. Maya noticed a slight twinkle in her eye when she mentioned painting, letting her know that she must really like it.

"Sometimes I feel like it's my only escape in the world full of evil things. Sometimes it clears my mind when I'm stressed. Sometimes I just like to do it because I'm bored. I can let my emotions and thoughts flow at the same time without ever being wrong. I feel like it's my personal therapy because it's the only thing that can't judge me when I spill out my problems."

"Me too."

Farkle and Lucas stared at the two girls. Riley looked between Lucas in the girls, mostly Lucas and Cleo. Farkle was watching in slight amazement while Riley was trying to figure out why Lucas was looking as hard as he did.

Yet, Cleo and Maya just... Talked.

•••

"Here you go, take your phone! Take it now! Very good. Here's your phone. Good, great, nobody talks to nobody. No more feelings. Thank you. Okay, guys, the great technology debate. Let's boot it up!"

"Wow, Cory, I was rooting for you." Cleo said as she suddenly walked into the class. Everyone stared at her as she sat down in her seat. Cory slowly handed back her phone, causing Maya to type at the speed of light.

"Any reason why your late, Cleo?" Cory asked. Just as she was about to answer, her phone dinged because of a message from Maya.

Rapunzel💛👑: Why did u walk all the way to your house? It's further than everyone else's, you were supposed to be picked up, and it was dark."

Cleo just sighed and slipped her phone in her pocket. She folded her hands on her desk and looked up at Cory. "Family stuff," she paused to turn to Maya, speaking softer, "just family stuff."

Cory nodded and carried on with the class, which just happened to have Riley, Farkle, Lucas, and Maya get up to go to the front of the room and Maya dragging Cleo up there with them.

Cleo sat on Mr. Matthews desk and watched as first Maya and Farkle went, then Riley and Lucas. She thought it was done until Maya stayed where she was and made Cleo stand next to her.

"Cleo Downs is new to the school and to our group of friends just like Lucas is. She watches us, and I've noticed that. She protects us, I've noticed that. She lets us make our own decisions, I've noticed that. When we make mistakes, she lets us learn from them, I've noticed that too,"

"In a short time, we've grown to like her very much. I've never actually just taken the time to just sit down and talk to her. Yesterday, I finally had the opportunity to just... Talk to her. She likes some of the things I like, like painting. She gets a twinkle in her eye when she talks about the things she loves, and I never would've have known that if I never talked to her," Maya paused. She looked down and smiled a bit before turning fully towards Cleo,

"but I'm glad I did. Thank you for making me feel like I'm not the only person who's different. If you let me, I would defiantly like to talk to you more."

"Me too."

•••

Cleo returned to the library with Maya that day. She showed Maya her spot and they sat and talked about random stuff. She even showed Maya the note she got from the boy, which Maya started describing what she thinks he looks like.

Eventually, Maya left to meet Mr. Matthews. Cleo knew she'd have to walk home again. Her aunt never returned her message from the first time she asked her to pick her up. Cleo sighed and leaned back against the wall, starting to think about everything that led her up to that point. She let a single tear fall from her face as she silently prayed for a miracle to come.

And so it did.

"Cleo?"

Cleo sat up slowly and looked to see Cory and Lily. Lily has shown Cory where she was after he had politely asked to see her. By Cleo's face, she was glad she did show him.

Cleo wiped her few tears from her face and stood up. She looked at Cory with a forced smile and spoke. "What's up, Mr. Matthews?"

Cory saw the girl's tear stains on her cheeks and sighed.

"Why don't I take you home? We can talk on the way if you're up for it."

Cleo quickly nodded her head before slowing down and breaking down in front of Cory. She let all her tears escape her eyes and fell into his arms. It had been so long since she thought about everything, and even longer than she had cried.

She felt like she could trust Cory and knew if anyone would keep her secrets, it would be him.

"Thank you."

•••

Oof, I can't wait for you guys to find out Cleo's history🤧 I really hope you enjoyed this chapter💙

Sorry for typos.