Evan stepped through the doors, holding his nose up and taking in the smell he'd grown to love. The library was most definitely one of his favorite places to go. It was a building of endless knowledge, all organized down to the letter. And no one could bother him, for it was the quietest place in town. He could be left alone with only his imagination to accompany him for hours on end.

So when he got a job there he was beyond ecstatic. The women who had worked there since he was a kid were already good friends with him. Of course, they're all older now, but he probably felt more comfortable with them than with his mom. Not that he didn't love his mom. Because he absolutely did.

"Edna, could you check me in? Thanks," Evan have a thumbs up to the lady behind the check-out counter, who gave him a warm smile, then grabbed a cart full of books and pushed it over to him.

"Oh and Evan, could you put these away for me? We're low on people today, so you might have to work a little more than usual." Evan took the cart handles, and winked at Edna playfully, who pinched his cheeks. "What would he do without a strong young man like  you?" She turned around and began to walk away, when a lightbulb came on in her head and she looked at him again. "Oh yes! I almost forgot, stupid brain. They hired a new kid, about your age I think, he's coming in about...10 minutes?" She checked her watch. "Do you mind showing him around?"

"Do you happen to know his name?"

Edna scratched her chin. "Oh what was it? They told me, but you know how I am. Was it something with an K? Or maybe...no wait it was a C.
C-something. Oh I can't remember, sorry, sweetie."

Evan nodded empathetically. "It's okay. 10 minutes right?" Edna nodded then turned around again, making her way to the check out, where a long line was waiting.

Evan sighed, letting a small smile show before walking through the endless shelves of books, towards the teen section. Edna and the others always knew where he felt most comfortable, so they always left him the teen books to put away. There was almost always no one there, so it was definitely the quietist section. He ambled through the long pathways, starting with the A's, then soon the B's and then the-

Someone tapped his shoulder. "Hey, I'm the new guy and they said you'd be here..."

Evan whipped his head around, his face just inches from the other boy's. He'd know that voice anywhere.

Connor Murphy.

Evan huffed. He want surprised, Connor probably couldn't get a job anywhere else. He took a step back, giving them each some space. After a moment of awkward silence, Connor looked up. "So...what do I do?"

Evan thought for a second. "Just... follow me." He turned a corner, head to the C's, and Connor followed obediently. Evan placed a few books on the lower shelves, the turned around to give Connor a stack, but didn't realize how close he was. Their noses touched and Evan blushed furiously. Connor smirked, but Evan ruined the moment by dropping the books in Connor's hands. "Put these away. I'm... I'm too short to reach the higher shelves, so you'll...need to do them." Connor sighed, turning around to face the shelf. He put the books back with no trouble, he didn't even have to go on his toes to reach the shelf like Evan usually had to.

After a few minutes of silence except for the sound of the books sliding onto the shelf, Connor took a step closer to Evan. "So...you work at the library."

Evan took a step away, pushing the cart toward the G's. "Yes...for about a year now? Yeah I think it's been a year."

Connor moved closer again. "So you like books?"

Evan looked up at him. "What's...what's not to like?"

Connor nodded, impressed. "Good point, good point. Favorite book ever? Like the only book you could ever read for the rest of your life?"

Evan was prepared. "Carry On. Rainbow Rowell. I've read it 54 times, never gets old."

Connor raised his eyebrows, sliding a book in between the names Law and Lowry. "You like gay teen fiction. Are you gay?"

"Bi...actually, but it's...that's half gay. What about...you?"

"100%. I'm as gay as unicorns dancing on a rainbow," Connor's sarcasm was evident, and Evan had to suppress a giggle. "Ever been in a relationship?"

"You ask a lot of...personal questions, mister," Evan gave him another stack of book, continuing to the M's. "And no...I have not."

Connor moved closer, and Evan's shoulder hit his arm. "Never been kissed?"

Evan turned to look at him. "Why does this-" Connor leaned down, gently pushing his lips against Evan's. The shorter boy dropped the books he had been holding out of astonishment, and reflexively wrapped his arms around Connor's waist, pulling himself closer, kissing back. This was not what he expected. He was kissing someone.

Connor pulled away after a moment and, as if nothing had happened, picked up the books and continued to put them away. Evan, still stunned, tried not to show any facial expressions and followed Connor's actions. He pushed the cart around to the next set of shelves, staking the T's. Evan couldn't take his mind off of what had just happened, and in a library no less.

But after a moment he couldn't take the tension.

"So we're...we're just not going going to talk...about that?" Evan bent down to put a book back, and sprang back up. "Whatever that was?"

"Yeah, sorry about that," Connor tucked a piece of hair behind his ear, turning to look at Evan for the first time in 10 minutes.

"I just...it's not like I hated it...um... you're beautiful, and why did I say that out loud? And um maybe I wouldn't mind doing it again? But that's okay if you don't want to I totally understand since I mean, wait you're the one who kissed me but still if you don't that's... that's ok... um..." Connor's hand cupped Evan's cheek, and Evan leaned into it, his voice fading away. It was warm to the touch, and he closed his eyes, not wanting Connor to let go. The taller boy leaned in, foreheads touching, and Evan could feel his breath against his nose. Evan's arms went straight to Connor's hair, his fingers immediately tangling in it.

"What...what are we doing?" Evan whispered, his eyes on Connor's.

"Who cares?" Connor said, his voice was husky. And their lips met again.

🔹🔶🔹

About a week later, Connor locked his pickup truck, putting his keys in his sweatshirt pocket and taking Evan's hand in his. Evan shivered, looking up at his boyfriend's face.

"It's too cold for you to be wearing just a sweatshirt," he stuffed his free hand in the coat pocket.

Connor sighed, his breath visualized in the air in front of him. "Doesn't bother me, I can handle two minutes of walking outside." He opened the library door, holding it for Evan to step in before entering himself, the heat engulfed them both.

Evan smiled at the lady at the checkout counter, whom Connor couldn't remember the name of, and pushed past the line to stand behind the counter with her. Connor grabbed a cart, winking at Evan before turning to the adult section.

Evan took off his coat, laying it on one of the chairs. "How are you, Josephine?" He set up one of the computers and called up the next person on line.

Josephine gave him a warm smile. "Oh, I'm just fine, but word goes around the library, and Mae told me there was a scandal in the teen section just last week?" Evan's face immediately reddened, his eyes growing wide.

"How...how..."

Josephine laughed. "Silly boys, they don't understand how security cameras work. Well, neither do I, but we had them installed 6 months ago and they work like a charm. Next time you two work together, I mean if you do, I advise the bathroom for scandals like that."

Evan laughed uncomfortably. He made a mental note to let Connor know before someone cornered him.

Whoops I don't know how to end things, sorry. I need to work on that.
This one was actually based on a true story that I thought was so cute, I decided to write a cute gay chapter about it.

Oh, just in case you were wondering, the women mentioned in this chapter are all from musicals. Edna, Josephine, and Mae (well, Mae isn't exactly old, well if you know where she's from you get it).

Can you guess where they're from?