chapter 3

Old Books

The smell of dusty books tickles my nose as I shelve the ones lucky enough to have been recently Viewed. 

I’m the library assistant at my university, and I could never have dreamed I'd be so lucky. I take care of books all day and they give me money for it. 

Suckers! 

I make my way back to the rental counter and start scanning in new returns. I've barely dug into my work before I hear a familiar feminine voice clear its throat. 

"Excuse me miss, where is the porn section? I have some research to do." 

My head shoots right up and an involuntary sigh flies from my lips. Standing there looking completely innocent is my best friend, Fiona Reese. She's got a cheesy grin on her face and she's slumped over onto the counter, her abnormally large bosoms resting on a poor unsuspecting stack of fiction novels. 

"Haven't you any shame?" I ask even though I already know the answer. 

"Nope," Fiona replies, popping the P. She heaves herself off of my workstation and starts looking around with curious blue eyes, her thick black waves dusted with snow. 

"When do you get off, Soph?" She asks without looking my way. She may give me crap about "wasting my time in a library" but I can tell she thinks this is the most beautiful place she's ever seen. 

The shelves seem to go on for miles and the ceiling is decorated with intricately painted panels. The floors are reflective so they make it seem like the library is twice as big, and that it could swallow you whole if it so desired. 

"I get off at eight," I reply, wondering what she has planned. Fiona's gaze finally falls back to me and she has a mischievous smile plastered on her full red lips. 

"Well seeing as how it's our last weekend homework free before classes start I thought we could go out. Paint the town beige. You can throw on your sexiest sweater and everything." 

I scoff, looking aghast. "I own plenty of sexy clothes and BEIGE?" 

My voice gets louder as my sentence goes on, but Fiona already knows what my answer will be. 

"So What do you say?" She asks me eagerly. 

"I can't," I reply with an awkward mumble. 

"Are you gonna blow me off so you can keep catfishing Dr. Dreamy?" 

I don‘t reply, avoiding eye contact entirely, so she throws her arms in the air. 

"Seriously?" I can tell she's mad at me. I spend every night like a hermit locked up in my apartment with my face in my computer. 

She'd be a bit more proud of me though if she knew What kind of things we've begun talking about lately. 

"It's not cat-fishing." I defend. "I‘m not pretending to be someone else." Fiona gives a short fake laugh at that. 

"No, you're just pretending to be no one." 

I roll my eyes in defense but honestly, that's accurate. 

Both of my hands run through my loose red tinged curls, and I sigh deep and heavy. 

"Come on Sophie, have drinks with me. What is the point of being 21 if you're just gonna drink coffee and stay home?" Fiona sticks her bottom lip out and pouts. 

I scrunch up my nose in uncomfortable thought. Fiona is right, and I do feel bad for practically blowing her off all winter. I suppose one night away from my computer couldn't hurt. 

"Fine. Fine. I'll go." I say with a shrug, trying to play it down. "Why the hell not?" 

Fiona's face lights up. "Holy Freck are you serious?" 

I nod and can't help but laugh. "Awesome! I'm gonna go pack some stuff for tonight then meet you at your apartment when you get off." Fiona scurries away like a jubilant little girl and I can't help but laugh. What a dork. 

*** 

"Put your hands behind your head and step away from the computer!" Fiona's voice shrieks in my ear as she lunges to snatch my laptop out of my hands. 

"I just want to let him know that I won't be able to talk tonight!" I say defensively. "Is that so crazy?" 

Fiona looks at me with absolute disgust. "Are you new to this? Honestly? How can you be so naive? This is a grown ass man you're dealing with, Sophia. 

A beautiful one to boot. He may not know who the hell you are but there's one thing he does know: you stay home every night and talk to him and wait for him" Fiona puts my computer in her overnight bag "you can have this back once you've learned your lesson." 

"And what lesson is that exactly?" I reply with complete and utter annoyance, my patience worn to nubs. 

"That you wait for no man. And that you are desirable by many, not just him. Now, go put this on." 

Fiona hands me a dress that has a plunging neckline and stops well above my knees. "Okaaay, but you know it's like 10 degrees outside right?" I complain but Fiona just shrugs me off 

"That's what coats are for isn't it?" 

I go to my bedroom to figure out Fiona's outfit of choice. It's a lovely army green sort of color that I do suppose compliments my skin well. The dress is stretchy but not the cheap costume kind. It's very simple by design but unbelievably flattering. I stare at myself for several moments before a bitter feeling fills my stomach. 

Guilt pulls at my subconscious as I think of Professor Crane waiting eagerly for me to talk with him. I'll just have to explain later and hope he doesn't get too upset. 

I try very hard to not let the powerful introverted side of my personality hold me back. However, knowing I'll have to deal with pervs and jerks trying to hit on me makes me want to bail on this idea entirely. 

Fiona and I have been friends for as long as I can remember, both of us easily classed as weirdos, but she's got one thousand times more courage than I'll ever have. Her extroverted shenanigans always land me in uncomfortable situations. 

"Holy crap, look at you!" Fiona coos as she walks in. I instantly blush and notice she's got her own outf1t on as well. Bold and red, with her huge chest on full display, Fiona looks like every mans twisted fantasy. 

The starts off good and then she eats your soul kind. 

"I'm so proud of you for doing this," she assures me, and I feel my chest tighten. "I know you're probably one second away from ripping that dress off, putting on some footie pajamas, and watching The Food N etwork, but I'm just proud you've come this far." She laughs and it helps to settle my anxiety. 

"I'm not gonna change my mind," I assure her. "That being said, let's go before I do." We both share a giggle and bundle up for the cold. Thank goodness Fiona has a car. 

***