Life in the Stacks: A Library Drama part 3

Emma looked at her feet as she hurried to her table in the back of the library.  She had spent the last few days dodging Emery, even going to the park after school instead of the library.  Her cheeks still glowed red at the thought of their first encounter.

                The park had been fine for a while, but today was cold so she had two choices: her uncle’s house or the library.  She glanced at her watch, still three hours till Uncle Clint left for work.  Tossing her bag in a chair, she sank and looked out the big windows that surrounded the library.  A group of boys spilled out of a blue car, laughing as they shoved each other around.  Emery pushed a blonde boy out of his way as he climbed out from the middle seat.

                Emma sank even deeper into her chair.  She had hoped he wouldn’t come today, that his mom would’ve had the day off.  Grabbing her history book, she hid her face as the gang of guys walked through the door and made their way to the computers.

                “Sweet, I have some history to finish too.”

                Lowering her book, Emma stared open-mouthed at Emery as he tossed his history book on her table.

                “Can you believe Mr. McCully giving us all these essay questions?”  Emery flipped open his book.  “How far have you gotten?”

“I finished it in class.”   Emma rolled her eyes, he just wanted her answers. 

                Emery smiled and closed his book.  “Good, so did I.  Now we can talk.”

*Can’t wait for part 4?  Go to http://bvilleteen.blogspot.com.

Life in the Stacks: A Library Drama part 2

Leaping from her seat, Emma hurried to pick up the glossy covered books that had slid across the grey linoleum floor. She glanced around to see if anyone was watching and squealed when she met Emery’s face.

“Shhh.” He put his finger to his lips and smiled. “Don’t you know this is a library?”

Color flooded Emma’s cheeks as she nodded and stood. Emery rose too and placed a few books back on the uprighted pyramid display. Emma began to replace her books. “Were they were in any kind of order?” her voice cracked, mentally kicking herself for being such a clumsy nerd. Like Emery Pratt cared about the order of some stupid books, as if.

“I have it on good authority that they just throw books up there randomly.”

Emma paused and stared at him.

“My mom works at the reference desk.” He jerked his head towards the center of the library where the reference desk stood. “I hang out here until she gets off work at 6. You’re here every day too; your parents work downtown or something?”

Her heart jumped to her throat. He had noticed her here before? She shook her head no and brushed her bangs to the side. “My dad’s in Iraq. My Mom died.”

Emery scratched the back of his head. “Sorry to hear that, ‘bout your Mom. So ya staying with grandparents or something?”

“My uncle,” she said as she hurried back to the table and picked up her math book.

“Emery, it’s time to go.” Emma looked up at the petite blonde woman standing at the end of the row.

“That’s my cue,” said Emery. He started down the aisle and turned. “Catch ya next time, Library Girl.”

“It’s Emma,” she whispered. “My name’s Emma.”

Life in the Stacks: A Library Drama part 1

Emma tossed her pencil into the crook of her algebra book and followed it with her forehead.  “Why does math have to be so hard?” she thought as she picked her head up and brushed her brown bangs out of her blue eyes. 

She sighed and looked at the pages filled with daunting equations.  The yellow smiley faces covering her pencil mocked her frustration.  Slamming the book closed, she smashed the happy faces and pushed the disgusting book to the corner of the table. 

Leaning back in her chair, she closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the library; the constant beep of the circulation desk, the shushing of parents to young impatient children and the buzz of low conversations.  All the sounds of family and purpose, sounds she longed to hear at home, but couldn’t.

Reaching into the chair beside her she searched for her mp3 player in the green knapsack that used to be her father’s.  He had given her the bag six months ago when he left for Iraq and she had kept the tattered satchel by her side ever since. 

A ripple of boy’s laughter broke the silence of the library.  Emma leaned to her right and looked down a row of fiction.  There sat Emery Pratt, surrounded by a group of boys all giggling at the computer.   Emma placed her chin on her hand and stared at the boy with the messy black hair.  She watched as he pointed to the screen and talked to a tall boy on his left.  “Probably playing a game or chatting with Darcie the Diva,” thought Emma.

Emery’s green eyes shot up and met Emma’s.  She gasped and straightened quickly hoping he hadn’t seen her staring, but her elbow caught the corner of her math book sending it soaring into the teen book display.  Emma watched in horror as the pyramid of books slowly crashed to the floor and echoed throughout the library.

*Part 2 will be available tomorrow (Wed, Nov. 11th)