Chapter 2
1488 Words
Asena
What the hell is Aubrey talking about?
I look at Jenny, who seems to be as clueless as I, and then look at Aubrey, expecting some explanation.
To no aval!
“Aubrey… Some context? Details? Anything to understand who are they and why they are not leaving?.” I ask her, gesturing with my hand for her to continue.
“The students, Asena. We made the last call and yet they refuse to leave.”
“I was not aware that nerds could be so … badass.” Jenny snorts laughing.
“Not sure what we can do Aubrey. Should we call Security?”
“You made the mess, you fix it!”
“What? I did not do anything?!”
“Oh really? Who had the brilliant idea yesterday do this ridiculous announcement?” She scolds me, crossing her arms over her chest.
Oups!
That would be me…
I look down, and rub the back of my neck, embarrassed.
It sounded like a funny idea last night. Making a last call announcement to inform the students that the library is closing soon… With my special ironic touch.
Jenny, being the ever-supportive BFF, bursts out laughing.
“You mean the nerds are rioting? Damn Asena, you broke the nerds!”
“Jenny, stop calling them nerds!” Aubrey reprimands her.
“What!? She called them nerds last night and they clapped and laughed Why does she get to do it and I don’t.”
“Asena, I don’t care how you do it, but fix it!” Aubrey orders me, rubbing her temples.
“Okay… I’m on it!” I smile at her and run down the stairs.
I reach the welcome desk and Ms. Sherman greets me with a big frown plastered on her face.
She hands me the mic and huffs loudly.
I shrug, ignoring her bitchy attitude. She was never a fan of mine, anyways!
I take the mic and grin. You’re gonna love that Ms. A-stick-is-stuck-up-my-arce Sherman.
“Attention students!” I say through the mic and my voice resonates everywhere.
“What are you still doing here? We should have closed the library five minutes ago. To the nerds still studying… you already got your A, no need to work yourself out for the A+. To those who have a homework to submit tomorrow, you are late. Deal with it. Or you can suck up to the nerds and hope they help you.”
They all laugh, and Ms. Sherman rolls her eyes, mumbling God knows what.
Wait… did she say stupid human?
What kind of an insult is that?
“To those who are here to make out behind the map collection… first Ewww. Second, we hear you. Third, there are hidden cameras everywhere.”
One… two…
And three couples emerge from the left and run out of the library as if their asses were on fire.
There are no cameras…
I snicker, enjoying my evil prank.
“And to all the students, library staff, especially our dear old Mrs. Sherman, let’s meet up and unwind tonight at the Revolution bar! Party starts at 8pm. See you all there!”
Laughter, hooting, and clapping erupt as I turn the mic off and put it on the table next to a wide-eyes, mouth open Mrs. Sherman.
I turn around ready to go back to my office, but I think otherwise, when I see a red-faced Aubrey standing right behind me.
Oups!
Her face is flushing with anger, and she is gesticulating furiously.
“Not the message you wanted to hear?” I ask her sheepishly.
“What do you think, Miss Pierce.” She asks me, her voice heavy with sarcasm.
I raise my hands in the air, acknowledging defeat and turn around again to grab the mic.
“Attention students! The authorities have spoken, and I will be silenced under the code of the library is not improv Class! While my twenty-four hours of fame come to an end, I would like to thank you, my first and biggest supporters for the short journey we walked together. I will never forget you. Godspeed everyone.”
“Is that ok?” I ask Aubrey, a smug smile on my face.
She rolls her eyes and shake her head, as her arms stay tightly crossed over her chest.
The students, who were already packing and heading to the doors, were no longer moving. Everyone went all silence.
“You might not want to start a riot, Asena.” Jenny whispers.
“Ok. Ok. I will fix that too.” I shrug once again, and grab this stupid mic.
“This is not a goodbye, fellow students. This is a see you soon at the Revolution bar. If you buy me enough free drinks, I might make my announcement at every single party on campus.”
Cheers and laughter erupt again, and everyone relaxes.
Riot avoided.
“Can I go back to my desk, Aubrey? I still have to study for my test tomorrow.”
…And call Bella… and read the werewolves books and …party!
But I do not tell her that.
No one knows about my research nor about Bella. Not even Jenny. I promised Bella to keep everything a secret.
“Sure, go ahead Asena.”
I nod and walk away when I see Sam pushing a cart full of books.
It is not Sam’s lucky day, today! Reshelving all those books will take hours. And she has three exams tomorrow.
We usually take turns for the reshelving, today was Sam’s turn. But I cannot let her do all of it on her own. Ms. Sherman, who is supposed to supervise this task, has never helped any of us. And given that she is already at the entrance door, I would say, she does not care what happens to Sam.
“Hey Sam let me help you.”
“Oh, no, you don't have to! Thanks, but I will manage it.”
“Let me at least take part of the load. You have three exams tomorrow remember you told me about that earlier today.”
“You have an exam too.”
“Yeah… but I am a natural genius.” I joke.
she burst laughing.
“You know many people wonder whether you are human or whether you have some supernatural power.”
“Really? why would they think that?”
“You never get tired, you are a straight A student and yet your party all the time!!”
If only you knew Sam about my superpower… If only you knew!
“Well as long as they are not spreading rumors about me using drugs or something like that, I can live with it.”
“No one would dare do that! The few jealous ones know that they would not survive to finish the sentence!” Sam answers, outraged.
“Thanks, Sammy!” I take a handful of books.
“See you tomorrow, Sam” I yell as I start searching for the proper shelves.
After 10 minutes I finish with the books in my hand and head back to the office.
My eyes land on THE book that got Aubrey all worked out. Aubrey forgot about it, with the announcement and everything else.
What should I do?
Should I put it back in the ancient and rare book room? Or keep it with me? At least for tonight, so I can read a bit before going to sleep.
I check my phone and I see it's time to call Bella.
She will be starting her day just now given that she is on the West Coast.
I open the special app she gave me, a super secure app for communication, collaboration and document sharing.
Sometimes I wonder whether Bella is being fully honest with me… I mean this app on its own is already a red flag!
The app is signed by a company based in Idaho. And Bella had told me that it is the company where she used to work… She is from Idaho after all.
But still, this is an almost military-grade technology…Why are two university students like us using it?
As always, Bella immediately answers my call.
“Hello, Asena. How are you it's been a while.”
“Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. I've been busy with work and my studies… I had a lot of exams, the past few weeks.”
“I know me too actually. Did you do well on your exams?”
“What type of question is that Miss Bella? Of course, I did! you are not the only genius.” I playfully tease her.
“I know that! You even have superpowers”.
“Well, my friend just told me that many on this campus believe I do have superpowers.” I laugh.
“What!! they know?” she asks, panicking.
I frown, confused.
- Writer
