A Way Through

Chapter Two

“I know Professor Sorrenson is like a billion years old, but his TA could at least send out an email if they are canceling the lecture,” Addison complained as she and Haisley exited the building. They had one lecture together each Wednesday but arrived at a ‘Canceled’ sign posted on the lecture hall door.

“Yea,” Haisley said. “At the minimum, and I could have slept in for once.” She pulled her hood up over her head, shielding herself from the cool fall breeze.

“You look like you need it,” Addison commented.

“The manager at the cafe is leaving in a month and looking for a replacement. If I can get promoted, I might be able to go down to one job and just schedule classes around work,” Haisley told her.

“Girl, that would be awesome!” Addison exclaimed. The girls made their way down their steps and stopped at the bottom.

“Yea, it would be nice to take one thing off my plate. I’d probably keep my other job long enough to get the money to buy Elliot a car and then quit,” Haisley said.

“Don’t you have money left from your parents’ insurance?”

“Yes, but I am not touching it. I am saving it all for Elliot as a graduation present. I don’t want him to worry about anything; If he wants to move away and go to college, I will make sure it happens. But I will need that money, and I am not going to ask Finn for help,” Haisley explained.

“I don’t get him,” Addison said. “He’s just left you hanging here all this time. It isn’t fair.” Addison had a contemplative frown on her face, and Haisley knew where this conversation was going.

“Addy, please don’t start….” Haisley pleaded. Addison threw her hands up in surrender.

“I’m just saying. Jerk move, honestly. So, you wanna go home?” Addison said.

Haisley thought for a minute. She had about 3 hours until her shift started at the cafe tonight. The cafe was near campus, so by the time she took Addison home and went home herself, she would only have a short while to do anything before needing to leave for work. Plus, she would feel compelled to take care of the household chores if she went home and her Data Analytics project was due next week.

“I should probably stay and work on my Analytics project. At least if I study in the stacks, the basket of clean laundry won’t be screaming at me to fold it, and the dust bunnies won’t be taunting me to sweep,” Haisley told Addison.

“I figured you would want to hang around campus since it’s closer to the cafe. I’ll just Uber home,” Addison said. Addison hugged her best friend before pulling her phone from her jacket pocket. She waved to Haisley as she strode away towards her usual Uber pickup spot.

Haisley headed the opposite direction towards the library, where she could get some solid work done in her now free time.

When Haisley arrived in the library, she made her way up to the second floor and back towards dusty forgotten volumes in the far corner of the expansive knowledge garden. Last year, she overheard one of the librarians complaining about having to reshelve a volume back there as it was seldom used anymore. Whenever she didn’t need the convenience of a table to spread her work out over, Haisley would hide among these shelves and work in peace. It wasn’t that she couldn’t have peace and quiet at home; Elliot kept himself busy enough and would leave her alone if she asked. But she often felt heavy and burdened at home like it was a constant reminder of the responsibility on her shoulders. Sometimes, Haisley would get lost as if in a trance watching the soft floating swirls of dust reflected in the gentle light of the tall windows of the library. It was almost literally an escape in books for her.

Haisley found a spot deep within an aisle almost all the way in the back of the shelves and let herself slide to the floor. She pulled her laptop from the bag and woke it up, allowing it to start and connect to the school’s wireless internet. Then she pulled her headphones from the front pocket of her bag and plugged them into her phone. Setting her Spotify app to the classical mix that helped her study best, she focused on her computer.

Haisley lost herself in the comprehensive assessment project assigned by her professor. Her numerically gifted mind didn’t find the coursework difficult, but it still wasn’t her first choice. When she first applied to college, she had intended on majoring in English Literature, and her dream was to work for a major publishing house. Her passion for writing wasn’t exactly an easy breadwinner, though.

Haisley finished the second of four parts to the assignment before letting her mind wander for a moment. She let her head fall back against the leather bindings behind her, closing her eyes.

Haisley was looking forward to the break between semesters. Although she worked as many shifts as she could get her hands on, she still ended up with free time to spend with Elliot and even some time alone. She ran her fingers over her keyboard. It had been months since she was able to type a single word for herself and not related to school.

Haisley didn’t give herself any time to ponder over the what-ifs over her life. There was no point in dwelling on a reality that couldn’t be anymore. She shook her head, mentally chastising herself to focus. She returned her attention to the assignment in front of her.

Haisley was only working for a minute more before one of her headphones was pulled from her ear. Shocked, she snapped her head to the side and came nose to nose with someone.

“Hi there,” he said.

Haisley stuttered backward, almost falling flat onto the floor. The guy who surprised her reached out and grabbed her arm to try and stop it. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he laughed.

“Sorry, I was just…. Uh, focused,” Haisley said shyly. The guy swept his gaze over her computer screen.

“I don’t see too many people all the way up here. Usually, it’s guaranteed isolation,” he said with a smile, still reading over her computer. Haisley sat back up properly and closed her screen.

“That would be why I am here,” she said. She grabbed her backpack and started shoving her things back inside.

“You don’t have to leave on my account,” the guy said quickly. “I can find another dusty aisle.”

“No, I should get going. I have to be at work in a bit anyway,” Haisley said, zipping her bag. She unplugged her headphones from her cellphone and began rewinding them up.

“I think I have seen you around. You’re on the actuary track, right?” he asked. Haisley felt a little awkward but nodded. “I think we had a lecture together last semester.”

“Cool,” she said as she started to stand. The guy held out his hand to her as he stood from his squatting position. Out of politeness, she accepted his help. “Thanks. But I should go,” she told him with a tight smile.

“I can’t even get a name?” he said, his charming, crooked smile accentuating the dimples in his cheek. He had long dark hair pulled up into a half updo that showed off his ears, sporting multiple piercings in each.

“Why?” Haisley asked, confused. They were strangers in a college library; they would probably never see each other again.

The guy shrugged. “Why not?” He tilted his head, making Haisley narrow her eyes.

“I gotta go,” she said and stepped around him.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to leave me guessing, Cinderella,” he said as she walked away.

“I’m not leaving anything behind to keep you guessing,” Haisley said as she turned the corner and hurried towards the stairs. Haisley didn’t have time for any distractions, especially the kind with charming smiles and smooth words. She had to focus on school and Elliot; there was no way she could let Elliot down.