Chapter 8
1409 Words
Today's the first day of fall. Ruth wants to go shopping for sweaters and autumn coats for us to wear, even though we have enough. She loves shopping, but doesn't have the chance to go often due to housework. It saddens me, but she waves it off.
School is bustling with news about Leif's party, and it's already been a week. Apparently, three other couples from school had s*x or were "wasted" at the party. It happens, Lena had said. Hailee found a guy that day. He was drunk in the party but she said he gave her his phone number. His name is Lane, I think.
School ends that day and I skip going to my locker. I told Alistair I'd meet him in the library. It's as if nothing happened between us, but it did, and we don't care.
The library is two-floored, and very big. Most people don't go to the second floor, because the books there are out of order and racks are disorganized like an abandoned house. I hear it's a place where people go to do some dirty. I've never been there before. Mrs. Robinson, the librarian, doesn't bother cleaning it up either.
Her greying hair is pulled up into a bun, and she's sorting out books at a bookshelf. The humble librarian smiles in greeting when she sees me and I resume walking across the stacks. I go to the Science section, an enclosed area at the back of the library. Behind the shelves, there's a small study area with a rectangular table and leather ottomans.
I hum quietly as I stroll through the shelves, picking out books that might relate to our project. I go to the study area and sit on one of the ottomans, putting the books on the table. As I flip a book open and go through the pages, someone puts their backpack on the ground and sits on the ottoman beside mine. A wave of spearmint, sage, and oranges crashes my nose, and my hand stills.
"Hi," I say to Alistair.
"Hey," he replies. "You got books already?" I nod and show him the covers of the books.
"Where were you?" I ask him, hoping I wasn't too nosy.
"Helping Mr. Burnett with the gym equipment." He rubs his forehead. "He wants me to try out for basketball and volleyball."
"Are you going to?" I say curiously. Alistair shakes his head. "Why not? It will give you a great reputation." He gives me a pointed look. Okay fine. He already has a great reputation. "It will make you fit," I add.
"I'm not fit?" he counters. I didn't mean it like that. Alistair is the very definition of fit. It's just... "I don't need sports. I have other things to keep me fit for a lifetime."
"What things?" I ask. Okay, now I got too personal.
"Are we here to talk about me or do the science project?" Alistair cuts in sharply. I apologize and focus on the book.
I do the work I'm supposed to, but Alistair hasn't even touched his pencil. When I ask him, he says he'll do everything at home. I don't understand his ways but I don't argue.
From around the corner, we hear footsteps and voices. I tense, but Alistair doesn't seem to care.
"...this chemistry s**t she told me to do," a feminine voice curses. It belongs to Carla. She walks around with Leif behind her and comes face to face in contact with us. "What...is this?" she asks, amused as she stares at us.
When Leif sees Alistair, his fingers go to his collar and pulls to let some air through. Carla puts her hands on her hips in inquiry mode. She makes it seem as if she caught us red-handed.
"Amy and this mysterious man, well, well, well," she purrs. From the looks of it, I don't think Carla is afraid of Alistair like the other girls. Fearlessly, she sits beside Alistair and leans close. "Aren't you Alistair Carlson? The one?"
"Carla, let's go," Leif says stiffly.
"Oh come on," she replies. "Go to Amy and talk to her while I talk to the dark boy." She smiles flirtatiously at Alistair as Alistair looks at Leif. I don't understand his stare but I think Leif does.
"I'm not talking to anyone. Carla, we have to go look for the science books," Leif says, pulling on her arm. She loops her arm around Alistair's.
"I don't wanna. You go and I'll come after," she says. I shift uncomfortably when Leif scowls and leaves. Carla looks at Alistair. "I don't think we've talked before, babe. You want to go up there?" I know she's talking about the second floor of the library. A part of me doesn't want him to go. But I stay calm, eyes on the textbook as if I don't care what he does with Carla. "Come on, hottie." Carla's smile goes crooked when Alistair puts on a death stare. It's enough to scare anyone to the end of the world. "Don't be like that," she says.
"Go. Away," Alistair pronounces, his voice thick with darkness. I shiver uneasily as Carla practically jumps out of her seat. She laughs nervously and gets the heck out of there. Alistair catches me staring at him and I look away quickly. "What?" he says.
"Are...why..." I try. "Why do you scare girls away like that?" Alistair scratches his neck.
"I don't want them near me," he answers. Then what about me?
"You don't want anyone near you, though," I say too boldly.
"I wouldn't say anyone," he mumbles.
"Other than your friends," I correct. I'm perplexed when Alistair snorts contemptuously.
"Who says they're my friends?" His answer leaves me confounded. I begin to list the names of the Black Cat pack and he stops me. "Curtis, Jarvis, and Mathias. I know who you're talking about. We hang out together but that's it. The only one close to my 'friend' is Mathias. End of discussion."
"Why would you hang out together if you're not friends?" I ask, and I sound angry for no particular reason. Probably because I was wrong this entire time. "Why don't you make friends? Why don't you talk to other people?" Words spill from my mouth and I don't know how to stop them. I know I will regret this conversation later on.
"Because I don't f*****g want to," he scowls. "You're right, I don't want anyone near me. And really, you shouldn't be near me either." I feel like someone took all the air out of me. He doesn't want me here.
He doesn't like anyone, doesn't like talking to anyone, won't allow anyone near him, won't allow anyone to talk to him, and that goes for me, too. I'm not anyone special, I'm just like the rest. This should've dawned on me before, but I feel like arguing. What he said at the party keeps haunting me. I just want to argue with him, like a little child throwing a tantrum. I'm not my usual self. I need to stop this madness.
When it's time to go, we pack up our bags and put the books away. I say goodbye to Mrs. Robinson and we leave the library. My locker is closer than his and we stop for a second to say goodbye to each other. But just then, I see a familiar face, walking down the hallway while looking at his phone. It's Greg. He looks up and his eyes go to Alistair.
"Sorry, man!" he says terrified, read to run away.
"Get your ass out of here," Alistair commands, and adds after a pause, "don't use this hallway again." Greg obeys and practically flies past us. Watching the poor guy, I feel like Alistair is taking this a little too far.
"You don't own this hallway," I tell him, opening my locker. "You can't tell people not to use it." Alistair holds the locker door and leans so close, I can see the specks of green in his irises. I'm frozen, my breath dead in my throat.
"I can," he says, his voice chilling. His eyes roam down my face and my stomach clenches.
After a few anxious seconds, he turns and walks away. I'm still in shock as I wear my grey hoodie and close the locker. What does he mean by 'I can'?
Alistair sure is scary sometimes.
- Writer
