Page 29 of Teaching the Kot'oll Coach

If I turn off the lights, maybe this will be like a haunted place. I take in the scent of fresh books. This is going to be my happy place.

I get out of the chair and get started with the books on the trolley. I’ll have to put the books together according to sorting number before I go to the shelves, it will help with efficiency.

I run my fingers over the spines of the books. Some of the books are in languages I don’t understand. Most of those are aimed at younger ones in the school.

There are translation devices students can borrow from the counter, which will give everyone almost the same access to the books, but for now, reading the books as they are is way more popular.

I’ve always wanted to own a lot of books, but they take up so much space. At least I can pretend I own all the books on the trolley and the library.

I pull out a few, putting them into order, following the stickers on the sleeves of the books. It’s nice and tidy when the series is intact and...

Oh, well... One of the books in the middle is borrowed, leaving a gap between the numbers. But at least the series is loved.

I turn around to take another book when a pair of arms holds my shoulders from behind. I’m about to scream when two hands cover my eyes and mouth...

“Fancy a guess?”

I roll my eyes. It’s obvious who that is. And that someone is so dumb that he doesn’t seem to remember that I can’t talk when he covers my mouth.

He lets go of me. “Ta-da.”

“Telke... I thought I locked the door of the library. It’s closed.”

He chuckles. “I know. But you didn’t. I pushed and it opened.”

I peek out of the shelves at the door. It looks to be intact. When he said he pushed, he could have destroyed the door with those muscles.

I ask, “What are you doing here?”

“Just checking you out.”

“But I don’t need to be checked out. You’re the one who got me worried.”

“Worried about what?” He flexes his arms. “Look at these arms. Do they look worrying?”

“You with those arms sure look worrying.” I roll my eyes. “I’m glad you’re doing fine, though.”

He grins and fixes his cap. “Yes. Thank you for helping the floatball team when I wasn’t around.”

“I hope I didn’t mess things up. You know I’m pretty clueless.”

“You’re pretty for sure. Clueless though...”

Is he... hitting on me?

He blinks while we fall into silence. I don’t mind. He makes my cheeks burn hot, which is a bit too annoying.

He clears his throat. “I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“I’m not uncomfortable.”

“Oh... Good...”

The silence returns and... I should come up with something appropriate, but I’m not sure what that’ll be.

He picks up the books on the trolley, every hand taking one. “I’m perfectly fine and healthy. Are you putting the books away? I can help you. We can finish this twice as fast, or three times as fast, or... Um... faster.”

I laugh at how silly he looks with all the books. “Except they have to be on the right shelves to count.”

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