Page 10 of A Different Form of Oxygen
I throw my bag down on the table, scratching the wood with the metal zipper. Her hand slings back her long purple hair behind her shoulders before pulling out her own stuff and we read across from each other quietly. The table moves when she gets up to use the restroom, shifting against my leg. My fingers go back to sliding against each flipped page as I write down more notes for my paper, coming to a halt when those same recognizable dark eyes look my way from the library entrance. Gavin’s eyebrows arch as he continues to saunter in my direction. My gaze quickly drops to my textbook.
Carefully flipping the pages with the blades of my fingers, I focus my eyes on the words each one displays. I drag each word out in my head as if it's going to make him notice me less. Why is he here of all places? What provoked him to stroll into the library?Don't look at him; pretend you're someone else and maybe he'll go away,I say to myself. The shuffling of footsteps gets closer. My eyes remain facing down and a pair of black boots and dark blue jeans come into view when I bend down to retrieve a pen I purposely dropped.
“Hey, it is you. I had no idea you wore glasses. I like them, they're cute. I wouldn'thave taken you for a nerd. What are you doing here exactly? This place is on the opposite side of town from where you live. Living some secret life no one is supposed to know about?"
I peer up at him, my glasses sliding down my nose. He is tilting his head to the side, smiling down at me in amusement, breaking all my concentration. “Yes, actually, and now that you found out my big secret, I must go into hiding again. You know if I was undercover you may have kept me from catching a killer."
With brightening eyes and a smirk on his face, he bends over the table to whisper, “In the library? Who did he murder? The librarian?"
"No one yet, but I think he may be plotting to go after the guy in the black buttoned-down shirt bothering the man who is trying to concentrate on studying."
He chuckles. "I get the feeling I was just threatened by Ben Gonzalez."
The way he says my full name like that sends a rush of shivers through my spine. “Maybe. What are you doing here? Do you even read?” I ask mockingly.
"Yes, I guess I’m as surprising as you. Are you reading about plants or something?” His finger points down to my open textbook.
"No, I'm reading about dogs who look like plants. Are you stalking me or something?"
He laughs. "Now that's the Ben I know. I thought you were some imposter at first."
I wasn’t aware we suddenly knew each other. I’m sure I know him better than he knows me. “Is this conversation over, because I'm kind of busy and I'm pretty sure there's no talking allowed in the library.”
His smile widens, cocky bastard. He pulls out a chair before taking a seat next to me. He can't seriously be staying. The girl from before is back with a look of curiosity on her face. “Well, hello there. Who is he and where can I get one?”
A roar of laughter erupts from him. “Sorry, I didn't realize I was intruding on something. I just wanted to say hi to my friend. Why are you reading a book about plants?” He pulls at my book to observe it better.
My hand runs over his as I reclaim my textbook. "That's none of your business, so give me back my book."
I finally tug it free from his tight grip; his smile only widens. “Do you always wear glasses? Did you just get them? You’re not one of those people who only wears them for a fashion statement are you?”
One of my arms wraps tightly around my body as if I'm shielding myself from the world. I push my glasses up my nose, wishing they weren't there. “No, only when my eyes bother me. I don’t think anyone cares to be fashionable when studying in a library. What’s it to you anyway? Do you always ask people this many questions?”
His smile fades. “Did I do something to make you mad? I'm not sure what's happening here.”
I stand and he stands with me, blocking my way. My body moves past his, grazing his shoulder with mine. “It's nothing. Look, I have to go. I’ll see you around, Gavin.”
I quickly toss my stuff in my bag before throwing it over my shoulder, and I leave him standing in the middle of the library. Guilt stricken, I slide into my warm car. I’m not sure why I feel guilty, I never would have before. I'm just frustrated that the guy can look at me two days in a row, right up in my face and not recognize who I am. Sure, he recognizes me in huge framed glasses, but not when I have on a damn mask covering most of my eyes. The dressing room was well lit, and I didn't notice him drinking that much. I’m normally good about keeping this part of me a secret from people, but not Gavin. Also, this is supposed to be my safe space. I’m not ready to let him in or anyone else. Every time I let someone in, it backfires on me, but there was something about Gavin’s presence lately that came off as freeing and the real me can’t help but surface whenever he is around.
