Taming the Demon - Book 1 (Completed)

Chapter 8 - Jane

“Alright, thank you, I’ll see you next week.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, I flop down on my couch. My supervisor approved my request for leave for the rest of the week. The hospital called and would like me to come in once a day to get my glucose levels checked. I also found out that I have partial health benefits, so my hospital bill is covered for thirty percent. It’s still a large bill, but at least the strain on my finances will be less. With nothing really left to do for the day, I grab my bag and decide to head to the library to get my stuff. I might as well take this time to catch up with my assignments. As I am leaving I see Beatrice arriving back from somewhere.

“Dear! Where have you been? I’ve been so worried!”

“It’s a long story Bea. How about I tell you this evening over tea?”

“Just give a knock when you feel like it. I’ll have the water on as always.”

Giving a wave, I scoot past the elevator and head to the stairs. I try not to dwell on any one thing as I walk the few blocks to the library. Waving at and greeting people as I move along, it seems like everyone is in a good mood today. People are extra friendly and smiling, it must be the weather!

As I turn the corner, I stop to admire St. Jerome’s. Converted from an old church, the library has been here for decades. It looks like one of those square, squat castles built for defense. The church itself was built in the 1600’s and is pretty much in the dead center of the city. My theory is that the church was built and the city grew around it. When I first moved to the area, I would fantasize that I was a long lost princess, and that my family once lived in the castle, but it had gotten cursed and now I was the last of the Royals, forgotten and alone. All it would take is my hero to unlock the mystery and save me. The typical fantasy of almost every orphan I guess. Laughing to myself about silly fantasies, I push the door open and wait at the front desk for the receptionist to help me.

“Hi, can I help you?”

“Hi, I’m supposed to ask for Michael?”

“Sure! He’s just at the check-in counter. You can just head over there.”

“Thank you! Have a great day!”

I head over towards the book check, and see a younger guy sitting at a computer using a barcode scanner to ‘beep’ in a pile of books. I’ve seen him working before, but I have never really talked to him. I don’t want to interrupt him so I just wait quietly. When he is done, I step up to the counter.

“Hi. Michael?” 

“Oh! It’s you! I wasn’t expecting you so soon!”

“I have some time off for a few days and decided to catch up on schoolwork, but all my stuff is here." I gesture vaguely, "I can come back later if you're busy.”

“No, it’s all good. Just let me finish up here quick and I’ll get you your stuff.”

Nodding, I wander over to some of the displays and wait. A few minutes later I see him heading in my direction. As he gets closer his smile widens, “Are you ready? This way. After I found your stuff, I gathered it up and put it in the employee break room.”

Stopping, he looks at me closely, “I hope you don’t mind, but I, umm, I went through your stuff.”

“Oh! Well that’s okay, I guess you had to find out whose it was.”

Letting his breath out, I can see his shoulders relax. Continuing to the break room, I find that it is actually pretty close to the section I always sit in. Waiting outside, Michael goes in and comes out with my backpack and laptop.

Handing them over, he looks pointedly towards the area I use for studying, “So can I ask, what were you doing in Section 23? There’s nothing really there.”

“Well, I usually come here to do schoolwork, and it’s quieter there.” I shuffle my feet a bit, “Plus I like to read the old titles in there. Some of them are pretty funny.”

I didn’t think it was possible, but Michael’s smile got even bigger.

“Follow me, I have something to show you.”

Leading me back towards the front desk, he starts looking through some drawers behind the counter.

“Check this out!” he excitedly holds up a book for me to see, but before I can take a look he pulls it back.

“Before I show you, can I ask you out for lunch?”

“Well that’s not really fair is it? To ask me before showing me. Will you still show me if I say no?”

The smile drops from Michael’s face and I instantly regret my words, even if I was just teasing. 

“I’m so sorry, I, I didn’t mean it like that!” His face crestfallen.

Reaching over the counter and I place my hand on his arm and give him a smile.

“I would love to go for lunch.”

He breaks out into a smile again and I do have to admit he’s pretty cute. He did technically save my life. AND he did save me a ton of money by finding my stuff and holding it for me. Holding the book out for me again I take a look. I see that it's a really old book. The cover looks water stained and the title is almost worn away. Tilting it towards me he holds it so I can better read the title.

The Egg, Or The Memoirs Of Gregory Giddy, Esq: With The Lucubrations Of Messrs. Francis Flimsy, Frederick Florid, And Ben Bombast. To Which Are Added, The Private Opinions Of Patty Pout, Lucy Luscious, And Priscilla Positive. Also The Memoirs Of A Right Honourable Puppy. Conceived By A Celebrated Hen, And Laid Before The Public By A Famous c**k-Feeder.

I can’t help myself, I burst into laughter. It’s the funniest title I have ever seen. Finally getting a hold of myself. I reread it over and over again, and it only gets funnier and funnier each time I do. Looking at Michael, I see him staring at something behind me. Turning around, I am stunned to see the dreamy guy I had bumped into weeks ago. His hazel eyes make the blood rush to my face.

“Hello again, I’m so happy to see you are well. That was quite a scare you gave me the other day. I was getting worried about you. I didn’t even know what hospital you had been taken to.”

All of a sudden I remember I was talking to him when I fainted! I can’t seem to collect my thoughts and I can feel my heart pounding a mile a minute. Before I can even think of a response, his brow knits together. After a second he smiles and holds his hand out towards me.

“Forgive me, I am an i***t. Let me start again… Hello my name is Kadis, I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

I am finally able to put two thoughts together coherently and I stick my hand in his, hoping like crazy it isn’t clammy.

“Jane. I’m so sorry for the other day. I didn’t mean to cause such a ruckus.”

Gently giving my hand a squeeze, he slowly lets my hand slide out of his. It feels like an intimate caress and my heart beats even faster. 

“Think nothing of it. I'm just happy you are okay. I’m afraid to tell you I panicked. I yelled for help and one of the workers came and called the ambulance.”

I hear Michael clear his throat. I completely forgot about him!

“That would be me that called. Hi, I’m Michael.” He says holding his hand out as well.

I happen to glance back at him and I see his eyes widen, then narrow. His jaw clenches.

What is going on?

I look back and forth between the two of them. They hold each other’s stare for a moment longer and then Kadis lets go of Michael's hand and focuses his smile on me again.

“Now that I know you are doing well, can I be a little forward and ask you to join me for a coffee?”

Oh my god! Did this super hot guy really just ask me out?

I can feel my face getting hot and I peek back at Michael who is staring at Kadis stonily. Why did this have to happen right now! How did I end up in this predicament.

“I’m sorry, I already promised Michael I would go to lunch with him. Thank you for the offer though.”

Is that disappointment I see in his eyes?

Grabbing some paper he writes something down. My heart does a flip.

“Here’s my number then, please give me a call when you have a chance. I would love to see you again.”

He gives a little wave as he heads out the door.

Turning back to Michael, I see him staring at the doors. I quickly put the paper Kadis gave me in my bag and pat Michael on the arm.

"What time do you take your lunch? Do you want to meet here or at the restaurant?"

"Huh, oh yeah. Ummm... How about at Ricki's in an hour? And it'll be my treat." He says, smiling at me again.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll see you in a bit." Waving goodbye, I head out the doors. I feel a twinge of guilt as I hope to see Kadis outside. I really shouldn't be thinking of him when my mind should be on Michael. But I can't help feeling disappointed when I don't see Kadis' tall frame anywhere. Slowly, I take one more look around and then head home.

--------------------

“And then he spits his drink all over and nearly chokes himself!”

Giggling, I cover my mouth in order to not repeat the punchline of Michael’s story! He is a great storyteller. His jokes and stories have had me riveted for most of the hour. This is just what I needed. I lost all thoughts of schoolwork, the hospital, and even my bills, for at least a little bit. As we are walking back to the library, I start to realize that I really want to see Michael again. Looking up at him as we go through the front doors of the library, I make myself a promise that if he asks me out again I’ll say yes.

“Well Jane, that was a great lunch. I really enjoyed your company and I hope you enjoyed mine.” Michael asks as he stops me at a little cubby by the doors. Taking my hand, he turns it over and traces lines on my palm. Shots of electricity run up my arm. Smiling down at me, his bright blue eyes seem to sparkle in the shadows.

“I would love to see you again. I’m a little busy tonight, but how about tomorrow evening? Then we can have more time to get to know each other.”

Drowning in his stare, I again have trouble finding my voice.

What is it with me?

“I would love that as well, Michael.”

“Great! Let me get you my number.” Letting go of my hand, he walks to the counter and comes back with his number. “Just give me a text when you are ready. Say about 7?”

“It’s a date.”

I feel like I’m walking on clouds as I make my way home. Michael was so awesome!

And he’s not bad on the eyes either.

Stopping by Beatrice’s before heading home, I fill her in on the last few days. From collapsing in the library, the hospital, my date with Michael. She tells me a few good stories about old loves, as well as how she met her husband. I never met him, he had passed before I knew Beatrice, but she still talked about him with love in her voice. Listening to her, a longing for a love like theirs settles in my heart. Wishing her a good night I head to my place.

Unpacking my bag, I find the paper that Kadis gave me. I grab the paper that Michael gave me. Looking down, my eyes jumping from one phone number to another. What am I going to do?