LOVING A DAMMED HIGH SCHOOL

CHAPTER 5: LIBRARY ESCAPE

After surviving the cafeteria fiasco and the whirlwind gossip chain, Jordan was desperate for a moment of peace. She longed for silence, for a place where she could catch her breath and actually think without ducking flying pencils or dodging whispers.

Naturally, that place was the Crestwood High library—or at least, that’s what she hoped.

She slipped through the doors, expecting rows of quiet students and the gentle rustle of pages. Instead, she found chaos in a quieter, more insidious form. A group of freshmen were racing each other with rolling chairs, a stack of books teetering dangerously on the edge of a table. Somewhere in the back, someone had apparently set up a “book domino” that had just collapsed with a loud crash.

Jordan groaned. “Of course. Even the library isn’t safe.”

“Relax,” a calm voice said behind her. Jordan spun to see Ethan, tray-free and remarkably composed as always, leaning against a shelf. “See, it’s not as bad as the cafeteria. At least no one’s flinging meatballs.”

Jordan raised an eyebrow. “Yet.”

Ethan smirked. “Exactly. It’s all about timing. You’ve survived the first half of the day. Now, we survive the second.”

Jordan shook her head, muttering under her breath, “I’m beginning to think surviving Crestwood High should be a credit-bearing course.”

Ethan laughed softly. “If only. You’d ace it.”

Jordan rolled her eyes but followed him deeper into the library. He led her past tables where students were quietly, not-so-quietly studying, and into a tucked-away corner near the windows. The area was surprisingly calm. Soft light filtered in, dust motes dancing lazily in the sunbeams.

“This is… nice,” Jordan said softly, lowering herself into a chair. “I didn’t think quiet existed here.”

Ethan leaned against the windowsill, arms crossed. “It does. You just have to find it.”

Jordan glanced around. The corner was lined with tall shelves, creating a small sanctuary. For a moment, the chaos of the school felt miles away. She let out a deep breath. “I needed this.”

Ethan’s grin softened. “Everyone needs a little escape. Especially in a place like this.”

For a few minutes, they simply sat. Jordan opened her notebook, pretending to study, while Ethan leaned back and watched the world outside the window. The sunlight glinted off his hair, and Jordan realized she had never noticed how calm he could be, even when surrounded by utter madness.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the library. Jordan jumped. A chair tipped over somewhere behind them, followed by a chorus of startled yelps.

Ethan sighed. “See? Chaos finds you everywhere.”

Jordan peeked over the shelf. Two freshmen were attempting to balance on a rolling chair while reaching for a book. One of them lost balance, tumbling forward and knocking over a carefully stacked pile of encyclopedias. The books toppled like dominoes, one hitting a shelf and sending a cloud of dust into the air.

Jordan groaned. “I swear, this school has a curse.”

Ethan chuckled. “Crestwood High: where even the library is a challenge course.”

Jordan couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her head. “I just want five minutes of peace. Is that too much to ask?”

“You’re asking for a lot,” Ethan said, smiling. “But we’ll manage.”

As they settled back down, Ethan leaned closer. “You know,” he said quietly, “there’s a secret part of the library few people know about.”

Jordan’s eyes lit up. “Secret? Please tell me it’s not another prank.”

Ethan shook his head. “No pranks. It’s a real hideout. Very few students go there. Perfect for escaping chaos—or gossip.”

Jordan sat up straighter. “Lead the way.”

Ethan stood and motioned for her to follow. They navigated between the shelves, careful not to bump into students or stacks of precarious books. Finally, they reached a narrow door at the back, almost hidden behind a tall shelf labeled Rare Books.

Ethan opened it, revealing a small, cozy room. Light streamed through a tiny window, illuminating a few mismatched chairs and a worn-out couch. Books lined the walls, but the space had a lived-in, comfortable feel.

Jordan’s jaw dropped. “This… this is amazing.”

Ethan grinned. “Told you. Escape complete.”

Jordan sank into a chair, feeling the tension from the day melt away. “I could actually breathe here.”

Ethan plopped down on the couch opposite her. “See? Quiet exists. You just have to find it.”

For a while, they simply sat in silence, listening to the faint rustle of pages and distant chatter from the main library. Jordan realized how much she had been craving this. A moment without chaos, without rumors, without flying meatballs or rolling chairs.

“You know,” Jordan said after a while, “for a school this insane, I think it’s kind of… nice that there’s a place like this.”

Ethan smirked. “Nice, huh? Don’t get too comfortable. Chaos has a way of finding its way in.”

Jordan laughed softly. “I’ll take my chances.”

Suddenly, the door creaked. Jordan and Ethan both turned, hearts racing. A small figure peeked inside. It was the artsy girl from the cafeteria, sketchbook in hand.

“Mind if I join?” she asked quietly. “It’s… quieter here.”

Jordan nodded, surprised. “Uh, sure.”

The girl slipped in and sat on the floor, drawing quickly in her sketchbook. Jordan glanced at Ethan, who simply shrugged and smiled.

For the next hour, the three of them quietly shared the space. Jordan worked on notes, Ethan sketched doodles in the corner of a notebook, and the artsy girl captured everything around her in intricate pencil drawings.

For the first time that day, Jordan felt something like calm—something rare in a place as chaotic as Crestwood High. The library escape had given her more than just a quiet corner. It had given her a glimpse of normalcy, a rare pocket of peace in a school that thrived on madness.

When the bell finally rang for the next class, they reluctantly left the secret room. Jordan lingered a moment at the doorway, glancing back at the cozy hideout.

“You know,” she said softly, “I might come back here.”

Ethan grinned. “Of course you will. And don’t worry, I’ll be here to guide you through the chaos outside.”

Jordan smiled, realizing that survival in Crestwood High wasn’t just about dodging chaos—it was about finding allies, finding moments of calm, and learning where to stand.

As they walked back into the hallway, Jordan felt a strange sense of confidence. Maybe, just maybe, she could handle this school.

And with Ethan—and now the artsy girl—by her side, she knew she wouldn’t have to do it alone