She Didn't Cry Wolf

A Night For Trouble

It was a Friday night,

June 16th,

19:45 pm.

I'll never forget it, The Black Swan Aleworks that's the bar right across from us, they were having a keg night. Every year they do it but only on Fridays so the date would always differ each year, next year it would fall on the 15th. Normally, I would help Dana print flyers for the bar and sometimes, I would hang them up on the bulletin board that is used to display book news or added authors in the front window. Dana Dawson works at the bar part-time as a waitress…

I had to pause for a moment because things changed with Dana and I so rapidly within three months that I still have not understood it myself.

"Did something happen between the two of you?" The Officer asked me. "Yes, we used to be good friends." That was the first time she jotted down a few notes but anyway…

It was keg night, every kind of beer was being served. Mostly campus seniors would come, the place was filled with everyone including officers who weren't working that night. I avoided it, too many people and alcohol never ends well. Just as I thought it, I watched Uncle Malon throwing two people out. It was dark that night and I liked standing by the door for a little fresh air just before closing. As soon as I saw the men being chucked out, I closed the door and placed the closed sign and started pulling down the shades. My usual routine, it was then that I heard the bell.

"I'm sorry but we're closed." I said as I placed the books together on the stand, I turned around and saw this blue eyed, tall man. He wore a black suit and his hair was blonde and curly. Quite short but not too short, a taper haircut. I didn't recognize him but it wasn't everyday someone would walk into the bookstore so close to 8pm. Everyone knew we would be closing. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. I needed something."

We had nothing he could need, again, it was just a strange encounter. I proceeded to tell him "I'm sorry but we're open everyday at 10am and we close at 8pm. Lunchtime is between 12 and 2pm. If you come back tomorrow I could help?" But when I turned around, he was gone. I closed up everything including the window in the bathroom. I told Mister O'Lyne about the customer but he was half asleep at his desk. I made sure to wake him before I left so he would go upstairs to his apartment above the store and lock up properly. As I said, nightly routine. After he went up, I made sure his door was locked, the passage was closed, the lights were off, I took my keys, closed the front door and pulled down the gate.

"That's an awful lot of protection for a library." The Officer said to which I responded "He spared no expense for the safety of his books." She pursed her lips, shaking her head, making more notes. I continued…

As I walked down the road, my place wasn't too far so I wasn't worried at all except this guy appeared again. I was about to take out my mace but he apologised. "I am sorry, I should have been straightforward with you in there. I actually saw you and thought what would be a clever line I could use to convince you I'm not a creep and yet somehow, even now, I'm getting it wrong. I'm Patrick." I appreciated his honesty but after a long day on my feet, I just wanted to get home. "Nice to meet you, I'm Pippa but I'm also on my way home. Don't follow me."

She laughed and I saw her smile "Did it work? Telling him that." I shook my head no "He would come by everyday just before lunchtime or at closing. Every single time." With her pen pointed towards me she asked "Did you tell Mister O'Lyne?" I nodded yes and responded "I told him, sometimes even before it happened but he would always go in the back and nod off." Her eyes visibly rolled when I said it.

Eventually, I asked him as he followed me to the store "I'm sorry Patrick but what exactly can I help you with. It's been days, you aren't there for a book and I've told you many times no thank you so what gives?" He looked at me and said "I'm here to pick up groceries, the clearest place to park is at the library and I don't mind the walk. It's the only time I have off, not everything is about you Pippa." He placed something in his cart and walked away from me. Honestly, I felt like an i***t for assuming that he was there to harass me so I walked over to him and apologised. "I'm sorry, this week has been particularly frustrating for me." He ignored me and went about his shopping, I turned around and went on with mine.

As soon as I was done, I walked to my car, packed my groceries and sat in the car for a moment just reflecting. Suddenly this hand was on my window, I was so frightened I honked my horn. The week was just too much for me but when I got out of the parking lot, I went straight home and closed the door. Even when the phone rang, it frightened me as I had everything off to block out the world. When I picked up Dana was giggling and there were muffled sounds in the background "Dana… Do you know you're calling me or is this a butt dial?" I must have said her name a few times but after that all I heard was the disconnect tone. I'm not sure if that's when she met her Beau or ended things with Michal the waiter at Rosso, an Italian restaurant not far from here.