Entwined Fates: Finding the Mimic

So, What Now?

Axel’s plan was above all the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. He wanted to leave a note in her locker asking her to meet me at the mall – why would someone go meet a stranger in the mall? Axel went into the school early, advising he’d meet me in the library. We hadn’t seen each other all weekend since Friday night in the hidden shed. There was still half an hour before school started, yet the place was full of students. I feel the winter breeze blow right through my jacket, then I proceed to pass some students as I walk into the library. Unlike outside, the library is still very quiet. Some students curled up on the back lounge chairs and others silently typing away on the computers. I see Axel sitting on the tables to the left, where they often hold classes if research is needed. As I approached him he looks up and smirks, honestly though it looked like he was up all night, baggy eyes and messed up hair wasn’t his usual attire.

“So,” He says, “, we good?” It was an odd question to start the morning.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t we be?” I was very confused by this point. Not just because he wanted to meet in a library.

“Just checking, I mean you could have had second thoughts over the weekend about me.”

“The only reason I’d turn you in to anyone is if you eat my food again without asking.” I laugh, gesturing to a past time where he had taken a piece of steak meat off my plate without asking.

“I’ll be sure to ask. Now, get your English books out.”

“Why?” I ask, taking them out anyway.

“Well, we’re not that good with Shakespeare right?”

“Not even remotely, last year when we did The Taming of the Shrew we were lucky to pass.”

“Yes, and now we’re about to be given Much Ado About Nothing in our first lesson today. I found that out yesterday when I was talking with Ms. S.” Ms. S, or Ms. Starner, is one of the more interesting and eccentric teachers at this school, but she really likes it when Axel puts in some enthusiasm, truthfully though it’s so he can get ahead in assignments by reading the novels early.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Just shush for a second,” He cuts me off and puts up a hand, as if to wave at someone. I turn slightly and see her standing there – impossible to miss with her long dark hair and arms full of books. “, hey, Cecilia, right?” He says. She stops, and backtracks, as if not sure someone was talking to her.

“Y-Yes?” She asks. To be honest, that’s the first time I noticed that she was a nervous person.

“Sorry if you’re in a rush, but I noticed you’re in here a lot so I thought you could help us.” She looks around at the quiet library, even I’m noticing how far away everyone is for the first time myself.

“Um, what would you like help with?” Cecilia’s voice is hushed and light, very welcoming. My heart is racing as she stands there and I’m more than a little sure that my face has turned completely red. My throat is totally clenched up right now.

“Have you read Much Ado About Nothing?”

“Shakespeare? Yeah, it’s a romantic comedy.”

“Awesome! Look, we could really use a good summary before class starts, you wouldn’t mind would you?” She looks down at the books she’s holding and slowly puts them down on the desk beside me. Slowly, and nervously, she pulls the seat out next to me and sits down. I’m not sure I’ll even be able to hear a word she says. I’m too caught up with her face, her skin is flawless, and her eyes aren’t really brown, but more like bright ember. Absolutely mesmerizing. “Thanks so much, Cecilia. I’m Axel. And you know Chase, right?” This was my moment to say ‘hi’, but nothing came out. I was probably going to die alone.

“Yes, we have a few classes together, I think.” She begins fidgeting with the ends of her hair and I notice Axel trying to sit up tall. I know he’s trying to see if she has a mark – but with her blue shirt up so high I don’t think he was ever going to see anything. Timidly, Cecilia begins to explain the story to us, and suddenly that overwhelming fear of speaking out loud isn’t clouding me. I feel my voice come back to me, and every now and then I ask her questions about the book and she smiles and responds. Easily, the best twenty minutes I’ve ever spent in a library.

The bell rings and she stands, “I hope I helped.” She smiles.

“So much!” Axel exclaims.

I chime in with a small “Thank you.” She picks up her books and I look over at Axel, he nods towards Cecilia, ushering me to do something. He grabs his things in a rush and begins walking away. I take the leap of faith, “Um-” That’s as far as I got. She looks up at me, staring. Her big eyes staring right into my soul.

“Cecillliaaa!” We both snap our heads around. Steven and his thick gel covered spiky hair approaches us. Clearly his first period is sport since he was wearing the tracksuits and the school jersey. He walks right up to her face and leans in, “A little birdy told me you don’t have a date to the dance yet.” He says. I’ve never seen this side to her before, her brows furrow and she looks upset,

“Then you heard wrong.” She says, with much spite in her voice.

“Oh come on, I know your game, you say someone’s taking you, then you don’t even show up. You’ve done the same thing every year since middle school.” He puts a hand on her shoulder and pulls her towards him. “Just come with me, we’ll make a great night out of it.” His words were nice, but his actions and tone just weren’t. I felt an overwhelming desire to protect her in this situation. Stepping forward I push his arm upwards and off her shoulders – by no means roughly, just enough.

“She said she’s already going with someone, that means back off.” I have no idea where the words were coming from but it was the most interesting feeling I’ve ever experienced. I felt strong, not even slightly nervous – yet something in my chest was burning.

“I didn’t ask you, jackass.”

Cecilia then responded, “I’m going with Chase. Just leave it alone.” I looked at her at that moment and she smiled. Steven scoffs.

“Whatever, you would have had more fun with me. Just sayin’.” He puts his hands up in the air as if to show he surrenders, but he’s not the type. He walks off without another word. He seems more the type to engage when he has back up but in a library where a teacher could walk in at any moment? Totally useless.

Cecilia clears her throat, “Um, look, you don’t have to take me.” She clenches her books to her chest – back to her nervous self. At that moment I decided I couldn’t risk going back to my timid ways.

“I have no reason not to.” I smile, then I feel my old self coming back, “Well, if you want me to…” She takes a step closer to me,

“I wouldn’t mind, maybe, hanging out before then?” Her face is going somewhat red so I can tell she’s really out of her comfort zone, but so am I.

“H-How about this weekend? We could hang at the, um,” My brain is starting to freeze and I can’t think of the word. “, the place with t-the shops and-”

“We could hang out at the mall.” She smiles. Putting her books down on the table once more, she pulls out a small notebook and writes something. She tears out the paper and hands it to me. “This is my n-number; just let me know when you’re free.” She grabs her books in a hurry and runs out of the library. I almost forgot classes had already started. Picking up my books, I leave the library, more sure than ever this was one of the best days of my life so far.