Fire On Fire

I close my book, and look up, just in time to see him walking between the shelves on the ground floor of the university library, until he stops by a shelf not far from me. Is it 4:30pm already? He does this every Wednesday, same time. He walks into the catalogue section, carrying a couple of books with him, today he has two, and I watch him put them back on the shelf, then he stands back and with his fore finger, runs over the book cover on his level, before pulling one out, opening to quickly browse through it, then puts it back, before picking another one to do the same. "You should just go talk to him" Carmen whispers, startling me. "What?" i mumble, opening up one of my other books on my table, to pretend to be busy. This section of the library is rarely ever occupied, not many people come this way, or sit in this section, which is why I come here in the first place. Right now, there are hardly many people around to be bothered by our soft bickering. "You do this all the time, ogling him, just go say hi or something" she reiterates, gesturing to him with the end of her pencil. "I do not" i deny. Honestly, i never thought she noticed, I thought i was always very inconspicuous. Besides, It's not like i even want to get to know him or something. He is just one of the consistent things about this library, and i took notice. I also haven't failed to take notice how other girls look at him all the time. I can't blame them though, he is good to look at, and he attracts attention, although he doesn't seem like someone who wants to be noticed, which is what I like about him. He is usually dressed in dark colors, and barely ever talks to anyone, the few times i have seen him outside of this building, he was always alone with head phones. I don't even know his name and i like the air of mystery about him...which is why I like to keep it this way. "I told you i........." I start to say to Carmen. "Don't want to get involved with any student here...i know...but he is not a student here...He lectures a class in architecture" she murmurs. "Oh, So he is a lecturer here" I say. "Yep" she confirms. I think that's even worse that he is not a student...makes sense though, he doesn't quite seem to blend in with everyone or the surrounding..no wonder he stands out. "So isn't that like against the rules or something" i say as an after thought. "So what? It's not like you are technically a student here" she says and i scoff. Just then, he grabs a couple of books and starts walking out to the front desk. I turn back to see Carmen watching me watch him leave, and she shakes her head at me. "You are going to die single" she snorts. I smile, and look down at my book again. "Hey, are you still going to sofia's party?" she asks rhetorically. "Ohh, shoot! c'mon...we can't be late" i say, standing up. * By the time i get home and finish dressing up, Sofia and everyone else, has left the house for her party. I will just have to catch up with them there. Coming down the stairs, i am surprised to bump into Sebastian. "Hey, i thought you guys have left already" i say hesitantly, looking passed him to see if anyone else is with him. "Everyone has, but i had a bit of work to get done first......Aren't you supposed to be out too?" he asks. "I got......" ".......Carried away....ofcourse, i actually anticipated that...c'mon, we shall go together" he says, walking towards the exit. "Actually, Carmen is coming to pick me up" i respond. "Is she here now?" "No, not yet...but,......" "......Then you will be even more late than you already are...your friend can catch up with us there.... let's go" he says, already walking and not living much room for argument. As we walk out to the car...i send Carmen a text to let her know the change in plans. 'Sorry, meet you there' reads her reply, as she sympathizes with me about sharing a ride with my step dad. Putting the phone back in my purse, i look up and see Sebastian hold the door open to the passengers side of his Porsche 911. I frown and get in, the last thing i needed was for me to be cramped up in a tiny little space with him tonight for any amount of time. However, he seems distracted tonight and the ride is mostly silent and peaceful. Arriving at the party venue, the theme of the event is as i expected, over the top and extravagant. I see Sebastian went all out to make his daughter's twenty first birthday special. We both watch from a distance as Sofia, surrounded by her many close friends, drowns down what seems from the face she is making, an alcoholic drink, legally for the first time tonight. "Drink?" Sebastian asks. "You are already old enough to drink, here" he says, putting a drink in my hand. I take it and start looking around for familiar faces, my mom, brother, Carmen, anyone......but all i see a club full of strangers, most of whom, are Sofia's friends or acquittances. I on the other hand, don't know alot of people in this town yet, and in my defense, i only moved here recently, and was only ever here for a few days at a time over the past two years. "Sebastian" someone says, coming towards us and i take that as my opportunity to leave. "I'm am going to hang out with Sof" i utter to him over the now loud music. As i leave, i know for a fact that he is watching me walk away, but I brush the thought away and concentrate on my destination. Sofia is the belle of the ball, after all, it's her birthday, and it can't be any other way. She is popular and beautiful, and always the center of attention...but she is also kind and generous, generally, a good person, and the two of us get along very well, i adore her and love her very much. It's her friends I haven't quite warmed up to yet and vice versa. As i near her, i realise that as usual, she is surrounded by her just as popular group of rich friends, and i sit down with them all, and try to blend in as much as possible. * "What the hell is going on down there" i ask, looking down at the lower level of the building. "There is a party going on " Chase supplies. "I can see that, but it sounds like it's getting out of control already, and it's only 7pm" i add. "Aahhh, to be young again" Aaron mutters, as if to justify reckless behavior. I smirk at his comment though. "Speak for yourself." i mumble. It's not like we are that old..atleast i think I'm not. "Hey isn't that Sebastian's girl" Aaron says, pointing in a certain direction at a group of girls, in the center of which, is a girl in a short sparkly red dress, with a birthday sash across her chest. "Sofia Ventura....Wait, this is her party? That's today? i forgot about that." i say, watching her sway her hips to the rhythm of the music. Sebastian invited Aaron and I for that, mostly because I own the building, I forgot about that, so it's just as well I showed up here today. "...Speak of the devil" Aaron gestures towards Sebastian, who is surrounded by his wife and a group of other people. I frown. I was not really prepared for a crowd tonight. "C'mon, let's go say hi" Aaron says, already starting to walk in their direction. * The next couple of hours, i find myself swallowed in the heart of the party, and I end up drinking more than i intended, surrounded by Sebastian and his friends, as well as Sofia, whom I am already acquinted with. At one point, i don't know where Aaron or Chase have disappeared off too, and i realise, i have been left alone with the man who seems intent on setting me up with his daughter. Eventually, the music and noise starts to feel like it's splitting my head in two. So i finally make my way out of the public area, and head to the terrace on this floor, where i know i will be alone for a moment. Grabbing the nearest bottle of liquor within my vicinity, i head out. Stepping outside, the air is crisp and cool, and immediately makes me feel better. I walk to the parapet wall on the edge of the building and look down to appreciate the city lights this time of the night. I love this view, one of the things i was excited to see come to life with i designed this building. We are not on the actual roof top of this multi rise building, but this floor, as an extension which seems like a roof, without standing out too much. After a few minutes of looking down and feeling like the ground is rising, i move away from the edge, and sit myself at a corner and start to drown down the rest of my drink. I don't know how much time passes, but suddenly the door open and closes with a bang, then a woman walks across the floor to the edge of the building where i once stood when I first got here. I see her lean over the edge, as she looks down, and watch as her feet slowly leave the ground, until it is only her tiptoes touching the floor, because she is leaning over too much. "Do you plan to jump" i ask. She squeals and turns around sharply. "Who is there?" she asks, looking around, until she spots me siting by the dark corner. "What are you doing?" i ask casually. "What are you doing?" she replies, her hand on her chest, and he other griping the top of the wall tightly behind her. "I asked you first" I retort, as i start to stand up. "Stay right there" she orders, watching me step out of the darkness and more into the moon light. "Or what?" I ask. She frowns. "Oh my God! it's you?" she mumbles, more like a question than a statement. I could ask 'you who', but then again, alot of people know who i am. My family is very well known in this city. "Oh my God, am i imagining this? i'm imagining you right? Crap! am I that drunk?......." murmurs. "......I had that one alcoholic drink Sebastian gave me when we first arrived, and a cocktail afterwards but that's it...i drunk a whole bunch of smoothies the rest of the night, although, I did take a sip or two of whatever Carmen was drinking...but I swear I am not drunk.....and yet here you are....This is not real, right?" she continues mumbling more to her self that to me. As if to clear her confusion, I step closer. "Stay right there" she says again. "Relax, this is all in your head... I'm not real..i am not here, so I can't hurt you" i mock her, as I play along to whatever it was she was mumbling about. I finally reach her, and she extends her hand and touches my arm, and pulls her hand back fast, as if she just touched fire. " Ok...you are real..i'm gonna go" she says seriously, starting to leave. "Relax...there is enough room for two out here...stay" i say, suddenly appreciative of the company. "I don't think being alone with stranger is a smart thing to do" she says more to herself than me. "But am i a stranger? I thought you knew who I was" I utter, looking out at the lights and feeling strange. Maybe I stood up too fast. "Just because i see you at the university library, every Wednesday afternoon, doesn't mean i know you that well" she utters. "At the university?" i repeat, without looking at her. That's how she knows me? Ahh, so she is a student there. "There is nobody else here but you, you are drunk remember, and this is all in your head, I am not here" I say sarcastically to mock her again. "Stop it" she chuckles. "I'm not crazy" she adds, rubbing her face, and looking at me again. "Maybe just drunk?" i tease her. I don't know why, but i feel weird, light headed and hot, and my head feels like I'm Suddenly claustrophobic, and i need air and space, even though I am already outside. "Are you ok?" She asks, watching me. I look at her then...like really look at her. She is close and I can see her better when I focus. I don't see much, except those eyes...wide with wonder and curiosity...they must be the biggest most beautiful eyes i have ever seen on a woman. Or maybe i am just drunk and not seeing straight. I raise the bottle in my hand up to my face, and notice that it is empty. Shit, i drank it all. But in my defense, it wasn't full when i got it. "Maybe you are the one that is drunk" she says softly, following my line of sight. "And maybe i am the one that is imagining you" i say to her, she looks at me, then smiles and looks away. It's not a big wide smile, but I saw the corners of her lips go up and her whole face changed. "Well, glad we have established and agreed on who the drunk one is around here" she says, then looks at me again, her smile widening and I can't stop looking at her. My phone rings then, and i accidentally let go of the bottle, which drops to the ground and breaks, right at her feet. "Are you ok?" We both say at the same time, then both smile. "Phone" she says and i reach in my pocket and pull the device out, pressing it to my ear. "Yeah" i speak into it. Aaron is saying something, but i for the life of me cannot make out what exactly he is saying. "Marco? Are you even listening to me...Where the hell are you?" he snaps loudly and i hold the phone away from my hear, the sound of his voice feeling like needles pricking my brain, and I cut the call. "I have to go" I say, putting the phone back into my pocket. "Right" she says. "You should leave too...anyone can find you out here, it's not safe" i warn her, as i start to walk back to the door. I hold the door open, signaling for her to follow me out. "Now?" she utters. "Not so loud" i whisper shout and she frowns. "Yes now... " I add lowly, when I calm down my senses, which seem to have gone into over drive all of a sudden. "But i am enjoying the fresh air, plus the people in there, are driving me crazy." She complains. "You can enjoy the fresh air outside, downstairs, where they are other people to keep an eye on you......" I say. I shut my eyes, and open them again, finding the conversation tiring. "Let's go" This time, she doesn't argue and follows me back inside...the corridor is abit dark, but as soon as we make it to the public area, the light and music hit me like a truck. "f**k!" i mumble, shutting my eyes and protecting my ears from the noise with my hands, then i stumble back into the corridor. "Are you ok?" she asks after a minute and i notice she followed me back out into the corridor again, instead of joining the party. Honestly, i don't know what is wrong with me right now, i have drunk more alcohol than this before, and i have never reacted this way to it. "There is another exit" i say. she nods. "I will walk you out then" she says. It should be the other way round, but i don't argue. We make it outside the building, and even though it's night time and dark, the lights surrounding the building are uncomfortable, my stomach feels weird and i feel light headed. There are a number of people outside the building despite the late hour, and i press the key to see where my car is parked. "Are you sure you are ok to drive?" she asks, as i start to approach the car. Squinting my eyes, i look at the car, then her. "You can't drive like this" she says, studying me. "I have driven in a far worse condition than this before" I argue. "Let me just call you a cab or something" she says, hugging her waist anxiously. I Ignore her, and climb into the car. As soon as I start the engine, the sound irks me and I groan, as she watches on. "Seriously, you can't drive like this" she says more seriously, in fact, more angrily. I look up at and she frowns. "Move, i will drive you" she says and for some reason, without argument, i move to the passengers side. Once seated, she glances at the dash for a minute too long, before pulling out of the parking lot. * "I don't know my way around town, so you are going to have to give me more specific directions" she says when she notices me about to dose off. " I already gave you the address" i say. "Well, i don't know that area, so you are going to have to guide me, once we reach that neighborhood." she says softly. "Mmmhh" i say, without opening my eyes. "At the speed you are going, we will get there tomorrow and i will have awakened by then" i retort, and i vaguely hear her scoff in response. * I have been driving for a while, and twice asked him for directions but he has been in such a deep sleep to respond. I don't think i am in the right place, and I swear I have driven past this area twice. Plus I don't feel so well either, my eyes feel hot and my stomach feels like their is a camp fire burning in their. I turn to look at him and he is sleeping with his arm over his eyes and stretched out as much as he can in the small space, his legs spread apart carelessly. This is the guy from the library, Go figure! Just when I thought things could not get any worse, a police car comes up behind me, and signals for me to pull over. "Oh s**t!" i mutter, glancing at my companion, to find that he is still sleeping soundly. I watch the officer approach the vehicle and roll the window down when is nears. "Good evening Ms." "Hello" i respond to the officer. "I just noticed you drove passed this area twice already, is everything alright ma'am?" "Yes, i am new to this area, so i have not mastered the neighborhood yet.." I mumble nervously, feeling my palms sweat on the stirring wheel. He must have sensed my nervousness, because he suddenly looks intently at me. " Your eyes are red, have you been drinking ma'am?" He asks, studying me and look over at the passenger's side. "I am not feeling well, that's why" I answer quickly. "License and registration please" he says and I frown. "Is this your car" he adds, a i reach for my purse to fish out my license. "Is this f*****g necessary....This is my car.." My companion, whose snaps irritably. The officer peers into the car more closely, and seems to recognize him since he has now removed his hand from his face. "Ahh, it's you... I Didn't recognize you there..." He says, a smile growing on his face. "It's been a long night, and we are just trying to get home....Is there a real problem here?" He asks. "No, just making sure...Go right ahead. Drive safe" the officer says. As I pull back into the main road again he mumbles. " We are nowhere near the address I gave you" his words sound frustrated, but his tone is calm and quiet, making me feel guilty. "Look, I told you I don't know my way around, and you just feel asleep leaving me to wonder off on my own... so it's not all my fault." I grumble. "Listen, i just need to lie down right now ok, can you make that happened" he asks lowly. "Ok" I whisper. * "We are here" i say, shaking his hand slightly, after I opened the door of the passenger side. He removes his arm from his eyes again, and squints his eyes, looking at our surroundings...Without argument, he comes out of the car. I place my hand on his, to guide him inside the building. Thank God Carmen's flat is on the ground floor of her apartment building. "Hi Trent" i say to the building security man, when he greats me, as he holds the door open for us. I see him watch Marco closely, but he doesn't say anything as we walk passed. Inside the building, i reach for her spare key behind the concrete pillar where she keeps it, and open the door, while he leans against the wall next to me. Then, he walks in with me after I open the door, shutting it closed after. "Uhhmm...i guess you want to sit down, this way?" i say, avoiding to look at him. As soon as he enters the bedroom, i step out to give Carmen a call. I knew she would opt to stay at her boyfriend, Devin's place tonight, so I knew there would be nobody here. 'You did what?' She growls into the phone. 'SShhhh..Don't shout' i mumble, looking behind, as if her screaming will wake him up. 'Ella, you took a stranger to my apartment' 'I was supposed to drive him to his place, but he was out of it and couldn't drive, and you know i don't know my way around town very well...' 'Wait, so you took a drunk stranger to my house. You two are not sober and you are not there to have s*x?' she mumbles in disappointment. 'No,we are not here for that' and funny thing is, she would have had no problem if I brought a guy over here for a one night stand. 'He is not ok, and i needed somewhere to take him' I murmur. 'Ana...what if something happens to him in MY apartment? I will be in trouble' She mutters. 'Don't shout at me ok...i just, i didn't know what else to do' I whisper. 'What if he takes advantage of you' 'He is passed out right now' I argue. 'Ok, fine, well, do you want me to come back...' She offers. 'No, you stay with D....I will call you incase i need anything...." " Ok, Fine, but I will call you you every two hours to check up on you' she says. After cutting the call, i realise the time is past midnight and that i have a couple of missed calls from my mom. 00:59. I should get home. I walk back into Carmen's bedroom, and notice him lying on the bed with his feet touching the ground, his arm is laid over his eyes again to reduce the impact of the light. I can't leave him alone like this. Shit! Holy crap...this is really the guy from the library. This is the guy from the library right. Like what are the odds? oh boy Antonella, what have you just gotten yourself into now. Leaning against the wall, I allow myself to slide to the floor, to give myself a minute to recover, before I head home. Resting my head on my knees, I end up falling asleep too.