CHAPTER THREE
1314 Words
DIANA
I fumed all the way to the library.
The audacity!! I couldn't believe my eyes as the very handsome, very rude man stepped around me like I was a piece of furniture.
And to think he made fun of my glasses too.
If it was not for the fact that I had to be back at the library, I'd have…have…
‘Have done what exactly, Dee?’ a voice in my head whispered and I sighed.
Right. I would have done nothing. I wasn't one for confrontations, even though the man words hurt me.
But I was the better person. He can go and be rude to everybody, but I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing me react to his antics.
Never mind that he already left, not giving any sign that he cared about my reaction.
Men.
I shook my head as I stepped into the library, and the scent of books calmed me immediately.
Fictional characters were the best. The men were so gentle and thoughtful, and never rude like men in real life.
People floated between shelves, and the peace I felt as I watched them made me deriliously happy.
After shelving the new books I dragged all the way to the library, I decided to read a new romance novel to drag me out of the rude, real life man's effect.
I skipped to the romance section and greedily grabbed two books from the new arrivals. The first one was historical romance, and the other was billionaire CEO romance.
Cheesy stuff. My favorite.
I skipped back to my seat, delved into the world of Jason and Livia, and promptly forgot about the outside world.
The tiny bell at the top of the door jingled as the door opened, and someone cleared their throat. I glanced up and flushed.
I had been reading a particular steamy chapter, and felt guilty at almost being caught.
“Sorry. Hi...uhm…good day. I just moved in the neighborhood, and someone said I could borrow books from here for free. No library fee or something,” a blond, petite woman said nervously and a smile broke through my round, chubby face.
“Hello, there. Yes. You can borrow books from here for free. All you need to do is write your name right here,” I pointed in the registry book, “and contact information so that I'll be able to contact you if the book hasn't been returned before the due date. There is no penalty for late returns, just a slight warning,” I said and she nodded, relief clear on her face.
I led her through the shelves, and watched her face lit up when she came across the fantasy shelves. Chattering with her through the whole process, I watched her blossom from a nervous, fidgety woman, to an avid reader with great passion for books.
“Did you read Glass of Thrones?” She asked as she ran her hands through my books, searching for a suitable one to pick.
“Oh my gosh. Aelin is fire. She's who I want to be, for real. I mean, girl's got it hotttt,” I squealed and she squealed with me, her voice ringing out with unabashed joy at my compliment.
She actually glowed like she was the writer of the book and we got into a detailed discussion about Aelin Fire heart that she forgot she was supposed to be choosing a new book.
Her phone rang, cutting into our laughter, and she gasped when she looked at it.
“Oh my goodness. I'm supposed to pick my kid. I can't believe I forgot,” she groaned.
I smiled. We both got carried away.
“It's okay. You can always come back here,” I said as we walked back out to the reception.
“Thank you, really. You're so kind. I feel like I've finally found a friend. I was so nervous I'd be lonely here. But with you…and your books, I'd die a happy woman,” she hugged me.
I hugged her back, her words warming me from inside. This was the exact reason why I do all these.
The thrill of watching someone find all the love they need in my books, makes me feel like the most accomplished woman in the entire world.
I waved as she ran out, smiling as I returned to my book.
Losing myself in the book again, I didn't realize time was far spent until my alarm blared, reminding me that it was time to close up for the day.
I hummed as I tidied up, and as I opened the door to step out, I swore.
In a very, innocent, bookish way.
It was raining.
I had been so obsessed with the book that I had no idea it was raining, and now I had no choice but to wait.
Deciding to go back to the book while waiting out the rain, I was barely two pages in when the door opened.
I frowned slightly. It was raining hell out there.
Who was desperate or perhaps, foolish enough to come to a library in the rain?
I stood up, and stopped short in my tracks.
All caution flew out the window as I ran to the shivering girl dripping all over my front door.
“Oh my goodness, dearest. What happened? Why are you out in the rain? Are you okay? Did you get lost?” I asked, worry making my chest tight as I asked question over question.
She said nothing, or maybe it was my fussing around that didn't provide a chance for her to speak.
When she was dried, in extremely big but warm clothes, and didn't look like she was going to collapse any minute, I heaved a breathe of relief.
“Hi. I'm Diana. What's your name?” I asked softly.
She glanced up at me and smiled. He features looked familiar, even though I was sure that I hadn't seen her before.
Exquisite features, intelligent eyes, and a bossy aura, my little stranger looked every bit like…like…
Like who? This was my first time seeing her. Yet her features…it was so familiar. Like I met someone who looked exactly like she does.
“I'm Riley. You're very pretty,” she said in a matter of fact way that I blushed.
“Thank you. You're pretty, too. What were you doing out in the rain? Did you get lost on your way home from school?”
She shook her head.
“I ran away from home,” she said and I frowned.
“Ran away? What do you mean, ran away? What about your parents?”
A look of hurt flashed through her eyes.
“I…I don't want to talk about it. Can I follow you home, please? I'm so tired,” her voice was small, her eyes pleading.
I didn't want to push, the hurt in her eyes evidence of how she felt. Still…it felt strange. Weird even, that she wanted to follow me home.
Kids are the ones supposed to be wary of strangers, but here I was, wary about a kid.
I considered calling the police, but decided against it. She looked intelligent enough. I believe she ran away from home due to something very serious.
Maybe she has abusive parents. Doesn't matter that I didn't see any bruise on her.
Maybe she was an orphan and was being maltreated.
Either way, informing the police would only take her back home. And I had a feeling that Riley would not like that.
And it wasn't as though I could leave here right here in the library. Which left me with one choice.
I loo
ked out the window, and saw that the rain had stopped.
So I smiled and held out my hand.
“Come on, let's get you out of here.”
- Writer
