The Library Agreement

13

"Penny!" I shout, my voice carrying throughout the almost-empty house. "Where are my shoes?!"

"I don't know." My sixteen-year-old sister calls back, her voice flat and sarcastic. "Go find them yourself."

"Penny, I swear to God," I groan, rushing out of my bedroom and into the hallway, where I can see her sitting at the counter, eating cereal. "Charlie is going to be here in ten minutes and I need my shoes!"

"Woah." She says, holding up a hand as she looks me up and down. "Well, well well—who are you getting all dressed up for?"

I look down instinctively at the blue jean shorts and white blouse that I had picked out earlier this morning.

"What, is this too dressy?" I say, looking back up again, fear crawling into my voice.

Penny raises her eyebrows, smirking. "Well, it's not your usual hoodie and sweatpants, that's all."

I release a huff of air. "Any other criticism? I really need to find—"

"Hailey!" Penny exclaims then, leaning forward a little in her chair. "Is that makeup?!"

"Yes. Believe it or not, but sometimes I actually want to look nice."

"Oh, my God!" Penny says, clutching at her chest. "I never thought I'd see the day! Are you going on a date? Who's the guy?"

"It's not a date." I mutter, already feeling the blush beginning to heat my cheeks. "Now, could you please tell me where I can find my shoes?"

"Check by the door." Penny says, not taking her eyes off of me. A big smile is on her face; she looks really proud for some reason. "Oh, just wait until Mom and Dad get back—"

"Shut up, Penny." I say, dashing towards the front door. Sure enough, my black flats are there, hidden under the pile of athletic shoes and Penny's heels. I unground them from their place and slip them on. Luckily for me, they still fit.

Just in time. The second I start heading back to the kitchen, a text message appears on my phone.

You ready?

I smile to myself, biting my lip as I type back,

Absolutely.

A few seconds pass before Charlie replies with,

Great. I'm almost there.

Releasing a breath, I nod to myself and step into the kitchen to grab my water bottle and a few towels just in case. I'm not sure what the weather will be like, but if it's warm, it might be nice to sit out on the beach area.

"Why are you leaving so early?" Penny asks from her spot behind the counter, and I glance over my shoulder breifly to look at her.

"It's a bit of a long drive." I say, vaguely, busying myself with folding the towels.

"Where are you going?" She persists, and a hint of suspicion laces her tone.

"Nowhere special."

"It's Busbee, isn't it?" Penny asks, her voice a deadly hush. I bite my lip, willing her to think otherwise, but she knows me too well.

"Oh my God!" My sister says, her mouth hanging open. "Hailey! Lake Busbee?! You know what hap—"

"Yes, Pen, I know what happened last time." I say, beginning to feel a bit exasperated and slightly guilty. "It's just—this guy—he's not like Parker. He's one of the nicest people I know. You have to trust me on this one."

Penny slowly rises from her seat, worry still etched into her expression. She stands in front of me and rests her hands on my shoulders, her beautiful green eyes staring into mine.

"History can repeat itself, Hailey. I just want you to be careful."

"I know." I say, sucking in my cheek and nodding. "Thank you. But it's been almost two years. This time will be different, I swear."

Penny nods, sitting back down and going back to her cereal. Guilt begins to eat at my insides—my sister doesn't know what happened a few nights ago. She doesn't know that Parker and his friends had found me when I was starting to leave for the library. She doesn't know that they were prepared to do their worst. She doesn't know that I just barely escaped—that I had to rush into the library and hide.

But what she also doesn't know is that Charlie Portman is the one who could have potentially saved my life that night.

And, somehow, that seems to make up for everything else.

The doorbell rings, suddenly, just as I notice another message on my lock screen.

I'm here, doll.

Penny arches a brow, and I flush.

"Gotta go. There's toaster waffles in the fridge if you get hungry, don't stay up too late, and I'll be back—"

"Don't worry about me." Penny says, with a laugh. "Have fun. I'll be good."

I release a breath, my nerves jittering. "Okay. How do I look?"

At this, my sister grins. "Absolutely perfect."

I shake my head at her, still smiling, and rush into the foyer, pulling the door open quickly.

Whoa.

Charlie's wearing a plain white button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, paired with faded jeans and sneakers. His dark brown hair is windswept, as if he drove here with the windows down, but those familiar blue eyes haven't lost their charisma as he winks at me.

"Hey, there, stranger." He says, and I give a smile—hoping that I don't come across as giddy as I really am. "You look beautiful, as always."

I swallow, my stomach flipping as he pulls me into a one-armed hug.

Behind me, Penny clears her throat. I back away quickly, my blush fiercer than ever.

"Charlie, this is my sister—Penny." I say, gesturing to where she sits.

"Hi," Charlie says with a smile. "Did you like The Great Gatsby?"

Penny furrows her brow. "How did you—?"

"I work at the library." He says quickly, before I can think of a lie to cover this up. Stunned, I glance up at Charlie, but he doesn't seem to regret the confession.

Penny just stares. "You? A—a librarian?" She lets out a low whistle. "Jeez."

Charlie laughs, and I shoot her a look.

"What?" Penny protests. "He's hot! Way too hot to be a librarian."

Closing my eyes breifly and touching a hand to my forehead, I groan.

"Penny—"

"Alright, alright, I'll lay off." She say jokingly, but then whispers, "Tell me if you have any other hot librarian friends, okay?"

"Okay." I say quickly, turning to Charlie before Penny can say anything else. "We'd better get going."

Charlie gives an easy smile. "Your wish is my command."

I really wish he wouldn't say those things to me, especially in front of my sister. I can hardly control my blush now—I probably look as red as a tomato.

Nevertheless, Charlie reaches down and laces his fingers in mine, and I give an involuntary jolt—he's never done that before.

I smile up at him, he winks again—and I realize that I have a second chance at this. The boy holding my hand is not Parker. This time, I am going to Lake Busbee with Charlie Portman.

This time, things are going to go right.