READ FOR ME

THINKING ABOUT BOOKS

Barbara smiled at me the second I walked into the library.

It had been a couple of days since I saw her. Reality came along and I had duties to fulfill as a student so I didn't get time for the library (as much as i loved creating excuses to be there).

But Lord God, was Barbara's smile a blessing! I felt like a starving peasant finally being rained on!

I smiled back, halting infront of the counter.

" I like Willafred! Maybe wishes do come true." , she prompted. " Shouldn't have given on mine."

Oh. So she read the book? No wonder she looked so soulful today.

" Good morning to you too, Barbara. I actually never expected you to open that glove compartment so soon."

She giggled. Damn.

" Seriously, it made my day. I stayed up all night reading it after having another fight with my mom."

So that was it? Glad to know, I wasn't going to let her pick up that call again. Sorry Mama Barbara.

" I'm glad you found it soothing ", my eyes noted that she had her beautiful hair pulled back in a ponytail, leaving nothing but the pretty bangs on her forehead that I was dying to touch. I bet they're soft like-

" I got something for you too", she cut me out of my trance, pulling out a novel from the drawer. 'Just Juliet' by Charlotte Moonlight.

I smiled as I took it and she smiled back before I left to take a seat, excited to read something recommended by the librarian herself.

I was done with it by the end of the day and Well, I spent the remaining hour panicking about Barbara's intentions on choosing this book for me ..

A book with two female characters falling in love? Was that supposed to mean something or was I overthinking?

I mean, I had given her 'The wedding Planner's Daughter' for no reason but to give her a good laugh and lift her spirits because when life throws you a pit, plant a cherry tree.

What was she trying to insinuate with 'Just Juliet'? There's no way she just picked it up out of nowhere .....

Did she think of me when she chose it?

Jesus. I should really stop getting ahead of myself. There's no way she could think of you that way, Mack! She obviously just chose the book because of how amazing it was, no big deal. Besides, she's not even .. .. into women?? s**t, I should really stop thinking.

I was last to go out, as usual.

" That was a very good read.", I stalled at the counter, watching her pack up.

" Really? You liked it?"

Liked it? I think I loved it!

" Never read something so simply romantic like that ... it was graspingly touching."

" I'm glad you enjoyed it, you can keep it.", she casually led the way out and I followed.

See? It was just a friend-ly reading. No hidden meaning, Mack. Not at all, you overthinking prick.

" Thank you, you can keep Willa too."

" You seriously thought I'd give it back?"

... She wasn't? I never really gave out books .. I can't believe I just did that. I can't believe I just gave out one of my most precious books.

Guess it only takes a pretty girl.

But Barbara wasn't just a pretty girl ... She was more than that ... beautiful, delicate, with a smile that could bright me up for a lifetime, eyes so gorgeous I wanted to look at nothing else but them- and no thinking beyond that, mind, I'm pretty sure I know where that thought was going.

I watched her as she locked the door ...

Her bare legs in a yellow and black plaid mini skirt, a tucked in black polo, a silver necklace and her everyday doc martens.

She looked so immaculately beautiful, it made me self-conscious of my own attire ... which was my usual hoodie, jeans, and converse. I really don't remember wearing anything other than that. Just changed it in range of colors.

Barbara caught me staring and I quickly looked away.

" Can you drive?", she broke the ice first when we reached her car.

"No.", We got in. " Why?"

" I could teach you, and maybe you could get a license or something"

Wow.

" T-that ..", we looked at each other. " .. sounds like a dream come true "

She laughed at my reply. " I'm free on weekends ..."

More reasons to see her? Of course I'm taking them.

" I won't miss"

" This parking lot, 9am. Don't be late, unless you're into punishments"

" What an inviting teacher you are, Madam Barbie.", ignoring how the last word of her sentence gave me chills of excitement.

" I don't think you'd love me when I'm mad, Pupil.", she drove out.

Oh I would love you in every which way, milady.

-Wait, What?

Barbara's skirt rode up when she sat straighter ... ,making me forget how to do anything. Don't look down Don't look down Don't look down Don't look down- s**t.

I'm doomed.

Never had I ever thought I'd be staring at somebody's thighs before- Did thighs usually looked that appealing?

Maybe I'm just sexually frustrated ... or not, because I've never been. I had never even needed any of that since I grew an unhealthy attachment with books. I mean, I could barely remember the last time I made out with someone! Just fantasies with book characters I was smitten about.

I was too immersed in my books the only time I thought of affection was amidst reading. Heck, books were going to be the end of me.

And I needed to keep on reading. Maybe even more, so I could get this girl out of my head. It wasn't a place I let people in ... , just fictional characters.

" Everything okay?", she asked, making me realize that we were at my place already. s**t, I can't believe I spaced out that long.

Without a book.

"y-yeah, e-everything's g-good", Was it?, I unbuckled my belt, avoiding her gaze as I stepped out of her car.

" So saturday?"

" Saturday it is", I waved her goodbye before she disappeared.

I was stuck there for a while ... just staring at the empty spot where she just rode off from.

Contemplating ..., I've been doing a lot of that lately.

" Mack? What're you doing standing out there like that? ", my Aunt's familiar voice turned me around. I wondered how long she had been standing there, holding the gate door open. Had she heard the car drive off?

" C'mon", she added, gesturing me in. I followed because I couldn't even form words with my mouth.

We had rice and beans for dinner, one of my favorites but I had been feeling awkward after the whole Barbara in a miniskirt fiasco, unsure of what was bothering me.

" You good?", Aunt asked for the second time, screw her for reading me like a damn book. " You've been acting weird."

Weird? Wasn't that typical of me?

" What do you mean?", I pushed my plate away.

" For one, You always eat in your room. But you joined us today."

" So? Sorry for wanting to spend some time with my amazing family."

She chuckled, " For two, you are being so talky today."

I shrugged it off, stood up from the mat and left for my bedroom.

I tripped on a book the second I stepped in, falling on my face. s**t. Just great. Exactly what I needed, a knock on the head to get my sanity back.

Too bad it didn't work. Worse, I think it was a trigger because thoughts of Barbara were running endless errands in my head now. Pale skin, blue eyes, pink lips, ... her soft-looking thighs - so much for trying to evade them.

I didn't bother getting on the bed again, I was good right there, on top of books I had read a thousand times and for the first time, I wasn't thinking about books .....

I was thinking about her.