Love for the Librarian

“Do you have a way home?” He asks me as I lock up.

“Oh, I just walk, it isn’t far from here.” I turn to look at him. I am his tutor not his date, he does not need to see me home.

“I’ll walk you home then. I would hate for something to happen to my tutor.” He smirks at me.

“Really it isn’t that far.” I shrug but don’t object any more as he walks next to me. “You did really well today.”

“It was nice to have someone explain it right. I swear Mrs. Hutten was speaking Greek all week.” He laughs with me. I like his laugh. I silently chide myself. Don’t fall for him. You are leaving in a month.

“I am glad that I can help, you should have asked sooner.”

“I wish I did. You are a great teacher. So will I meet you tomorrow?” He looks hopeful.

“Yeah, my aunt will be there tomorrow to field questions so we won’t be interrupted as much.” I give him a smile back. I think I am flirting. What is wrong with me?

“So you will be all mine, good to know.” His smile is making my knees weak. If I was any other girl I would be putty in his hands right now.

“Yeah, so anyway. I will meet you there tomorrow. Finals are next week so we should make sure to cover as many topics as possible before then.”

After a moment’s pause. “Riley, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Do you like me? I mean you seem nice enough but then you act a bit standoffish. I just wonder if I did something wrong.” He has a concerned look on his face.

“No you didn’t do anything wrong. I am just a little guarded, that’s all. I get picked on a bit. Not that you are picking on me. I just, you know, keep my guard up.” I am a little shy to admit this to him, but he did ask.

“So you like me?” He asks again.

“Well, yeah sure.”

“Good.” He pauses for a moment as if relieved. “So what are your plans after graduation?” He slides a little closer to me as we walk.

“Katelyn and I are moving to California. We are attending UCDavis in the fall. We are leaving early so I can find a job and we have a place all lined up.”

“So you aren’t sticking around here?” He almost seems sad about it.

“No, I have to leave, my parents are driving me nuts.” I shake my head as I say it.

“What if you had a reason to stick around a little longer?”

“I am sure I will still be leaving. My aunt is trying to make me change my mind. She wants me to stay here and run the library with her. I told her that I might come back someday and work there. I know it is a family thing. I am the only family to really take it over.”

“I mean someone else.” He looks down at me.

“I don’t have a boyfriend if that is what you are asking.” I look at him really puzzled. I cock my eyebrow at him.

“Yeah, that is what I am asking.”

“Why?” Now I am a little bit more confused.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Maybe I like you.”

“Dylan it is probably best that you don’t. I am leaving in a month. I know that you can have any girl you want, it would be best for you to pick a girl who will stick around for you.” I hate the words that are coming out of my mouth right now but they are the ones that need to be said. Besides, a girl can’t get her hopes up too much.

“If I can have any girl then why can’t I have you?” I froze, did he really say that to me? The most popular guy in school just asked if he could have me. I must have misunderstood. There has to be something behind this.

I turn to look at him. “Dylan I am not really a looker, I don’t have stuff that all the other girls have. I don’t see what you are seeing in me all of the sudden.”

“Maybe I see something more.” He has moved closer to me. I am finding it hard to catch my breath. “Maybe I see a smart, beautiful woman who any man should be falling over themselves to have.”

“I just don’t think…” What I was going to say I am not even sure anymore. As soon as his lips crashed into mine I lost all thoughts. This was not my first kiss, but it was certainly the first one that I really liked. I couldn’t help my arms find their way around his neck, his wound around my back pulling me closer.

When he pulls away I have to take a second to remember how to function. He leans his forehead to mine. “I have wanted to do that for a while now. I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“Dylan, why?” I can’t help but feel exasperated.

“I told you, I would be a fool not to. You don’t have to put too much on it right now. Just be my friend and of course I will kiss you any chance I get.” He smiles at me. It breaks any resolve that I had. I just nod.

“No promises. I am still leaving in a month.” I give him a stern look.

“I won’t make you stay. I might miss you a little though.” I laugh, I really like the way he speaks to me.

“That is until you find another woman who sweeps into your heart.”

He shrugs, “Perhaps, or maybe you will ruin me for all women.” He pecks my lips again.

I pull back and start walking back to my house. Dylan reaches down and grabs my hand. I like the feel of it. I am trying to pull my thoughts away from this man. He is stirring things in me that are better left dormant. I am leaving in a month, I remind myself yet again.

When we reach my gate I let go of Dylan’s hand. “This is my stop. I will see you tomorrow after school.”

“Or sooner.” He winks at me. He continues to stand at my gate as I walk up the walkway to the door. I enter with him waving me in. As soon as I close the door I heave a big sigh. “God help me. I can not fall for that man right now.”

I head to bed with dreams of amazing blue eyes.

DYLAN’S P. O. V.

My first thoughts of this girl was that she is smart, of course she is the logical choice to help me with my finals. She is also the perfect girl to piss off Brittney. I don’t know why Brittney hates her so much but she does. When I first asked her to tutor me that was my thought. Get back at Brittney and get a tutor out of it.

When we are sitting at the desk in the library. I can’t help but check her out. She seems guarded and aloof. When a stray hair falls out of her braid. I find myself wanting to brush it behind her ear. The more I talk to her the more I like hearing her talk. She does this thing with her lip when she is deciding how to explain something. She tucks it into her mouth and then slides her tongue along it. I find myself wanting to bite that lip.

I am not supposed to feel this way. This was just supposed to be something to help with my finals. I was upset about Brittney, that was all this was for. But then why do I find myself distracted by her hands close to me but not touching me? Why do I think about kissing those plump lips? I can see that she is slender under those baggy clothes that I have no idea why she wears them. With her sitting so close I can tell her curves are perfect. It is easy to miss in those clothes and the hoodie that she wears all the time in school. Right now I can see it all. Quite frankly it is turning me on. This hidden gem is just waiting for me.

When I make a comment about Mrs. Hutten being a hard-ass, I make her laugh. God it is a beautiful laugh. Her eyes light up a little bit. I want to keep her laughing. What the hell is wrong with me? I mean at this point she doesn’t even look interested. She keeps finding reasons to keep some distance. I don’t want to be conceded, but girls do not act standoffish with me. Not that I date around. I am just usually telling them no. This girl seems to be telling me no, not directly but with her distance.

When the library empties and we are still sitting there. I contemplated kissing her then. I mean I have to find out if she likes me, right? Then she starts packing things up and she locks the library before I can even think of an excuse to be close to her. I want to give her a ride home, then she shoots me down by saying that she walks. So I have to think fast, I tell her I am going to walk her home.

As we are walking she keeps her distance. I have to make a move. Why I don’t really know but I need to. When she tells me that she is leaving, I feel a little hurt. Why the hell does it hurt? Did I wait too long to notice this woman standing next to me? When she tells me that she doesn’t have a boyfriend I am filled with glee. I of course had to plain ask her if she likes me, she isn’t really one to be open.

When I kissed her, it was everything I thought it would be. Ever since she first pulled that lip into her mouth I have been wanting to have my mouth on it. It felt amazing. I have of course kissed plenty of times, but kissing Riley just feels different, better. When my arms wrap around her waist I knew I was right, she is slender and her curves are in the right places.

I watch her walk into her house and watch which lights turn on and then off. I am able to see where her room is now. That is something I file away, it might come in handy later on. Only after all her lights are off do I turn and walk back to my truck with a little smile on my face. I fully intend to lay claim to her in the morning. All thoughts of Brittney are gone. This is what I needed. Someone who is pure and ready for me. She won’t hurt me the way Brittney did.