Spin The Bottle

23: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

I yawned as I flipped through the pages of some random manga in the school library. I skipped out on lunch today, and just decided to hang out here.

I had nothing to keep me company besides, an apple, and a bottle of water. It's generally unexceptable, for students to eat or drink in the library, but would it really kill them to let me eat an apple?

I placed the book neatly back on the shelf, and threw my bag over my shoulder. Sighing, I bit into the apple and started taking careless steps down the aisle.

I groaned and then stopped at a shelf with odd looking books. What to do, what to do. Lunch isn't gonna be over for another twenty minutes, so I can't go back to any classes. I am so bored right now.

I sat down on the floor, and took a sip of water. While I was sitting, my eyes came across a book. It was short. It didn't have a cover, just the title of the book. "All I Wanted Was You" It sounded promising, and captivating. So I picked it up.

On the first page there was a short riddle. It read, "Torn between two, which one would you choose? The one that you love, or the one who loves you."

"Well," I looked at the name of the author. Victoria Elise. "Mrs. Elise. It's harder than it sounds."

Just as I was about to flip another page, I heard some one on the next row. Not that it mattered if someone was there or not. But that someone had a particular smell. And I should know because I cried when that smell slowly faded away from my bed.

I blinked three times, then stood up slowly to make sure I wasn't imagining things. Sure enough, it was none other than Jake Avery himself. At first I just stared at him, taking in all of his beauty, and staring at the lips I'll probably never kiss again.

Then he started to look at me through an empty book slot and I fell to the floor, sitting back down again. I came to the conclusion a little while ago, that I'll just avoid him. Because its easier that way. Even though I should apologize for being so rash the other day.

I started to crawl away, grabbing my bag and stuffing the things inside. I started to speed away really fast when I realized I forgot the book. I turned around and went back as quickly as I left and grabbed it.

As soon as I got to the end of the aisle, I saw a pair of black all stars standing directly in front of me. I cursed to myself and then slowly brung my eyes upward.

I saw Jake staring down at me with a raised eye brow and then smiled, standing up slowly. "Hi Jake! I didn't see you there."

"Oh yeah?" he asked, doubtfully and I nodded. "What were you doing?" I shrugged.

"I was... um... chasing... um... something."

"Chasing what?"

"A...rat. It was my pet. And I was just letting it out for some air." I smiled, and stated boldly.

"Oh? You like bringing rats to school?"

"Yeah-no. But it's gone now so..."

"Hmm. That's remotely interesting." He chuckled, then folded his arms, and I looked down at my feet.

"Yeah. It was. He was. But he rolled away." I mentally slapped myself. That was the worlds worst lie and he knew it. I just get all tongue tied when I'm around him, and it is so annoying.

I scratched my head and threw my bag over my shoulder. My heart was beating a mile a minute, an my palms were starting to sweat.

"Um... Jake?"

"Yes?"

"I have to um... I've been thinking. I should apologize to you about the way I acted."

"Emma, it's really okay."