... He Loves Me (COMPLETED)

•Chapter Twenty-Two•

I smile with the memory. Even though we were both pretending, that was a pretty fun day.

"Elsa!" Anna tries to whisper, but quiet was never really her thing. "Hurry up, it's about to start!"

"I'll be right there!" I whisper back. Anna glances as Jack, nods vigorously, and disappears behind the bookshelves. I turn back to Jack. "Um, I'll see you around later."

He smiles, though there's something more behind it that I can't place. Before I can say anything else, Jack hands me the book and walks off.

I meet back with everyone where a small crowd has gathered to hear the presentation. It doesn't take any effort to notice Jack sitting a ways away from me. The crows is in a kind of semicircle shape, so even though we're on other sides of the room, we're basically facing each other.  

A older looking librarian clears her throat into a microphone. "Hello everyone. For the presentation, we would invite you all to take a seat at the tables we've set up."

Everyone follows the instruction. I notice there is paper and pencils set up at all the tables, and everyone grabs them. The librarian talks for about an hour on the importance of writing in our lives and how we should use it. The presentation is kind of boring, but I can tell Uncle Clark is enjoying it. Hopefully it's giving him some ideas for his new book, Beyond Comprehension.

When there's about fifteen minutes left, the librarian pauses. "Now, the most important thing about writing is writing from your heart. Everyone has something that they want to say out loud, but they just can't put it into words. Maybe they don't want to; sometimes it's scary to pour your feelings out to someone. Using the paper we provided you with, I invite you to do just that. Write something that you've always wanted to say. Not only will it get a lot off your chest, but it will bring you inspiration to truly live."

Everyone claps, then gets down to writing. I stare at my blank page and chew on my pencil. Something I've always wanted to scream out loud? It would never have to be seen by anyone, just me.

My eyes immediately bounce to Jack and I notice he's looking at me too. I immediately shoot my glance to Uncle Clark, who's writing furiously on his paper, looking like he's going to tear it in half. Okay, pour my feelings onto paper, here we go.

Jack,

I don't know what happened through all we've been through. I don't know when I went from hating you to loving you, but I do know that I did. It's something I've had on my mind constantly, but could never put into words well enough to transfer to you. If I could make one wish right now, it would be for you to just know that I love you, finally, after all this time.

I don't even bother signing it before folding it half as quick as I can. While I was writing, I forgot about the crowd around me, but it would pretty much be the end of my life if someone saw that.

"That's the end of the presentation, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you enjoyed it and found the artistic side of you yearning deep within. Have a good night!" The librarian breaks the silence and most people stand to leave. A few continue writing. Jack is one that stands up and rushes out the doors immediately, without so much as a backward glance.

"That was truly inspirational!" Uncle Clark grins at his paper. "You all go on ahead; I want to have a few words with the librarian."

He walks over to a small crowd of people, and the rest of us head outside. A few droplets of rain are smudging the ground, but it still feels warm. The wind blows my hair and teases pieces of it out of my bun. I wonder just how bad the storm is going to get.
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