A few species have other uses,
~~~
~ in a book, in the old library
I feel someone poke my shoulder and I scream, holding my book above my head with my eyes shut tightly. He runs around me quickly, a finger to his lips. "God Taylor, this is a library. People are trying to read?"
I open one eye and I quickly shut it again. He's there. "Why do I keep seeing you everywhere?"
"Coincidence, baby," he says.
Did I say that out loud? I open my eyes and close them once more, he's still there. "Go away!"
"Not until you show me the book you're reading."
I realise how stupid I must look, waving a book above my head with my eyes shut tight, so I give it to him quickly, adjusting my hair and blinking a few times. I cross my legs on the stool I am sat and I pull at the hem of my dress. It is the weekend, I am here alone.
"'His Dark Materials'? What?"
"It's just a book," I say quietly.
"Yeah, I can see that. Looks boring as hell."
I blush, reaching for the book. He places it on a shelf. "Come with me, I'll take you somewhere more exciting."
"No, no..."
"Don't say no, just do it! Haven't you ever wanted to do something spontaneous, something crazy?"
It sounds like the exact opposite of anything I would want to do, it terrifies me. But just when I need them, my words won't appear. I sit there, gaping like a fish while he kneels beside me, grinning from ear to ear.
He takes my silence as a yes. "That's what I thought," he says, taking my hand. He takes me outside the library and onto the street, where my stomach churns and I feel butterflies invade my body and my head, and white spots fill my vision and mix with the sunlight from outside.
I stumble backwards at the dizzying notion and I clutch my arm back, walking backwards. "I... I have to go..."
"Wait! Don't leave yet!" He cries, running after me. I pause, breathing heavily, feeling the tears well up and blinking them away furiously, I will not break down in front of him...
"Take my number. I'm sorry, Taylor, I'm sorry," he says, scribbling his number out with a pen on a receipt for a bus ticket that was in his pocket. I take it shakily, before turning and walking down the high street.
~~~
