Chapter 3: The Bookworm Isn't Shy

After deciding to go to work early, I got into my car. Looking over at my phone, I noticed that I had one missed call; I saw that it was Ms. Janie and decided to call her back. “Hello?”

“You’re ready to be shadowed, right?” she asked and I felt my heart sink to my ankles. I completely forgot about that over the weekend.

“Uh, yeah, I’m totally prepared,” I lied, starting the car. I pressed my phone between my shoulder and my ear.

“Get prepared on your way here,” she laughed before hanging up. I cursed Grayson Carter under my breath, tossing my phone onto the passenger's seat. Why can’t he just drive away into the sunset on his stupid motorcycle?

I got to work an hour early and decided to spend this time preparing for the problems I’m going to have to face this week; the devil children and Grayson (who can technically fall into the devil children category if he wasn’t older than me). I remember asking my mother about his age. She laughed and teased me for a week, asking why I wanted to know. I never asked my mother personal questions about Grayson after that event, even though she told me. It wasn't worth the torment.

Luckily, today, I only have to organize books. I entered the worker’s room where we have a refrigerator, a table with 4 chairs, a couch, and a small television. I walked over to the fridge and placed my water bottle on one of the shelves. A pro about working alone during the day, aside from Ms. Janie, is the fact that I don't have to worry about anyone taking my food.

I walked up the stairs of the library, surveying the large building. Most activities are held here; girl scouts, boy scouts, tutoring sessions, school field trips to check out books that their library doesn’t have, and other activities that are based on learning. I reached the second floor where couches were set up and I slumped down onto one, taking the familiar book off of the shelf. I've been reading it for the past week.

I heard every noise downstairs, including the phone ringing and electronics working. I’m glad that the room is silent because I can’t read with any loudness. About ten minutes into my reading, I heard doors slamming and I winced.

“Anybody here?” Grayson’s annoying voice questioned. He waited for a reply. “No? Great.”

Thinking he was going to trash the library, I stood up but instead of hearing bookcases slamming to the ground, I heard singing. The singing was actually good, better than good, in fact. He continued singing Sleeping with Sirens, a band that I'm pretty fond of. Grayson is a surprisingly good singer; he’s giving me goose bumps. I slowly stood up and walked to the railing and looked down to where he was.

He was dancing around the couches. He even tripped on a chair but continued singing. He’s a good dancer, too. Is there something that this boy can’t do? The fact that he can sing and dance angered me even more, making my hatred for him grow. Why was he gifted this talent when he’s a jerk?

As he ended the song, I slowly clapped while he whipped his head around, looking for the owner of the clapping. I continued clapping and eventually, he caught my gaze. I snorted. “You heard that?”

I nodded my head. “All of it?” I nodded again. He smirked. “Aren’t you supposed to be swooning and falling to your feet, begging me to take you out on a date?”

I glared at him, my eyes narrowing. “I don’t know if you didn’t catch on, but I don’t like you, Gracie.”

“Grayson, and I caught on but it’s fun to annoy you,” Grayson replied, leaning against the bookshelf. “Besides, they always change their minds. You will, too,” he winked. I wanted to cringe at the cliché-ness of this boy. How many times was that line used in a movie or a book?

“Gracie, Grayson, they’re the same thing,” I snapped as I walked towards the stairwell. “You’re early. This means you get to do more work.”

“I’m ready," he smugly spoke. “I was born ready.”

“You were born stupid,” I muttered. “Anyway, I assume that your schedule says ‘organize books.’”

He glanced at his schedule before nodding. “We’re going to work on nonfiction and fiction books. I’ll organize nonfiction and you organize fiction. Do you know the alphabet?”

“Yes," he gave me an annoyed look.

“You can never be too sure; the books go in alphabetical order by the author’s name. You look at the book’s spine and you see the sticker with two words on it. It’s the author’s first and last name. Organize them. If you have any questions, don’t ask,” I barked before walking towards the nonfiction bookshelf.

I began organizing the nonfiction books. I took a crate of recently returned books and started placing them into their correct spots. I heard humming throughout the library and I found myself grinding my teeth together. I can’t work with noise. Instead of telling him to stop, I bit my tongue and continued organizing. His footsteps grew closer and I realized that he’d finish organizing his books first at the pace he’s going.

The footsteps grew closer and I heard them from behind me. I felt a presence directly behind me and I watched as he reached his arm beside mine and placed a book onto my shelf. He leaned closer to my ear. “Nonfiction in the fiction section.”

Instead of swooning like the majority of the female population would, I clenched my fists. “Ever heard of personal space?” I asked as I pushed his arm out of my way. I glared at him for a moment as he sat there with a priceless expression on his face. If I weren’t so aggravated, I could laugh.

---

I walked into the employee lounge and grabbed my water out of the fridge. I’m so annoyed. This boy thinks that he can use me like the other girls. I clenched my teeth and let out a slow breath. I heard the door open behind me as I opened the bottle and tipped it into my mouth, collecting the water. “That was yours? Whoops.”

I immediately spit out the water that was in my mouth into the sink. I turned on the hot water and immediately started rinsing my mouth out even though my lips and tongue were burning. I heard laughter and I turned to see him doubled over, holding his stomach.

“What did you do to my water?” I snapped.

He shook his head as he laughed, he held up his hand and waved it around. When he took a deep breath, he finally stopped laughing. “Nothing, I didn’t do anything to your water.”

I tossed the half-filled bottle into the trashcan just to be safe. As I was walking out of the lounge, I heard his overconfident voice. “You know? You should be grateful; most girls would love to drink my backwash!”

I scowled as I exited the library, thankful that I only had to work an hour for today. He may be good looking, smart, and athletic but his company is terrible; he’s too arrogant and it’s infuriating. I’d rather have all of the hairs on my head individually ripped out by tweezers than have to sit with him for two hours.

---

“You work with him?” Lola’s eyes were wide. She brushed a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear as she leaned forward. She licked the remaining pasta off of her lips as she listened to my words.

“Yeah, and he’s terrible. I hate him so much,” I explained as I cracked my knuckles.

Sandra shrugged as she looked over my shoulder. “Yeah, but he and his friends are hot.”

I looked out the window to see him and his teammates playing football. They had a game this Friday, just like every Friday, and like usual- he and his teammates are incessantly practicing. I think it’s just because they want to show off to the girls who stare out the windows rather than eat lunch.

I moved my food away from me and Lola was quick to pick up my untouched sandwich and start to eat it. I wanted to vomit. I stared at my two friends, shaking my head. They were in a trance as they stared over my shoulders, their mouths slightly agape and their eyes opened fully, unblinking, afraid they’ll miss something.

“You guys are almost as annoying as they are,” I snapped. The two girls looked at each other but didn’t say anything. “You know, there are other ways to find entertainment during lunch- you know, like, talking to your best friend of 7 years!”

“Sorry, Kyle is just so cute,” Lola excused as she chewed with her mouth open. I wrinkled my nose. Kyle was Grayson’s equally annoying and arrogant best friend, or at least I'm assuming so.

“Kyle is nothing when compared to Carson,” the girls argued about the brothers who, in my opinion, are too arrogant to see past it. I know they’re handsome but it’s hard to notice that while they’re winking at girls and making out with random girls whenever they get a chance.

Instead of staying and listening to their bickering, I got up and grabbed my bag. I exited the cafeteria with steam coming out of my ears. I may seem like a… to put it simply, a jerk, but I’m not. It’s just exasperating to have your best friends obsess about the guys who technically rule the school.

My school isn’t the least bit cliché, sure there are cliques but none of them exclude people. I like to think of my peers as accepting individuals. But even though they’re accepting doesn’t mean they don’t have favorites. Most of the student body's favorite people are the football players, maybe it’s because they led the team to victory for the past four years at the championships.

It’s not like every single player on the team is attractive, that’s highly improbable, but most of them are. The ones that are attractive are jerks and users; my stomach churns just thinking about it. I kicked the trash can out of anger. It’s like everyone is under a trance that Grayson and his friends have caused.

Maybe I underestimate the female population at Rodencia Academy, but it seems as if most of them are in love with a player on the team. I, myself, had a crush on a player of the team. No, it’s not Grayson if that’s what you’re assuming. I honestly can’t see how you would, though, I constantly complain about his presence. But no, his name is Shane.

I liked Shane a lot in sophomore year and junior year. I got over him in the summer, though, when I realized that I had no chance with him. Of course I still think he’s cute and I get butterflies when he looks at me; it’s just that I know I have no chance with the guy- so why think about him all the time?

Instead of focusing on guys, I focus on schoolwork. Most of the seniors are ‘giving up’ and focusing on partying and having fun with their friends because it’s their last year together but Lola, Sandra, and I have a plan already. We all have similar interests so we are all applying to the same colleges. If we get accepted into different ones, then we’re not going to live on campus unless we absolutely have to. Hopefully, the plan pulls through. If their parents don’t interfere then we should be alright.

I aimlessly walked around until I heard the bell; I looked up and saw that I was beside my classroom. I unknowingly made my way to the third floor. I entered the classroom to see a substitute teacher. In Rodencia Academy, a substitute teacher means that there will be no work. We’ll get our work emailed to us by the teacher. We have the option to: Go to a class where we need extra help, go to our school’s library, or stay in the classroom and do the work that the teacher emailed us on the computer. If you choose the first two, you’re to do the work at home.

The substitute read out the options, as stated recently, and allowed us to choose for ourselves as he sat at his desk and started on his new book. I got up and walked towards the door, prepared to go to the library when I noticed that everybody else was seated at their desks with their computers on their tables. The majority of the classroom was filled with nerds. That’s what I get for taking Forensic Science.

I sighed and exited the classroom, closing the door behind me. Hopefully no administrators are out roaming because I’d be dead if I get caught without a pass. I noticed other students in the hallway, most likely skipping class. I tightened my grip on my bag as I walked in the direction of the library.

“Ooh! Someone is skipping class,” I turned around to see Grayson standing there, casually leaning against the wall. I glared at him.

“I’m not skipping. If anyone is skipping, it's you,” I snapped before hastily trying to walk away. He skipped AP English Literature and Composition this morning; I was very thankful. He just followed me, his long legs walking slower than mine but he managed to keep up.

“Actually, I have a free period. And if you aren’t skipping, where’s your pass?” he mocked.

“What are you? The hall monitor?” I scoffed as I walked down the steps. I kept my hand on the railing in fear of falling but Grayson, no, he was too cool for that. He was walking down the middle of the steps with his hands in his pockets.

He laughed. “No, I’m just bored.”

“Be bored around somebody else; I’m going to the library. I bet you didn’t know our school had one of those,” I retorted.

I felt him glaring at the side of my head. “Actually, I did know we have a library. I just don’t spend every waking minute of my life around books.”

I glared at him before replying. “Books are better than idiots.”

“What are you trying to say?” he retorted.

“Sorry, forgot to dumb it down. You- idiot, books- better,” I barked and he glowered at me, eyes narrowed.

“I’m not stupid," he snapped, stopping.

“You sure act like it,” I called as I exited the stairwell.