Page 21 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

Before our group disperses, we have a clear idea of our project and all five of our members’ roles. I’m the first to leave, wanting to grab a burrito or something else that’s quick to eat before my final class of the day.

“Paisley?” Jillian calls after me.

A bit peeved that she’s throwing me off schedule, I come to a halt and spin around. “Yes, Jillian?”

Her tiny face looks left and then right as she approaches me cautiously. “Thank you for choosing my idea,” she says in a low voice.

“We all chose Baudrillard,” I snap. I can’t believe she stopped me to say that.

“Everybody knows you’re the leader.”

I shake my head adamantly. “But I never offered to be the leader, nor was I dubbed the leader.”

She shrugs indifferently. “Well, people look up to you because you’re a Grove, even though you don’t act like one.”

I fight the urge to rebut that statement and let her know that I’m insulted by it. But the fact that I’m so irritated by her alarms me. I’m usually more patient with others.

“And then there’s the NTE scholarship, which you rightfully deserve,” she adds as if it’s an afterthought.

I don’t believe she thinks that at all. Thoroughly insulted, I thumb over my shoulder. “Okay, well, thanks for the appreciation. I gotta…”

She steps closer to me, making it clear that at the moment, she’s the only person I need to be focusing on. “I heard you’re going out with Boyles Bellingham.”

I lean away from her, shocked that she brought up my boyfriend’s name. And why does this feel like a trick question? “Yeah, I am.” At least, I think I still am.

It’s like her eyes are conveying something that her lips can’t. I’m trapped in her gaze until she says, “Give me a second.”

She takes off her backpack, opens it, takes out a notebook, and starts drawing a diagram.

I don’t feel pressured by my schedule anymore. I watch her draw, and she’s quite a good sketcher. Jillian’s making a map. She writes the building name at the top of the page and3:30 p.m.

“Go here at that time.”

“Johnson Cray Library?” I ask.

Strapping her backpack on again, she nods. Her eyes are sympathetic, and so is the tiny smile she's showing me. I don't want to ask what I'll find. I don't want to push it. However, I know it's not going to be to my liking.

My throat is tight, but I'm able to whisper, “Okay.”

Science and Technologyclass started at three. I’ve been constantly checking my watch while trying to keep up with the lecture. I think whatever I’ll find at the library has to do with Boyles.

Shaking my foot impatiently, I check my watch again. It's 3:31.

I close my CompuBook, stuff it in my backpack, and thrust myself out of my chair. I sit in the back of the classroom just so I can leave early without creating a commotion.

I’m on automatic pilot as I jog down the hallway with Jillian’s map in hand. I keep my pace as I run up the sidewalks until I reach the library, which is on the humanities side of campus. Never breaking stride, I bolt up the wide, tall steps to the front of the building. I only stop to show my school ID to enter the library. The guard raises his eyebrows as he checks the info. I’m sweating, but since I’m an avid runner, my breaths are under control.

He hands my ID back to me. “Late for something?”

“I think so,” I say and take off, walking fast instead of running.

Now that I’m inside, I follow Jillian’s instructions closely. I pass a reference-books checkout desk and then walk through the door on my left marked2A. I’m in a quiet room full of stacks. I continue straight up the aisle in front of the door until I reach the back of the room. I turn right. I see the double doors. I go through them and then up three flights of concrete stairs. I’m fine with completing the mission, but I can’t help but wonder where in the world Jillian is leading me.

At the top of the stairs, there’s only one door to enter. The placard in the middle of it reads,Study Area,and, beneath that,Silence Appreciated.

I enter. Book stacks fill the large room. The scent of old paper, which I find enticing, expands through my senses. I walk mostly on the balls of my feet so that my steps remain quiet. I even slow my breathing to further help me keep silent. When I make it to the back of the room, I turn left. To my right are more stacks. Along the wall are study booths made with two tall side walls and a narrow opening. Inside of each, a table is in the center, and a wood bench horseshoes the perimeter.

Even though I can't see anyone yet, I know there are others around me. Passing an aisle, I sense movement to my left, which makes me look. A couple is making out feverishly against the books. I slow to a near halt to get a better look at them. I’ve never seen the two before. The same thing is happening in the next aisle. What the hell is going on here?