In the Library_(2)

I had been in the public library for hours pouring over books for a report I was doing on civil rights for my history class. I was taking the gay rights angle after a suggestion of a friend. I knew it would be edgy enough and something not done in my moderately conservative mid-western College. I had been skimming through book after book of gay and lesbian activists with out getting the meaty substance I wanted and needed for the report. I heard call from the librarian downstairs that the library was going to be closing down for the night. Following this announcement about half of the lights turned off. I looked around startled but didn’t see anyone else in the building, was it nine o’clock already?
Stretching, I looked through my books and grabbed the ones I thought might help dumping the rest in the waiting trolley. I always thought the trolleys were funny things, instead of risking disarrangement and having people put books away for themselves, we were supposed to throw our unwanted books there and some one would clean up after us. Such is America and Americans. Armed with my nine or ten books, I made my way down stairs to the check out desk.
Once downstairs, I didn’t see anyone, not even a librarian. All but two lights were out and I was worried that I had been locked in. It was the start of a three-day weekend and that would be a very bad thing. The building was old and didn’t have any pay phones that I knew of. The only phone that I did know of was the one in the office, which was now dark and locked.
I set my books down on the check out desk and worriedly scanned the floor for some one. I could just leave my books and find and exit. There had to be one somewhere. But I needed the books, the report was due Tuesday. I would never just take them with out checking them out. I wouldn’t be able to do the report with out guilt. I spied a girl my age sorting through magazines on the periodical shelf. I wandered over to her and stood behind her, but she didn’t seem to hear me walk up so I tapped her on the shoulder.
“Ahhhh!” She screamed and whirled around drooping the newspaper she was refolding. I stared at me clutching her chest. “Yes?” She asked trying to sound casual but breathing heavily.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” I said with a small smile that was twitching its way into a big one. “I just need to check out those books for a report.” Her still wide eyes followed my pointing finger to the desk. She nodded silently and started to walk toward the desk. As I followed her, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was. She had longish curly chestnut brown hair, and almond shaped brown eyes. Her build was a cross of an opera singer and a milkmaid. Some muscle and some softness. The type of women I find very striking. She also wasn’t wearing much make-up, just a touch of lipstick and perhaps mascara. About the same amount that I wore when I was at work or just wanted to look professional.
We got to the desk and she begin going through the books and stamping them. I noticed her raise an eyebrow at the selection and sneak a glance at me. “I’m doing a report on gay civil rights.” I explained not wanting to give the wrong impression.
She nodded and picked a book reading the back. “This author is really good, are you using anything else by her?” She asked.
“No, and I think that’s the only book that’ll help me too.” I answered a little dismayed.
“I know we have at least a few more books by her. Do you want to look for some more? I can help you look.” She said stamping the last book.
“OK, but only if you don’t mind staying a bit late. You must have been here all day already.” I helped her to stack the rest of the books.
“No, I come in the last hour of the day so I can sort through the books and check in the ones in the drop. I’m not really a librarian, just an assistant. The longer I stay the more I get…” She stopped suddenly when our hands collided grabbing for the last book. The touch lingered and she smiled at me a very sly smile.
“Um…OK, where abouts would the other books be located?” I asked trying to distract her and very possibly, myself from her eyes.