Page 22 of How We Began

Shifting into a crawling position, I inched my way over so I could peer around the corner of the stacks.

Right there was my confirmation, sitting at one of the study desks, legs propped on the table top, looking up through his long lashes at Barbie Girl who was leading a conversation that involved her leaning over him, plump breasts dangling in his face.

What a Shit!

Weren’t we on a date two days ago? Didn’t we have some profound make or break conversation last night where we discussed feelings and then he nearly kissed me into unconsciousness?

Yes, we did. So why was he doing a secret squirrel in the library surrounded by girls? Especially that one.

This is me though, I can’t control myself. The slightest knock and I curl up like a woodlouse and wait for someone to tread on me. If I were Meredith, I’d have stomped over there, sidled my way onto his lap and kissed him, making him mine for everyone to see. But I’m not Meredith, some flame haired vixen. Nowhere even close.

So I did the Lilah McCannon special… I ran away.

Except I couldn’t.

I turned myself around and started to crawl back in the opposite direction. By this point my legs were starting to get a sensation back, the sensation just happened to be extreme pins and needles.

To my horror, I could hear Ben and his adoring fans getting up to leave.

With fingers desperately grabbing at the carpet, I scooted myself as quick as possible to the end of the bookshelf, hoping they’d pass by without glancing down.

I’d just finished my high-speed, painful claw and crawl, when a pair of navy-blue scuffed Converse stepped out in front of me.

“What on earth are you doing?” he asked. Never have I wanted a carpet to lift itself and wrap me up like in some Carry On movie so much.

“Nothing.”

“Really?”

“I’m looking for books,” I explained, trying to make it sound like it was perfectly normal to be crawling around on the library floor.

“Are you stuck, Lilah?”

“Nope.”

He stood, hands on slim hips, waiting for me to get up, but it wasn’t happening. My right leg was still dead from mid-thigh down.

An uncomfortable minute passed while he watched me with a growing smirk. Eventually, with a sigh of exasperation, he leant down and hiked me up under the armpits like a toddler, positioning me back on my feet.

I tried not to let the pain show on my face, failing miserably as I gave in and did the pins and needles dance, the one where you hop from foot to foot.

“You’re completely mental, you know that?” he asked, arms folded over his chest watching me do my little jig.

“Maybe you should stay away.”

“I can’t. I’m addicted to your brand of crazy.”

“Sounds dangerous.”

“It is.”

Grabbing my hand, he wheeled me back in and kissed me on the top floor of the library for everyone to see.

Okay, not that many people. It was the history floor after all.

9th October

Okay, I am officially hiding in my room and I will be until the end of term. Meredith hammered on my door for about five minutes until I shouted at her to go away.