UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1)(21)

“See you guys later!” Brody ordered the crowd. Unbelievably, the group of students left until it was just the two of them.

“How do you get used to it?” Mina asked.

“I’ve dealt with it all my life, so I learn to tune it out.” Brody looked sad until he turned to Mina and his face lit up with delight. “You ready?” he asked.

“For what?” Mina looked around confused.

“To go home.”

“Of course,” she answered, reaching behind him to open her locker. She grabbed her backpack and was embarrassed by its pinned up pathetic state. Dropping it in her hand she tried to move away from him, but he snatched the backpack and hoisted it on his shoulder.

“Hey give that back! I can carry my own backpack,” she argued putting her hands on her hips.

“I know, but this way I guarantee that you will follow me and not run away.”

“Don’t count on it,” Mina grumbled stopping in the hallway, refusing to budge. When she saw that Brody just kept walking and finally turned the corner with her backpack still in hand, she had no choice but to follow meekly behind him anyway.

Once she caught up to him, Brody turned around walking backwards. “See, I know you.”

“No you don’t. You just met me,” Mina countered.

“But I would like to get to know you,” Brody teased. “If you would let me.”

Brody walked them out to his car, and once again he opened the door for her. Once Mina was safely inside with her seatbelt buckled, Brody started the car.

“Where to?”

“I thought you knew everything about me already. So you should know where I live,” she challenged.

“Uh, not really. My father’s friend had problems pinpointing the exact address he only knew the area. Why is that?” he asked. “Are you hiding from the mob or something?”

“Or something,” Mina answered back. “Can you take me to the library?”

“Sure.” Brody turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot and jumped onto the interstate. A few exits later, they pulled into the parking lot of the town’s small white brick library.

Mina jumped out as soon as the car pulled to a stop in the almost nonexistent parking spaces. “Thanks.” She grabbed her backpack and shut the car door. Brody’s door opened and he shut his door after her. “You don’t have to stay. I’m going to be here for a while.”

“I’ll wait for you. You are even farther away from home than before; I’m not letting you walk home alone.”

“I can call for a ride. My mom will be home soon,” Mina spoke quickly. She wasn’t comfortable with Brody helping her research her family history.

Brody looked at her. “Mina you are not getting rid of me that easily. I’m already here, let me help you.”

“I don’t need help.”

“We’ll see,” Brody chuckled and followed her up the steps through the glass doors.

Mina loved the smell of libraries, loved the smell of old books and the soft hum of the lights. She could literally spend the rest of her life here easily. It was why she was so out of tune with society. She didn’t watch a lot of TV, and she spent more time reading than socializing, except for Nan. Her friend was her one lifeline and the reason Mina wasn’t a hermit.

Mina walked past Mrs. Toole, the head librarian, stopping only long enough to wave and then headed to the reference section. Scanning the numbers and stopping at 398.2, Mina began pulling out various collections of tales and individual stories.

“What’s with the fairy tales?” he asked taking the books from Mina to stack them against his chest.

“Homework,” Mina replied distractedly.

“What classes are you taking that you get to read kids' books? Maybe I should take it.”

Mina grinned. “It’s for a project at home, not school.” Brody wisely kept his mouth shut. When Mina had pulled most of the books down, Brody carried them to an empty table in the back of the library.

Sitting down, Mina grabbed a book and began searching for clues, while Brody stretched out his lanky legs and picked up a book as well and started reading. Mina found it difficult to do any reliable searching with Brody sitting feet from her, and he didn’t look uncomfortable at all. She would have thought that he would be antsy and dying to get out of the library.

Brody’s blonde hair fell over his eyes as he turned the page and continued reading; he seemed content, at peace. His eyes met hers and she blushed in embarrassment, she had been staring at him. After two hours Mina was hungry and tired. She slammed the book closed in frustration. Brody had barely moved, but looked up at her with a worried look.

“Come on, let’s get you something to eat.” He took the book from her hand and laid it on the table.

“No, I’m fine…really.” Mina’s heart started to beat faster with worry. If she went to get food with Brody, that would be too close to a real date.

“I’m hungry; I didn’t eat much at lunch today.” The hidden meaning behind those words made Mina quit protesting. Heat rose up the back of her neck when she recalled that he dumped his lunch in the garbage.

They left the library and Brody drove toward a small 60’s drive-in and ordered food for them both at the speaker box.