Smoke and Wishes (Best Wishes #1)(2)
"Well, that was certainly impressive," a warm, baritone voice declared. The words were accompanied by a small clap. Startled at the sudden sound, I whipped around finally coming out of my stupor. My eyes landed on a tall, muscular man dressed in a tight, grey, short-sleeved shirt, dark wash jeans, and a black leather belt that held a small matching pouch. At least I didn't fall off the ladder like some cliché.
He was leaning against the corner of the bookshelf behind me, a smirk curled on his honeyed face as he crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes sparked dangerously as he watched me. A shiver crept down my spine, consumed by the intense heat that blazed in his stunning lavender-violet eyes.
"I haven't seen that power in a long time. What did you say your supe type was, princess?" He questioned with a single raised eyebrow. Thick, inky black hair shone under the library’s overhead lighting. Pushing off the shelf, he strode over to the base of the ladder, black boots thudding lightly. His movements were controlled yet laid back, confidence radiated in each step as he made his way over. I felt like small prey in the midst of a predator and steeled myself against his penetrating gaze.
"I didn't," which he very well knows since I've never met him before in my life. I shifted back until I was centered on the ladder before climbing down. "Who are you exactly?" I ask as I reach the floor, arching a brow to mimic his previous facial expression. I edged around him towards the cart. Making sure to leave enough space between us, I didn't want to accidentally brush against his left arm. His eyes glowed brighter as I moved around him as if I had amused him in some way. The violet streaking with amethyst and lavender watching me intently. Is it hot in here? God, this guy is yummy. Before he could answer, Muriel popped around the corner. Her eyes lit up when they landed on my strange companion.
"Ah, Mr. Nguyen! Such a pleasant surprise to see you back on campus. How was your summer term? You and those boys keeping out of trouble I hope," chuckling she turned to me. “Darling, your shift is over. Don't worry about the rest of these, you head out and get ready for tomorrow." She shooed me away before I could protest or be questioned anymore by ‘Mr. Nguyen’.
I weaved my way through the stacks towards the opposite corner of the library. Before pushing open the door labeled ‘Employees Only’, I glanced back towards the reference section. Mr. Nguyen and the cutie from the leather chair were waving at Muriel before making their way towards the front of the building. Of course they know each other, I rolled my eyes and made my way into the back.
The hall was lit by several sconces lining the walls, three closed doors sat between the lights. One was a supply closet, and one opened towards a service staircase to the basement where all the overstock and rare items were kept. I unlocked the third door on the wall opposite of the other two, stepped in, and turned on the light. My small and temporary, before Muriel offered it up permanently, bedroom and bathroom had initially been for the head librarian. At least they were before a remodel a few years ago added on an additional set of rooms behind the main office.
The room was on the smaller side, but not cramped. A queen sized bed was set on the right wall with a set of small wooden nightstands on either side of the wooden headboard. A cushioned bench seat sat under the window on the far wall. The pale olive walls didn't hold many personal items except a set of string lights above my bed and a plum mandala tapestry above my small dresser. The cream carpet was soft under my feet after I slipped my black flats off and dropped my yellow cardigan on the bed. I turned on my small speaker after plugging in my phone, Shawn Mendes' “In My Blood” began playing softly. I turned it up a bit before walking through the door to my bathroom, intent on packing everything I’d need for the move tomorrow.
My gaze drifted towards the mirror as I pulled out my most used toiletries. Sapphire eyes stared back at me, dull and tired, emphasizing the dark circles under them that I could never seem to get rid of. My blonde hair was pulled up in a messy bun haphazardly thrown on the crown of my head, the light brown roots dark against my pale skin. A glint reflected in the mirror, bringing my attention to the gold chain around my neck. The coin pendant resting securely between my breasts, hidden from view under my top. My thin frame had filled in since the beginning of the summer, no longer looking like the poster child of poor eating habits.
Making a mental note to fix up my nails, I noticed the navy blue polish had started to chip away. I took my time in packing my small suitcase making sure I had the essentials. Deciding to leave the majority of my belongings here, I only filled half of it. After everything was set near the door to my room, I fell into another night of restless sleep.
August 24th
Friday Morning
Lucienne
"Lucie," his low voice called out cutting through the ringing in my ears, "where are you going baby girl?" In a haze, I continued moving away from the voice as fast as my weakened legs could carry me. My breathing grew ragged, something dripped into my vision causing me to stumble. I rubbed the slick liquid away from my eyes with trembling fingers. Before I could take another step with my cleared vision, I felt a smooth hand grip my upper arm…
I shot up in bed, the pounding from my heart radiating in my head. The tightness in my chest slowly eased the longer I took meditative breaths. Once I could feel my pulse slowing to a reasonable pace, I crawled out from the burrow of blankets I somehow made during my fitful sleep. The clock glowed 6:39 AM, standing out in the pale morning light filtering through the window.