Beyond Her

I

As the library's closing hour approached, Maia hastily gathered her books, stacking them precariously in her arms. The weight of knowledge pressed against her chest, but she welcomed it eagerly, lost in the worlds contained within the pages.

With a stack of books teetering dangerously, Maia navigated the dimly lit aisles, her attention absorbed in the titles and authors that adorned the spines. Unbeknownst to her, Alexander Huntington lurked nearby, his gaze following her every move with silent intrigue.

As Maia rounded a corner, her foot caught on a loose tile, and she stumbled forward, the tower of books tumbling from her grasp. Papers fluttered to the ground like autumn leaves, and Maia winced as she braced herself for the inevitable crash.

But before the books could hit the floor, a shadowy figure materialized out of thin air, catching them with swift precision. Startled, Maia looked up to find a pale and handsome man standing before her, his eyes alight with an unfamiliar warmth.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice soft and melodic. Maia nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm fine, thank you," she replied, her ebony cheeks flushing with embarrassment. 

Yes, it can happen to black people. - Author

He offered her a reassuring smile as he knelt down to help her gather the fallen books. Together, they worked in silence, the only sound was the rustle of pages and the gentle whisper of Maia's breath.

As they picked up the last of the scattered books, He hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I couldn't help but notice you're carrying quite the load," he said, gesturing to the towering stack in Maia's arms. "Would you like some help carrying them?" 

Maia hesitated, her mind racing with a thousand questions. Who was this mysterious stranger, and why had he appeared out of nowhere to help her? And yet, there was something about him that felt strangely familiar, as if they had known each other in another lifetime.

With a grateful smile, Maia nodded. "I'd appreciate that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

And so, with Alexander by her side, Maia made her way out of the library and into the cool night air, the weight of her burden lightened by the unexpected kindness of a stranger.

The two of them walked in silence for a while, the only sound being the occasional flutter of pages as Maia adjusted her grip on the books. Alexander seemed content to simply walk beside her, his presence strangely comforting despite the mystery that surrounded him.

After a few minutes, Maia couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "Thank you for helping me back there," she said, breaking the silence. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there." 

Alexander smiled gently, his eyes twinkling in the dim light. "It was my pleasure," he replied. "I'm Alexander by the way," he added. 

"I'm Maia," she replied. 

"You seem... different," she said, choosing her words carefully. "I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about you that feels... otherworldly." 

Alexander winced slightly. Could she have noticed his fangs? He made sure to smile with his mouth closed. Perhaps his crimson eye color was peeking through the brown contacts he wore.

"You're not the first person to say that," he admitted. "But I assure you, I'm just a regular guy, trying to make sense of the world like everyone else."

Maia nodded, though she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Alexander that met the eye. Still, she found herself strangely drawn to him.

As they continued walking, Maia noticed a nearby bench illuminated by a soft glow from a nearby streetlamp. "Would you mind if we stopped here for a moment?" she asked Alexander. "I'm waiting for my boyfriend to come pick me up."

Despite Alexander being dead, his heart sank at the mention of Maia's boyfriend, a pang of disappointment gnawing at him. Despite his efforts to conceal it, he couldn't shake the feeling of longing that gripped him at the thought of Maia belonging to another.

"Of course," he replied, forcing a smile as they made their way to the bench. He watched as Maia carefully settled herself among the stacks of books, her eyes scanning the empty street for any sign of her boyfriend's arrival.

Moments later, a black Nissan Supra pulled up beside them, and a young man stepped out, his eyes narrowing suspiciously as he caught sight of Alexander sitting beside Maia.

"Who's this?" he demanded, his deep voice tinged with jealousy as he approached them.

Maia glanced up, her expression one of surprise. "Oh, this is Alexander," she said, gesturing towards him. "He helped me pick up my books after I stumbled in the library."

Omar eyed Alexander warily, his gaze lingering on the pale, handsome stranger beside Maia. "Well, thanks for your help," he said curtly, his tone betraying his unease. "But I'm here to take Maia home, so if you'll excuse us."

With a lingering glance at Alexander, Omar offered her a reassuring smile before guiding her toward the waiting car. As they drove away into the night, Alexander couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that settled over him like a shroud.

What was he trying to do? Follow the girl and connect with her? Why? To become friends? To fall in love? They were from different worlds. Getting more involved in her life, especially knowing she had a boyfriend, seemed unwise. It wasn't unexpected; someone as beautiful as Maia would most likely have a boyfriend. He had followed her for a week since their forest encounter because she fascinated him. But now, this fascination had to stop.

As they drove through the quiet streets, Maia's mind kept drifting back to Alexander, his mysterious presence lingering like an echo in her thoughts. 

Beside her, Omar sensed her distraction, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "You good, Maia?" he asked, his tone tinged with concern.

Maia blinked, tearing her gaze away from the passing scenery. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, forcing a smile. But even as she spoke, her mind continued to wander back to the enigmatic stranger she had encountered in the library.

Her boyfriend glanced at her skeptically, his brow furrowing with worry. "If he hurt you...," he remarked, his voice tinged with uncertainty. Omar had always been fiercely protective of her, his concern bordering on possessiveness at times.

"Calm down, nothing happened," she murmured, her words sounding hollow even to her own ears.

As they pulled up to their apartment building, Maia's boyfriend turned to her, his expression troubled. "Are you sure everything's okay?" he asked, his eyes searching hers for any sign of the truth. He felt threatened by the idea of another male becoming close to Maia, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive at the mere thought of it.

"Baby, everything's good," she assured him. 

He trusted Maia, of course, but the idea of her forming a connection with someone else made his blood boil with a fierce, irrational anger.

Omar's grip tightened on the steering wheel, his mind consumed by thoughts of the pale, enigmatic stranger who had captured Maia's attention. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over him like a dark cloud, his instincts screaming at him to protect what was his at all costs.

"Alright," he nodded. Both of them stepped out of the car and made their way inside, eager for a restful night's sleep. Tomorrow held an important event for Maia: a presentation for her college classmates, a significant portion of her grade resting on its success.