It Started With A Book

Chapter 3

Did you forget to send her a card or something?

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"Is she alive?"

Brin blinked to find two blurry figures standing over her. Or were they standing beside her?

Hazy dots, blotches of blue, black, and one harsh green from Jeff's shirt that she could see even in her disoriented state, decorated the main floor of the library.

"She's coming to," she recognized Jeff's voice, who was also the person who helped her to her feet.

Brin stumbled as she was brought to a chair near a table.

"Brin? Are you alright?" Jeff crouched in front of her, one arm resting on the table top, knees bent.

"I'm fine. Where's Elliott? We cannot let him find out abo-- Oh hey Elliott!" she stopped, seeing a pair of unfamiliar black sneakers walk across the floor and stop in front of her.

She followed the shoes, which soon transformed into a face. An unimpressed face. A face that made her wish she was still unconscious.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Not long. I grabbed a juice," he gestured to the now empty clear cup in his fingers.

"While I was unconscious?"

"Will you relax? Geez Brin," his fingers brushed through his hair. "I had stepped out when you were taking too long in the back. No harm done."

"As fun as this conversation is," Jeff didn't hide his exaggerated snore, "what matters is you're okay Brin. Your friend Elliott was worried."

Two things happened.

"We're not--"

"You were worried?" Brin asked.

"Well," Jeff stood up, whistling towards the front door rotating the open sign to closed, "this is awkward."

"Tell me about it," she muttered.

"Brin, before I forget, take the rest of the day off," Jeff walked behind the counter. "I can't have you faint on me again."

"But don't you have a lot of stuff to get done today?"

A dusty bookshelf caught her eye and so did the gum stuck to her shoe.

"I can handle it," he beamed.

"Really because last time I could hear the firetruck sirens from my bedroom window."

"One time!"

"Alright," she put her hands out. "You don't have to ask me twice. I'm going."

"Brin," Elliott stopped her as she slung her bag across her shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"My book?"

"About that..."

"What is it? You have it, don't you?"

"I don't have it in a spacial sense," she shrugged, the heat of his gaze burning her. "But I have it in theory."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I know where it is--"

"You lost it?"

"Whew. For a second there, I thought you were really slow," she patted his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look.

"This is serious Brin! My aunt is going to kill me."

"What? Did you forget to send her a card or something?"

"Brin," Jeff warned.

"Fine. Why is she going to kill you?" she sighed, wishing she stayed home.

"The book that you stole plus lost was  her advanced copy," he stressfully ran a hand through his hair. "She's getting ready to launch her book any day now. This is bad, very bad."

"But like doesn't she have a bunch more?"

"That's not the point. If the book falls into the wrong hands, they could take it as their own. They could publish it, and then all the hard work my aunt put in would be for nothing. Do you know what that's like?"

If the unpublished books on her phone in the orange app were any indication, she related to this very much. The thought of someone stealing her own ideas aside from fear, was part of the reason she didn't post them for the world to see.

"You've also put my relationship with her in jeopardy."

"Me? What did I do?"

"She trusted me with that copy. Didn't you realize it didn't have a title on the cover?"

"I thought it was one of those don't judge a book by its cover things. Those bookstores are really popular nowadays."

"My goodness, Brin."

She ignored his hysterics, and continued.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but why did she trust you?"

"Because books are life. I devour them in an instant. Why do you think I'm here all the time?"

"Correction Elliott. Books are my life."

"So you do get it Brin."

"Hence why I'm working at Widgets, the best library in the town," she ran her hands against her Widgets apron.

"Aren't you going to get your book? It's almost 11." Jeff re-inserted himself into the conversation.

"Jeff, don't you have some dusting to do?" Brin tapped her shoes against the hard floor.

"I said I'd take care of it, I didn't say when."

"Bye Jeff."

"You know I'm your boss, right?" he folded his arms, yet the grin on his face stated otherwise.

"And that is my cue to leave. I'll see you tomorrow... boss."

"You're lucky you're a good employee."

The sound of chuckling filled the room, and she turned around after pushing the door open to see Jeff writing on a piece of paper.

"Elmsville," Jeff replied.

"But that's in a whole different town! It'll take me five days to get there!"

"Take the freeway. It's faster. And if it helps, I'll call them to let them know you're coming. Good luck," Jeff handed Elliott the paper.

"Why do I feel like you're sending me on a wild goose chase?"

"I'm not," he placed his hands on Elliott's shoulder. "Trust me. Brin does."

She didn't hide the grin plastered on her face and headed to the parking lot.