Twenty-three
“I guess, it’s a good thing I like libraries.”
“I don’t.”
“Oh, come on. What about the book I gave you? The Catcher in the Rye ?”
“Just because I like one book—”
“Ha! I knew you liked it!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Seriously, though, what’d you think of it?”
“It was good. Sad…but good. Kinda hit me without any warning, ya know?”
“Yeah. I do know.”
Elliot propped open the door to the main entrance of the Summerville Library, waving me inside. A rush of cool air greeted me, offering safe haven from the torturous sun that was scalding my skin. A bead of sweat traced its way down the back of Elliot’s neck, causing me to exhale shakily.
“You ready to meet a bunch of old ladies in their sixties who knit sweaters and read for sport?”
“Actually, they’re only in their thirties and only one of them likes to knit.”
“Wait. How do you know that?”
As we stepped inside, I let out a soft chuckle at the way Elliot’s face lit up in awe.
Sunlight poured through the glass panes lining the walls, casting a warm glow over the rows of rustic bookshelves that filled the space.
String lights draped from the wooden rafters, adding to the building’s cozy, old-world charm.
Soft, melodic music drifted through the air, blending with the faint murmur of hushed conversations.
To the side, a small adjoining room housed a cluster of computers, but the main area was serene—everyone lost in their own literary worlds.
Despite the stillness, the space felt vibrant and full of life.
Elliot’s lips parted slightly as he drew in a slow breath.
My eyes fluttered shut for a moment, a smile curving across my face.
I could barely remember the last time I had stepped foot in the Summerville Library, but it had been too long.
My plan to win Prom Queen had consumed most of my life, limiting my spare time.
If only I had realized sooner that I didn’t have to choose between what made me happy and my social status.
“This place is amazing.”
“I know.”
“How do you know?”
“I used to come here a lot after school. I got to know some of the ladies who work here.”
“You read everything in here yet?”
“Almost,” I teased.
“Hey, Clarke,” Elliot spoke as he studied our surroundings. “I think I like libraries.”
I laughed as we headed over to the front desk to start volunteering. The routine was simple—check out books by scanning the barcode on the back cover, and do the same to check them back in.
Elliot’s job was to return the books I processed while rolling a trolley between the aisles as he carefully placed each one back in its proper spot.
And get this —his favorite librarian turned out to be the oldest of the bunch, Jackie, who was also the knitting enthusiast he unknowingly mocked earlier. Ironic, right?
Still, the best part was having an excuse to hang out with Elliot every week, again.
Not that we really needed one—we saw each other almost every day.
And when we didn’t, I wished we had. For the next two Fridays at four o’clock, we met at the library and slipped into another world.
That was the magic of books—their ability to let us escape.
So, when four o’clock rolled around for the third Friday, I could hardly wait to vanish into our own little fairytale, where reality blurred at the edges and the only thing that existed was us.
That was until Elliot texted me saying he pushed our volunteering session back by four hours.
Four hours .
I could do that.
Spoiler alert —I couldn’t.
It was the longest four hours of my life. I tried to read, but I couldn’t stop my mind from buzzing as my thoughts drifted from one topic to another. Each sentence I read felt like a puzzle, forcing me to go over it multiple times before the meaning finally sank in.
Frustrated, I gave up and mindlessly doom-scrolled through Instagram instead.
My fingers went numb from swiping before I finally landed on a bizarre post—some guy promoting LED signs in response to a clearly Caucasian girl insisting she was African American.
There was absolutely no connection between the two—none at all. But it was ridiculously funny.
On another one of his posts, he responds to a guy teaching people what to do if a girl wants to sleep with you by saying “ Not interested ,” and then once again goes on to promote LED signs.
I cackled at the screen. By this point, his videos were all over my ‘For You’ page .
One rabbit hole later, I ended up following his account, @ledsinage_lcsign.
Unironically, it was the best content I’d come across in a while.
At 7:45 p.m., my alarm went off, reminding me it was time to head out.
I grabbed my keys, hopped in my car, and made the short drive to the library, excited to show Elliot some of the videos I found.
I knew he’d get a kick out of them. When I pulled into the parking lot, it was eerily quiet.
The moon had replaced the sun, illuminating the sky while leaving the streets blanketed in darkness.
A few lampposts bathed the pavement in a soft glow as I stepped out of the car and made my way to the library.
At eight o’clock, was the library even open?
I pressed my forehead against the door, peering through the glass, but it looked even darker inside than it did outside. The fuck? I tried the handle, and to my surprise, it was unlocked. I stepped in and called out for Elliot.
“Hello? Anyone in here?”
As I clutched my purse, I began to think I should’ve brought a knife or some mace at the very least. I slowly walked inside, a flicker of light catching my eye. A golden haze danced across the back wall, hidden by a row of bookshelves.
Where was everyone?
A dull clunk made me jump as a shadow flashed in my peripheral. I held up my purse, hurling it in the direction of the movement.
“Ow!” Elliot’s voice rang out. “Clarke, what the fuck?”
As he stepped closer, his face slowly came into focus.
“Me, ‘ what the fuck? ’ No—you, ‘ what the fuck! ’” I said with a huff. “Dude, were you trying to give me a heart attack?”
He laughed. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You’re lucky you’re cute.”
“You’re lucky you’re cuter,” he teased with a grin, wrapping his arms around me. After a moment, he pulled back, lifting his eyebrows. “So…I scare you, and you throw your purse at me?”
“It’s all I had!”
“Mmhmm. Very resourceful,” he quipped with a smirk, slipping my bag into my fingers. “Anyway, follow me. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Placing his hand on the small of my back, he led me to the back of the library. I could feel the vibration of my heart as we neared the flickering glow in the distance.
“It’s not another motorcycle, is it?” I joked. “Or a limo this time? Or maybe an airpl—”
Holy shit.
My eyes widened as I took in the scene before me.
The dim glow of battery-operated candles spread across the floor, their soft light shimmering against a sea of scattered rose petals.
The air carried the delicate scent of cherry blossoms, its sweetness wrapping around me.
But it was the carefully arranged books that really caught my attention.
Each one was placed intentionally, their spines forming individual letters.
As I stepped closer, the message became clear— PROM ?
My breath hitched, my heart racing. Elliot circled to stand in front of me, his eyes shining.
I furrowed my brows, staring at him in awe.
“Elliot…wha—”
“I know this is probably stupid, and it’s probably a given since we’re dating, but…Clarke, will you go to Prom with me?”
I grinned wildly. “Looks like you picked up on something from those rom-coms you watch with your mom.”
A soft smirk grazed his lips. “Is that a yes?”
“It’s a hell yes.”
I rushed toward him, wrapping my arms around him as he buried his face in the curve of my neck.
His arms squeezed my waist gently, anchoring me against him.
My eyes drifted shut.
With Elliot, I felt safe. I felt alive .
The way my heart raced at his touch, the way his lips sent shivers down my spine, the way I craved the warmth of his hand in mine, the way his absence left a dull ache in my chest—it was almost ridiculous how deeply I had fallen for him.
But if he were a chocolate bar, I’d devour every last bite until I was drowning in sweetness.
I opened my eyes, my gaze drifting down to the books still sprawled across the floor. It was magical.
“How did you do all this?”
“I asked that librarian, Jackie. I told her I wanted to ask my book-obsessed girlfriend to Prom a few weeks ago and asked if they could close a few hours early. She said no at first, but when I mentioned your name, she did a complete one-eighty.”
“Really?”
“Yep.” He smacked his lips. “Why didn’t you tell me your parents donate money every year to keep the library open?”
“It’s not the kinda thing people usually care about.”
“Well, I think it’s amazing.”
“Yeah.” I nodded in agreement. “But this…what you did for me…it’s pretty fucking amazing too.”
“Damn, this place looks like a white girl’s paradise,” Kendra said with a smirk.
Andrew scowled. “It’s too happy.”
“I can hear the color yellow,” Dani muttered with a pained expression.
I exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking my head at their reactions.
The four of us couldn’t be more different, yet here we all were.
The Honeycomb Café buzzed with energy as customers bustled in and out, coffee cups clutched in their hands.
Soft jazz floated through the air, the saxophone’s smooth notes humming in my ears.
The rich aroma of dark roast coffee was so strong I could almost taste it.
Andrew tapped his fingers against the table, impatience written all over him, while Dani eyed the place with clear skepticism.
Only Kendra seemed even mildly interested, a small smile playing on her lips as she studied the oversized honey bee painting behind the counter.
“You guys are all idiots,” I said with a flick of my eyes.
“Speaking of idiots, where’s that boyfriend of yours?”
“Yeah, where is dear-old Ellie?”
My gaze darted to the door. Good question.
Where was Elliot?
The sharp chime of a bell echoed through the café. Right on cue, Elliot strolled in, fashionably late as always. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it out from his face as he strode toward us.
“There he is,” I mumbled, a smile tugging at my lips. “The Abercrombie and Fitch model in all his glory.”
“Sorry, I’m late. Did you start or…?”
“Not yet.”
“Cool.” He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before sliding into the chair beside me.
With five of us, the table suddenly felt much smaller. I glanced around, taking in each familiar face, a quiet sense of contentment settling over me. Letting out a small breath, I reached down and picked up the paperback from the floor.
“So, I know you guys are probably wondering why I asked you to come here.”
“It wasn’t because you enjoy our company?” Dani teased.
Andrew jutted his chin upward. “You have a thing for honey bees?”
I shot them a hard stare. “It’s because I feel like I’ve been hiding who I am from you guys.
You have all seen parts of me, different pieces, but I always kept certain things hidden.
So, anyway, I just wanted to share a side of myself you guys never got to see.
” I shoved my hand inside the paper bag.
It crinkled as I pulled out three books.
“I got you each a book. Something that reminds me of you, but also shares a part of me.”
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas for Kendra. Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky for Andrew. You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson for Dani.
“Blame Elliot if you think this is lame. It was his idea to do this.”
He shrugged. “She gave me a book and I liked it, so I convinced her to give you guys one too. Seemed like a good idea to me. Oh—and get this—reading isn’t all that bad.”
They each thumbed through their books, skimming the pages. I pressed my lips together, trying to read their reactions as I waited anxiously. My leg bounced slightly, betraying my nerves. Elliot’s hand settled on my thigh, his gentle touch stilling me.
Dani was the first to speak, her voice easing my anticipation. “Nah, this is cool.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Clarke,” Kendra said with a nod.
“Very nerdy of you,” Andrew teased, flashing a lopsided grin. “I like it.”
I exhaled through my nose, breathing softly. For the last four years, I had been terrified of exposing who I was to everyone in fear of tarnishing my reputation, but this moment proved that I didn’t need to be scared anymore. Relief flooded my system.
Despite everything I had put Andrew and Dani through, they were still by my side.
And even after my falling out with Kendra, she showed me that people make mistakes and that second chances are possible.
The three of them had even tried to protect me after Meredith displayed that page from my journal.
They had my back. Just like a real friend should .
And not once did they question my relationship with Elliot.
But why? Weren’t they at least a little skeptical?
“How come you guys never asked?”
Dani knit her brows together. “Asked what?”
“About me and Elliot. If our relationship was fake.”
“‘Cause.” She shrugged. “It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that you two have been into each other forever.”
Andrew threw one arm over the other, shooting a quick glance at Dani. “ Pfft . Eyes have nothing to do with it. Even blind people can see that they love each other.”
“Plus, you guys argue like an old married couple,” Kendra added.
Elliot let out a small chuckle, smacking his lips. “Alright, then.”
“Good to know it was painfully obvious to everyone except us,” I muttered.
Elliot reached for my teal mug, grasping the handle as he stole a sip of my coffee before mumbling, “Speak for yourself.”
“Yeah,” Andrew drawled out. “So, again …about that whole ‘smart’ thing, you sure about that?”
I kicked his leg under the table, causing his knee to knock against the underside with a thud as he let out a yelp. The group broke out into a fit of laughter along with the occasional snort escaping my lips as we shrugged off curious glances thrown our way from the people at nearby tables.