The library was quiet and peaceful. It was the best place for me to get my work done, and it took me half the time, as opposed to the caves, or the café.
The far right side adorned windows with stained-glass designs cascading down them. Beneath them, were small alcoves where students could study. I always sat there when I came in. After I greeted the librarian, Agnetha, I made my way over, and took out my laptop. Agnetha, the sea witch librarian, made sure it stayed quiet. I appreciated that.
When I opened the outdated Lenovo, I had an email from Professor Xiel, whose class I skipped the day before. I sent my reply, and started on the first paper I had to finish. The library brought me a certain comfort. Students didn't come up to one another, they made their own little walls around them so that they could be as productive as possible. It gave me relief from all of the parties I went to, and helped me recharge my social battery.
The hours went by, and soon enough, I peered out of the gorgeous window, and saw that the sun had set. The library would be closing soon, and I needed to get some sleep.
I gathered my books in my hands and closed my laptop, shoving all of it in my backpack. When I turned around, I could swear I saw the messy mop of blonde hair in my peripheral vision, but I shook my head. It was probably just the shadows playing a trick on my eyes.
I had a wonderful few hours without him slipping into my mind, and I wasn't going to let it happen now. I threw my bag over my shoulder and exited the library.
Ainsley would be going out with her friends tonight, and I didn't really have the motivation for conversation, so I wandered over to the nearest hiking path.
It would lead me to one of the landmarks I made for the caves eventually, and I didn't mind a long walk at this time. The sky was a deep shade of purple, with pink streaks outlining where the sun had previously set for the night.
There was a gentle breeze in the air and it hugged my body softly, so I wrapped my arms around myself, and embraced it.
The elements were my friend in the truest form of the word. They knew me more than I knew myself, and sometimes I wondered if they were even tied to my soul. They listened to me when I spoke, and they comforted me when I was broken. They were the only thing that had scratched the surface of my being, and they were one of the few things that would remain a constant in my life.
The path was darker than normal, but eventually I was able to spot one of the markers the larger cave system in the forest. It was a large pile of rocks in the shape of a toppled pyramid. I didn't want to make it too obvious, but obvious enough that I'd be able to point it out in a hurry. The cave was hidden behind an intricate pattern of vines. They gave the perfect cover for the night, and I slept a little better here because of it.
Oh, how I loved this cave. I even had a few personal touches in here, like a makeshift bed of daisies, and wildflowers. All inconspicuous enough, there were grass patches on the inside. A small oil lamp was kept hidden behind a rock in the back of the cave. I picked it up and brought it over to the bed. I reached into my backpack and grabbed my matches, lighting the lamp. It flickered, and illuminated the space around me.
It was in these moments that I liked to write in my journal. After the stress of the past few days, I needed to get my bundle of emotions untangled, and writing was the best way for me to do that.I was about halfway through writing my entry when I heard a few twigs crack outside of the cave.
My head snapped up, and I put my journal down, lifting the lamp off the bed with me. I heard a few more twigs break as I made my way towards the entrance of the cave. I peered out of the vines a tad, trying to focus my vision in the dark.
No one should be out here at this time, and fear crept into my mind when I realized that.I just gave away my position like the idiot I was. The pounding of my heart flooded my ears, and I switched the lamp off, and to my left hand.
With my right I summoned a large stick, willing thorns to grow at the end. I used it to separate the vines from one another and came face to face with the devil himself. Well, the Cupid himself.
"What are you doing here Coop?!" I whisper-yelled to him, fury covering every inch of my face.
He looked like a deer caught in the headlights. As he should. Why was he even out here? I heard him stumble over his words, scratching the back of his neck, before his eyes narrowed at me. They flashed pink and glowed in the darkness of the cave. His arms extended out to his sides, and smacked them against his thighs.
"What am I doing? What in the fuck are you doing here Oakley?" His furious expression made my insides churn.
I'd seen Coop mad before, but I'd never seen him mad at me. I felt like a small child, reprimanded by their parent. My feet stumbled back as I held my arms out in defense, my body shrinking into itself.
"How did you even know I was here Coop? Don't turn this around on me now, c'mon." I finally spoke, my anger taking over once again.
I folded my arms across my chest, and gave him a pointed look. This cave was far off the hiking path, and it was mostly hidden from the naked eye, so at night it should have been impossible to find unless I was followed.
My insides boiled with rage when he only shook his head, glaring at me even harder. Daggers would dull at the words he spoke.
"It's dangerous out here Oakley. You know the kind of shit that happens here. I'm taking you back to your dorm. Now."
His hands flew into the air, heavy boots inching closer. My brows furrowed, surely he wouldn't...
Coop inched further, whipping his arm out, and I backed into the cave, letting the vines separate us once more. I was hoping that he would get the message that I didn't want to be bothered, but I knew he would follow me into the cave.
He had to bend down a little to adjust to the size of the cave, but he threw the vines to the side haphazardly, and stomped over to me.
"Get back here, Oakley. I mean it-" His heated glare landed on my makeshift flower bed, and he paused.
"Do...do you sleep here Oakley?" His dumbfounded expression made my heart leap into my throat.
I mean it was kind of obvious at that point, and lying wasn't really going to get us anywhere. My emotions were erupting inside of me, zapping me into autopilot.
"Yeah, okay, I do. So please, if you would, I'd like to sleep." I made sure to lace my voice with as much venom as possible.
This was at the top of my list of things I didn't want to have happen, and I wanted very much for this moment to be a bad dream. It wasn't though, and after smacking my face a few times to ensure that, I looked over to the frustrated demigod.
"No, Oakley, this isn't a damn dream, god knows I want it to be, too. How the hell haven't you been caught yet?" He flailed his arms around once more before advancing towards me, attempting to grab my arm.
When I flinched back outstretching the stick in my hand, he grabbed the end, crushing the thorns with ease. Coop threw my weapon on the ground and advanced toward me again. This time, he caught my arm, and started to drag me out of the cave.
"Coop! Hey! Let me go, Coop!" I grabbed at his arm in an attempt to throw it off of me, but he only held on tighter and pulled me down and onto the hiking path.
We passed my marker on the way, and I grimaced.
"No, I'm taking you back to your dorm, and I'll stay there all night until you fall asleep. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not." I couldn't sleep there, not tonight, I couldn't, so I did what any logical nymph would. I panicked, of course.