Black & Grey

I walked into the library, axe in hand. It was mostly empty. I walk right over to the horror section and pulled out one of my favorite Stephen King books. It was the only one I didn't own. I sat down at a table and began reading from the beginning. I got about 20 pages in when I realized I wasn't really reading, I was staring a girl across the room. Her hand was wrapped up and white-blonde hair was in a ponytail. I felt the need to walk over there, pull out her ponytail and take the glasses off. She was a pretty girl. I sat there for what felt like hours, trying to build up the courage to talk to her. I stood up, walked to a table near her. A little voice in the back of my head said,  "You're never gonna get with her. Why should you try?" I sat down at the table next to her and tried to keep reading. I kept stealing glances at her and her hand.

Her eyes were lined with black eyeliner. She looked exhausted. I was a bit surprised at her question. No one usually wanted to talk to me. "Oh, I, I, uh, no. Sorry to bother you." I looked back down at my book and tried to continue reading to no avail. I sighed, knowing I would have to talk to her somehow. The little voice was back. "Stop trying. She's way out of your league." I started to run my fingers through my hair like I do when I'm stressed. I bit the inside of my lip and all of the nervous habits that I had avoided for so long just came flooding back. I grit my teeth together, bit my nails, everything. I mentally face-palmed. Just talk to her Jake. I opened my mouth to speak, then quickly closed it again. I couldn't risk being humiliated in front of a girl.

I shrugged, then smiled. "Oh, ok. So, what's your name? I like to start with a good introduction." I blinked expectantly a couple times, then came to a realization. "I'm, I'm sorry, I'm Jake." I looked at her again, and lifted my hand slightly, subconsciously wanting to take off her glasses. I noticed what I was doing. I shook my head and put my hand back down. I stuck a random piece of paper in my book, and turned to face her again. I gave her my awkward half smile like she gave me.

She moved closer to me. I smiled at her, then noticed her wince at her injury. "Well, Jadyn, I'm doing fine, how are you?" I noticed a lot of things about her. At first her more obvious features, like her hair, her eyes and of course her hand. Then I started to notices the little things. The way she walked, her German accent. I noticed the edge of a small pink curve on her wrist. I wanted to ask her what happened to her, but somehow, I felt that was a little too personal.

I gave her a look filled with pity. "Is there anything I can do?" Usually I'm a fairly secluded person, but around some people I can get social. I reached over and gently touched her uninjured hand. "It'll be okay. The world isn't fair sometimes but you just have to pull through." I didn't know where those deep words came from. Fairness has always been a strong subject for me. I heard her ask me what I was reading. I held up the cover. "Carrie. The best one that I don't own." I smiled, not really wanting to say anymore.

I gave a sympathetic smile. "You're welcome." Being cooped up for a while, it felt actually kind of good talking to someone and making people feel better. I smiled bigger and for real. I've never met anyone who had interests in horror like I do. I laughed a little bit at her next comment. "Sounds like all of us, doesn't it. We're bullied, we find out we're 'special,'" I said, making air quotes, "And we kick their sorry a**es." I laughed again, and was suddenly puzzled at her German. She tucked her hair behind her ear. "So, the standard demigod thing I guess is to introduce yourself using your parent. You go first." I've never been this talkative before. I normally keep to myself and hide when people meet my gaze.

I smiled again as Jaydn turned ever so slightly. It seemed she was looking at something that I couldn't see. I heard her response, then nodded. "She's the one with the ghosts right? My daddy's Forseti. Norse god of justice." Jaydn seemed to be a bit unnerved by what she was seeing. She even rolled her eyes at something behind me. I reached out and touched her hand again. "Are you sure you're okay? You look paler than usual." I was genuinely concerned about her well being. I made sure not to hurt her only working hand, but squeezed it slightly.

I blinked a couple of times. "Okay. If you say so." I nodded. I gave a soft smile. "Nah. Just pretty." I chuckled a little. I set off my personal "spidey sense" that lets me know where arguments are. I "heard" a faint argument in my head. I pointed out the door. "There's an argument around the corner there." I blinked a couple of times and stuck my head in my hands to cool down for a bit.

I slowly lifted my head and nodded. "Yeah. It can be irritating being around people with arguments. I always feel the need to solve everyone's problems." I put my head back into my hands and took a deep breath. "Yeah I'm fine. I get a little lightheaded when I send out my 'spidey sense.'" I sighed and lifted my head up.

I shook my head. "The lightheadedness? No, but it usually goes away after a couple of minutes." I took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah. I'm okay." We sat for a moment in silence, which I was perfectly okay with. I picked up my book again and opened it up to where I stopped. I leaned back in my chair and continued reading.

I continued reading. I heard a rip. I looked over and noticed her sketching something. I leaned over and looked. It was a very detailed drawing of the library. "I'm not really usually this social." I looked down at my book and kept reading.

I heard another rip and looked up from my book again. Jaydn was drawing something else. I paid no attention. I finished the chapter and looked up at her. "Is... is that me?" I grabbed the drawing as soon as she lifted up her pencil. I examined it closely. It was like a photo. It even captured my bushy eyebrows perfectly. "This... this is amazing." I held it in my hand for a moment longer, then gave it back to Jaydn.