Episode 13: Will

“How was your first day at work?” dad asked affectionately.

I smiled. “Pretty much like every other day will be. No one in this town reads. I am surprised the library is still in business. Is it a government undertaken institute by any chance?”

Dad finished his soup and answered, “No it’s privately owned. There will be a lot more people visiting it during the exam times. Your mother and I used to study there too.”

“How’s Granny? Give her our greetings," mom said.

“You call her Granny too? Just how old is she!” I was incredulous.

“You should never ask a lady her age,” grandpa reprimanded as I pouted at my food.

“Do you know her too?” I asked.

Grandpa nodded. Whoaaaa… “There’s a long history related to the library,” he continued. “That’s where I met your grandma. She, too, loved books, you know?”

I had no idea how he lived this long without her. No idea how lonely he had been all this time. We shouldn’t have left him here alone, all these years even though it was he who insisted on staying.

“So, do I take after grandma? Am I pretty like her?” I asked trying to act cute.

“Your grandma was much more than beauty, little Ella, and so are you."

Warmth lit up my heart. I couldn’t believe how blessed I was. I leaned against grandpa and held an arm in a manner of embrace. He leaned back too. We smiled at each other.

My night passed quite peacefully, contrary to what I had thought it would be considering my crappy evening with Will and Amber. I was dreading another night of staying up late till 2.

The next day I ate breakfast ever so slowly, chewing on every bite. I wasn’t so thrilled about meeting Will like I would have been yesterday. Still my heart sped up while taking the last few steps towards the library.

Will was already there. Ofcourse, I was thirty minutes late. I had cycled here along the path Alfie had shown me last day.

He looked at me as I entered, eyes inquiring. I gave a very slight nod and rushed to the inner room to keep my bag. I came out after a few minutes and started picking up a few books, I had chosen last day on ley lines.

“Did you reach home fine last night?” Will asked coming upto me.

I just nodded and moved away to a shelf in a different corner of the room.

“Ella,” he called. I didn’t like the way he sounded. Maybe I was delusional, but I felt pain in his voice. “Why are you so mad at me? Why wouldn’t you even look at me?”

I picked up the book I went for and walked back to our desk silently.

“You didn’t even let me drop you home last night!” A hint of rage.

“I didn’t want to inconvenience you,” I said, suppressing my anger, speaking for the first time since I had reached work. “Your house might be a long way from mine. Then again, I wouldn’t know since you never told me. But Amber, you were close with to share.”

Will looked at me dumbfounded. He walked upto me slowly and I looked away. I was crying. I didn’t realize how much Amber and Will's sudden connection affected me until the tears were spilling out.

Will gently took my face in his hands and traced his fingers along my cheeks, slowly, wiping away my tears.

I cursed myself for crying like that. I had never let myself be vulnerable infront of anyone like this before.

“Why did you never ask?”

Will's question left me staring at him, bewildered. His eyes made me feel unnerved. All my anger, resentment and complaints seemed to disappear. I fumbled for words.

I didn’t want to look like I was prying.

I didn’t think you'd wanna answer.

I didn’t know if it would be okay for me to ask something so personal.

“I didn’t know what to ask. If I started with one, there would be thousands more and I was afraid that would scare you away.”

Damn, I said that out loud!

“Not to ruin the moment but can I get this book,” a young boy, about Alfie’s age had walked in on us, unnoticed.

The one time a person actually shows up here!!!!

Will retreated his hands as I looked away, slightly embarrassed. “I will get it,” Will muttered disappearing behind one of the bookshelves. I wished I could disappear too.

“Hey, you are Bluebud! From Alfie’s party,” the guy pointed out after a while. I looked at him and tried to recall his face from that night. The memory of Eric's hand slithering down my shoulders flashed and I stopped trying.

“Hi,” I replied. “You go to school with him?”

“Technically.” I raised an eyebrow. “I can’t recall the last time he showed his face there," he explained.

That’s so Alfie.

“I guess, I will see him tomorrow though. He doesn’t miss on tests.”

“That's surprising,” I said, genuinely shocked but pleased.

“Yeah. He wants to get the hell out of school. That guy is so obsessed with growing up.”

“Here’s your book,” Will had come back with a book in his hand. “Will you be issuing it for a week?”

The guy gave me his library card as he replied, “Yes, please.” He left after I issued the book for him.

Will looked back at me then his eyes went to the books I had chosen. With expressions incomprehensible he said, “I will answer them. However many you got. Today after work. I won’t run away. I can’t. Never from you.”

* * *

We decided to walk with our bicycles at our side. That would give us more time to talk and think. Not to mention that I loved long walks. I missed these walks with Will the last few days a lot.

“What did you find?” Will asked out of the blue. For a moment I was completely clueless. “Aren’t you researching on ley lines?”

“Should I have found something?” I asked in return.

He smiled, relieved, smug and pleased. “Replying to a question with a question. Classic Ella.”

“I didn’t find much,” I confessed. “Ley lines are imaginary lines that connect historical sites. Some believe there have been paranormal occurences near these lines. Some believe in the sighting of ghosts.”

“And what do you believe?” Will looked at me with discerning eyes.

“I will believe whatever you are gonna tell me.” I didn’t know what to believe.

“Ley lines are energy lines. They contain huge reserve of earth energies. Unexplainable events occur on places situated on the ley lines. Meadow Town is no exception.” Will narrated gravely and I listened in silence. “Some people might call it magic.”

“Magic like people appearing out of nowhere and disappearing into thin air?” I was thinking out loud again but Will nodded in agreement. “That and much more.”

“And how's that related to you? What are you?” There. I, finally, asked it. I might never have done it had he not promised to not run away. What mattered more to me was who he was not what he was.

“I am a tree-core.”