Patience...

Chapter 3

Deeply engrossed and buried more than fossil deep in the enchanting world of fiction a loud thud threw me out of my comfort zone to the hard cold mercy of the tiled floor of the library.

I groaned in pain that shot through my side. I turned to see that demon that trespassed on my heavenly palace and snatched away my peace.

The dirty blond hair and baby blue eyes made me throw my head back to the floor rolling my eyes back to my head wishing I had fallen hard enough to get a concussion.

“What do you want, Jordan?” I drawled out trying to ease my irritation by running hands through my long light locks.

I sat up and got up retreating to my seat and closed up my profile page to give my attention to Baby Blue over here. Jordan didn't dare acknowledge how well he startled me but instead went on like he had it planned.

“Well turns out we all have free period at the same time!” he squealed pulling a seat next to me and flashing a flirtatious grin.

“Since when? I have been coming here for my free period since freshman year I have never seen you around the library.” I gave him a pointed look.

“Truth is I do have a free period. Always had during this time and...”

“We followed you here so that we could finish this assignment today” a deep voice interrupted and finally followed a brown haired Blake with Felix closely behind.

“Conveniently you are in the home of knowledge so shall we begin, madam?” Jordan said in a French accent grabbing by wrist and planting a kiss on the back of my hand.

I stared at him in confusion and I heard a low menacing deep growl again. Hmm… didn’t I have enough lunch today. Must have been the meat balls.

“Okay I will go check out some encyclopaedias at the back on the other side of the library.” I told them and stood up to make my move.

I heard them continue a conversion more like an argument with Jordan in hushed tones. I shrugged and continued to the back shelves. Checking all volumes of British encyclopaedias there were that had a significant amount of information on culture. I had gathered about three volumes of large brick like books and struggled to balance as I attempted my journey to the boys.

I barely maintained stable ground until finally I hit one of the shelves that eventually led into me stumbling onto one of the books that fell on the floor. I lost my balance and the grip on the books and fell.

Instead of feeling the impact of the hard tiled floor for the second time today, a large pair of muscular arms secured my waist and brought me up to pull me into a hard chest. The loud pounding of my heart filled my ears at the sudden surge of adrenaline in my body with the rush of falling. Whoever was holding me kept the grip tight almost giving me the feeling that he did not want to let me go.

“Th-thank y-you. I am okay now.” I croaked out once my breathing returned to normal. My saviour did not quite get the message. I looked up and almost did a double take at the intensity of the deep blue orbs staring back at me. His hot breath fanned my face but I felt goose bumps rise up at the back of my neck. I have never been close to a guy like this before.

I blinked and snapped out of whatever daze I was in while staring at Felix’s eyes. His grip on me loosened and I pulled away getting some breathing space between us. Mostly for me.My heart could barely take it enough as it is.

“Sorry about that I am very clumsy.” I told him avoiding the intense gaze he seemed to have boring into my face. I crouched down to pick up the encyclopaedias on the floor not caring about the rest of the mess. I finished just as Felix crouched down to help me and I rushed back to where the rest of the guys were.

“What was that noise?” Blake asked looking at me with a hint of amusement in his tone. I will never understand what goes on in the minds of these mysterious boys.

“I dropped a few books. That is all.” I shrugged and lay out all the books on the table, “I think these will help us if we don’t get enough info from the net.” I sat across from them brushing off the lingering feeling of Felix’s arms on my waist. I started reading a few of the importance’s I had seen while checking them out earlier just as Felix showed up.

He joined us seconds later and sat right next to me. I hesitated between what I was still saying about the importance of culture from one of the books and continued on despite the awkward feeling inside my stomach.

“So I think without culture we don’t have an identity we lose our personality and most of all our independence.” Blake said giving out his point of view.

“What do you mean? I get the part of identity and all but what do you mean as referred to the independence part? “I asked him.

“If people don’t understand who they are, what they believe in, that will cause a political vacuum because of the lack of system of leadership. Leadership depends on the culture and beliefs of the people. The centralised monarchy, democratic approach of voting and so forth. All these methods of acquiring a leader originated from what people believe. Without culture how can there be any beliefs. Religion itself is a culture. Do you understand what I am saying?” he asked me.

Analysing everything I have heard. I have concluded that I have never met search a smart person in my life.

“Thank you very much I do appreciate the complement.” Blake said. I realized I said that out loud and face palmed myself.

“That was not supposed to be out loud.” I muttered to myself.

“Any way...” Blake chuckled and turned to Jordan who had already dosed off on the table and whacked him on the head. I laughed when Jordan jolted up in a defensive position with his hands in front of him in fists.

“Felix would you like to share a thought?” Blake asked bringing Felix into the conversation.

Until now, I hadn’t noticed that he was still staring at me. I turned to him giving my full attention trying to act normal under his burning gaze.

“I Have heard the importance of culture and you have listed most of the advantages but we got nothing on the disadvantages,” he said at last finally looking away to talk to Blake and Jordan, “I think culture brings conflict through different practices and beliefs which eventually causes war. I think at a point, culture retards development since people are so caught up with the past they don’t want to move on. And can we also say that culture limits innovation since the people become so rigid to change or is that the same as the previous?”

“I think we can make it different in the written form, Blake did you get that?” I asked him. He nodded still typing away on his smart phone.

“Wait,” Jordan at last interjected, “we have not quite made a definition to culture. What is culture?”

“I think since we all have said something about it... you have to look for that and add it to the essay.” Blake smiled at him and raffled his hair.

“Wow this is great progress. I think we got an essay. Do you guys mind if I type it out on my laptop and send it to you via email then you quirk it up and print?” I suggested.

“No problem. I am pretty sure Jordan will make the finishing touches.” Blake said tapping Jordan on the shoulder, “next time try not to sleep through our discussion.”

I glanced at the time on my smart phone and held back at the gasp seeing the time as four o’clock already there goes my free period.

“I have to head home guys. So are we clear as far as this assignment?” I asked to make sure I am in the clear.

“No,” Félix’s deep voice answered, “we have to meet up to make finishing touches.”

“But Blake just said that Jordan will take care of it.” I retorted.

“We need all of us to make a final approval.”

I sighed and nodded any way.

“Alright just give me a call and tell me when and where?” I said as I stood up to leave. A hand grabbed my wrist and stopped me.

“We don’t have your number, Crystal.” Felix said reminding me. He sounded so firm and demanding. It was becoming a bit annoying yet am curious as to why he even wants it. Not that I mind of course.

“Oh my God sorry I forgot...” I grabbed a pen from a bundle of them that was wrapped in a rubber band and wrote it down at the back of one of the books, “There it is. See ya!” I waved and they waved back all except for Felix.

His gaze told me that he wanted to say more, to have me stay a while longer just so that he would look at me. My heart skipped in glee at the thought but I shunned it away quickly as I rushed to the door.

Every one has crushes and at some point they go away. This one has to go away.