“See? There’s that bitch I really don’t want to help right now,” he replied as nicely as he could, then opened the drawer, got some papers out and started stamping them, and filling them out.
He wasn’t paying attention to her any more, even though she was just standing there, by the door, like a statue.
Mina felt her cheeks burning. No one had ever dared talk to her like that. He wouldn’t if he knew who she was. For a second, she wanted to show him that he couldn’t disrespect her like that, unless he wanted to open a serious can of whoop ass, which she was more than happy to deliver. But, she had to calm down. This wasn’t the time or the place. She had to keep her cool.
She took a deep breath and swallowed, even though she felt like her throat was parched. She figured there really wasn’t a need to be all bitchy to him, when all he did was offer to help, but that was how she was. In her line of work, she had to show them she was a force not to be tampered with and she could only do that if she was a bitch. Sometimes, she didn’t even know if she still remembered how to be nice to someone who wasn’t her brother.
But, that feeling of anger wouldn’t let go. She was pissed. He thought she couldn’t find the place on her own. She’d show him.
“Thanks for nothing,” she hissed, then slammed the door behind her.
As she walked down the hallway, she tried to remember his directions. Was it left? And then the water fountain, then right? Then up which stairs? Her mind was a well of information, all of which was merged into one big mess she couldn’t untangle.
“Shit…” she whispered to herself, standing by the fountain, looking at four different directions.
A part of her wanted to go back and just ask for help. After all, how difficult could that be? Deep down, though, she still believed that asking for help meant she couldn’t handle herself on her own, like that would mean that she was letting her brother down, letting herself down. She’d never go back and ask for help. Not after the guy called her a bitch.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around. She could just ask whoever that was for the way to the sixth room. She watched as a figure emerged out of the darkened end of the hallway. To her complete and utter surprise, it was that same guy, carrying a stack of books. There was a smug look on his face, those dimples were there, his lips grinning.
“This is as far as you got, huh?” he asked, exhaling loudly due to the weight of the books in his hands.
“I stopped to take a look at the fountain,” she replied, trying to sound calm.
“Oh, right,” he nodded, passing by her.
A few steps later and he stopped. He turned around and saw her still standing there.
“Why are you still standing there? Follow me,” he said.
“I don’t need your help.” she snapped back.
“Of course you don’t,” he nodded, “I need yours. I need to get these books to room six and a few of the doors are quite heavy. So, maybe you can follow me and then when we get to those doors, you can just open them for me?” he asked.
He sounded so sweet and almost apologetic that she couldn’t do anything but smile. She even felt a little embarrassed about treating him like shit but not embarrassed enough to say she was sorry.
“Sure,” she smiled, taking a step towards him.
As they walked up the stairs, she walked behind him. For a while, neither spoke. She didn’t mind. She wouldn’t know what to say, really, especially after such a bad start. However, even though she didn’t talk, that didn’t mean that she hadn’t noticed how good looking this guy was.
“I’m Renwick, by the way,” he said, once they got up the stairs and he continued leading the way.
“Renwick?” she repeated that name.
It sounded familiar. Why did she know it? Then, it hit her. That was the second guy the twins warned her about and here she was,
following him into the darkness of the library. Oh, boy. Could things get any worse?
“Oh, crap…” she muttered to herself.
“What was that?” he asked, turning to her.
“Nothing, I said I’m Lucy,” she replied, louder, trying to hide her face in the collar of her shirt.
A few more minutes passed and, finally, they were standing in front of a door, numbered 6.
“You mind?” he asked, eyeing her, then the door.
“Oh, yeah, sure,” she nodded, jumping to open the door for him.