𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞

Chapter has been updated.

Xoxo

Love, KS♡

𝓚𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮

Xavier Valdéz was a 6'ft tall model that defined Spanish beauty in not just words from a book, but in imagery that was too perfect to imagine alone. He was real, a visual to admire, and devastatingly handsome. He was standing right in front of me too.

"Um . . just want to find the library", I said, trying to act casual, and unfazed by the stare he had on me. He's not going to start flirting with me now is he?

He smirked, turning away me until all I saw was his side profile, that too was pretty impressive to look at. "Follow me." Xavier started heading down in the opposite direction of the corridor, his hands in his pockets and his walk screaming arrogance, but class. 

Confident now isn't he?

Without even thinking about the possible worst case scenarios of following the most desired bachelor in all of Europe, I decided to let Xavier Valdéz be my tour guide for the day. "Thank you", I said after catching up to him and matching his pace. I then just had to ask, "You are taking me to the library right?"

"Where else would I take you?", he nonchalantly asked, smirk lingering on his lips.

"You tell me", I remarked. 

Pinch me but I think he smiled, or maybe that smirk just grew wider. "What do you make of me? Someone who attacks a girl on their first day?"

"Well, attack is a little far off the verb I was thinking off . . . And also if that's the question you're asking me, it means you were already considering it or have considered . . it in the past", I rapidly said, though it sounded awkward in the end with my pause between words and he looked down at me amused. Why was I so judging all of a sudden?

"In the present too", he shamelessly said, a sudden roguish look on his face that made me look at him unimpressed. 

I didn't know how or where the time went, but we somehow had already reached what were the library doors. Xavier went on ahead to hold the door open for me. When I was just about in front of him, he leaned in to ask me, "What verb were you thinking off?"

I turned my head at him and nearly faltered for two reasons; one: the question, two: how close we were and the heat radiating off him. That sensual, flirtatious smirk of his that will never go away soon. Alright, that's three. Possibly, four. 

Two can play at this game, and I didn't need a smirk to win. 

I stepped forward until my face was up front to his, my eyes toying with his that tried to play me. "It's probably no different from the one you're thinking about now." Xavier Valdéz had eyes that could easily seduce a girl, but I had ones that could deceive. And when his face had inched closer to mine, I knew I had. "But that's all it'll be, a verb on paper for you to read . . not do", I said and left him by the door.

I nearly smiled, somewhat pleased with myself but then I just couldn't think of anything else, because when I looked forward, all I saw were books, countless . .  countless books that were all around me and it was all so magnificent, I smiled in amazement. The pristine and classic interior of the place, the three floors worth exploring and the sheer size of the library I dreamed of stepping into. This was really the closest I got to living my Pinterest, and I freaking loved it. 

Everything felt slow then, like time had just froze and I had stopped living in the world I knew. And instead, was transported into the new world I wanted to know. 

My feet started to move on their own until I was heading under one arch, down one way, to find a separate hall of high and endless rows of shelves on my left and right. There was so much space between the two sides, I could have easily danced or even skate down the glossed, wooden floors. If I wanted to, which I pretty much did after seeing the place. I kept on walking  and walking, at my own pace, in my world, until I saw a gold plate with the word 'Romance' engraved on it in italics and couldn't help but head straight for that aisle in particular.

All the books were bound in hard covers, some leathered, with letters in gold embossed on their spines. It was fascinating in a way, enchanting almost, because I always imagined being set in the late 19th century whenever I'd come across such books. I'd imagine I'm Belle in the story of Beauty and The Beast, easily captivated by the wonders that are books and their ability to transport us. I was simply running my fingers over their spines, feeling them beneath my touch and the volumes of John Keats. From the corner of my eye I could see Xavier coming to stand beside me, his presence close, distracting. 

"Romance?", he asked. 

I swallowed, my throat suddenly a little dry. "Yes." 

A long pause followed . . . with him saying nothing and me not being able to help but look at him, who had a ridiculous kind of grin on his face. Slightly irritated, I asked him, "What?"

"Nothing", he replied and I pinned him with a stare ."I predicted you were the romance type . . . I was right", he explained, his eyes completely focused on mine. 

I inhaled a shallow breath, moistening my lips with the tip of my tongue as I turned my head away. "Uh huh . . and what gave that away?", I asked him, meeting his stare.

His lips curved, eyes soft and gazing into mine with an interest I did not see coming. Perhaps this was the flirty side of him. "What about it do you like?"

"About . . "

"The genre."

"Romance?", I asked and he nodded. Why the sudden question?, I wondered. "Um . . ." Why am I even answering him?  "I like romance", I said, seeming to be the only answer I could think of, before continuing to skim through books. 

"And why is that?"

My fingers paused their search. Geez. What other answer was there? "I . . .  . I just do", I replied, looking back at him who stared at me knowing there was more. I sheepishly looked around us, unable to hold his stare, and met eyes with another student from across the aisle. Her eyes quickly darted somewhere else when I saw her and she must've thought I looked away from her,  because she glanced towards us again. When she saw me still looking, she slapped the book in her hand close, and swiftly vanished from my sight. Um . . . . Two more girls were about to walk pass us, but visibly paused to stare when they did. Feeling the tiniest bit disturbed, I cleared my throat and turned my attention back to Xavier, whose attention was all on me. Has he even looked away at all?  "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because I want to know", he casually answered me, looking more intrigued by the minute.

Was the guy bewitched?

I sighed. He's not going to look away anytime soon, or even leave me without an answer. "I like . . . the sweet aspects of life. The idea of two people so enthralled by one another . . that they forget everything around them . . the barriers which draw them apart, the people who oppose them, and the likeliness of them not ending up together in the end. It's beautiful to see the kindness in people that was not there before love. There is also the potential heartbreak . . . but romance is a fantasy just as it is reality. I think thats what I like about it", I said and carried on minding my own business. 

He stayed quiet again, and I took extra care in not looking at him.

"So . . you like love?", he hesitantly asked me.

"What girl doesn't?", I asked in return, turning to look back at him with a volume of Elizabeth Barrett Browning in my hands, "It has its flaws . . . but love is love", I couldn't help but smile with a lift of my shoulders, "Its not perfect, but . . . isn't that the beautiful part?", I asked while smiling.

There was no way to tell if he actually did hear what I said, because he only stared back at me for what felt like forever. Eventually, he nodded, slowly, while being lost in a trance. Did I break Xavier Valdéz? I wasn't able to grasp the way he looked at me, so I simply turned from him, still holding the book of poems in my hand as I walked away.

I could finally breathe again. 

God, his proximity is really something.

I touched my cheek with the back of my hand, finding that part of skin warm beneath my knuckles. I hated whenever this happens. Since I was a little on the pale side, you can clearly tell when I blush. However, let's be real . . . Xavier Valdéz is unfairly hot, a criminal to cause this heat inside me. I haven't interacted with many boys my age until now, so perhaps this was a normal reaction. 

After releasing a long-needed breath, I began skimming through the pages of the first Elizabeth Barrett Browning book I ever held in my life.  You would think I'd have access to every single book I wanted to read with my luxurious life, but sometimes the best things are the hardest to find, even for the rich. 

𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐈𝐈, I came across, and read the words in my head, "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘩 . . ."

"Join me, would you?", I heard a low voice ask close to my ear, that familiar heat returning to my cheeks as he did. Xavier brushed past me, hands in his pockets, and walking confident with leisured steps, like the world had gotten down on their knees for him and he didn't care.  It somewhat irritated me, but in fairness . . . it didn't look like he was trying to show off anything, just trying to get on with his own life without caring about what others thought of him. I watched Xavier turn towards the right and under a low arch which led into what looked like a reading space. Did I really not like him that much to miss lounging in a reading room? Perhaps, not. I approached closer and saw a cozy space furnished with leather couches, creamed shelves and moroccan rugs. Xavier had sat himself down on one of the two leather couches and though I was hesitant at first, I went to sit on the couch opposite him. He faintly smirked when he saw the deliberate distance I placed between us, though it morphed into a smile, a laugh almost, after a second or two. Ok, he irritates me officially. 

I couldn't restrain from rolling my eyes.

"So why Elizabeth Browning?", he asked me, gesturing to the book on my lap.

"Barret Browning", I pointed.

He smiled, unable to hide his amusement. "Barret Browning."

"Why not?"

"Why then?", he asked me, grinning behind the fist he propped on the armrest. 

My lips twitched. Curse him. "I like her", I clarified, smiling, "Her poems are beautiful, simple and not overly complex to understand . . and she's a romance poet for two", I added, "So there's no doubt I'd like her work."

He nodded, taking in my light reason, "What do you know about her?"

"Why do you keep asking me questions?", I asked, polite but firm.

Xavier smiled and to be honest, I didn't expect for him to look that attractive when he does, especially with that fist hovering over his curved lips and one leg crossed over the other. He was the very image of class, of elegant and tempting seduction. "I'm curious", he said. 

"About . . what I know about Elizabeth Barret Browning?", I played oblivious. 

"About you", he said, looking at me intently with his head casually leaned on a propped  fist, and for a second, I lost all train of thought.

Maybe it was the way he said it, the genuity behind those two words that had me gulping. "Um . .", oh god, why is this awkward? I restrained from impulsively smacking myself on the forehead. My lips were left parted while my eyes kept drifting to the sky beyond the window, take me away from here. "You know . . Elizabeth lived in confinement her whole life? She suffered from an illness that caused her to feel weak all the time  . . and she suffered with palpitations of the heart", I went on to say instead. An attempt to ignore what he just said. "Arguably, since she was . . confined her whole life . . Robert Browning could have been the first boy she ever met", I said and met eyes with Xavier, "Maybe that's why she fell for him? We normally have that instinct to fall for someone . . . whose shown us the kindness we've never received before. The attention . . . the feeling of being noticed by someone . . maybe she liked that. But what I like to believe . . is that the love the two shared . . it was nothing but love at first sight."

He hummed, seeming amused with what I told, "So do you? . . . fall at first sight?", Xavier was grinning, teasing me almost and I wanted to prove him something, something that I just didn't know yet and he did not believe in. 

"Well . .", I shuffled in my seat, "I'm not going to fall for the first boy I see now will I?", I asked him with my hands on the edge of my seat and head tilted. He tilted his head back, checking to see if I really was that kind of girl, and his amused smirk lingered. 

I marked it the start of me and Xavier Valdéz's first encounter. 

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 

 I had my head in a book.

Well, not literally.

I had immersed myself in the world of Elizabeth Barrett Browning while Xavier entertained himself with reading a novel of Edgar Allan Poe. From the looks of it, we were both admirers of literature.

I was reading, but all the while couldn't faze the feeling of eyes on me every now and then, the glances that I shared with Xavier every few minutes. It was something I couldn't shake, the way he looked at me. Perhaps he likes a girl who reads . . I mean, who wouldn't? I'd like a man who does, but that didn't mean he had to in order for me to fancy him. Why am I thinking about this? Xavier Valdéz was simply . . . curious about me. That's all. Great, I'm playing clueless now. 

Thinking it was about time for my next class to start, I checked my wrist-watch to see I was right. I started to gather my things together and grabbed my backpack off the couch. "I'll see you around Xavier", I softly bid, not sparing him a glance as I got up to leave. I started heading back towards the main library chamber, determined to get to class on time, all the while cautious of the steps which followed me from behind. I turned my head sideways to find Xavier over my shoulder. My mouth parted to ask.

"I have class too", he explained. 

My lips fell closed and I nodded silently, understanding. I then looked forwards again, and we ended walking side by side until I had returned the book I read onto its shelf. When we reached the one of the two main arches, I looked forward to see the other arch with a golden plate reading the word PRESENT just above it. The second library hall was filled with, from what I could see, the bright and modern covers of 21st century novels and my mouth had stretched into an astonished smile. "No way . . . this could be the biggest library I've ever seen", I said. Xavier had paused beside me, and I could feel his gaze shift from the second arch to me. I think he wanted to say something, but just chose not to. Instead, he allowed me to enjoy, what would be, one of the many things I was seeing for the first time in my life. This had always been part of the dream, mine, and that was to discover all the libraries in the world. Not being able to help myself, I eagerly lunged towards the second hall, but got pulled back by the arm to where I initially stood. 

"You'll be late for class", he said and I looked up at him, my lips unconsciously forming a pout. My love for books really knew no bounds. Xavier looked down at me for a second longer, fondly almost, and I could feel my heart beginning to race in my chest. My eyes fell to the hand that grasped my forearm, my own pulse beginning to quicken when it did, and Xavier realised he was holding me still. Very slowly, he released me, but not without brushing his fingers down my hand as he did. I sighed. 

What a flirt.

"Lets go", I said, walking around a smirking Xavier, who followed me from behind.

We walked down the first corridor together and when we rounded a turn, he asked me, "What class do you have?"

"Literature", I answered, softer than I wanted to, and looked up at him to ask the same. 

"Literature", he said, a faint curve touching his lips. "Whose your teacher?"

"Ms . . Ngakane", I hesitantly replied, worried I'd pronounce her name wrong, "Yours?"

"Ms Ngakane."

Oh. "Great", I mumbled just when we reached the frame of our classroom door. Huh, I thought, it's closer than I thought it was. Our literature teacher, Ms Ngakane, beckoned us from inside with a joyful "hello" and smile that instantly made me feel welcomed. I merely smiled back and took a step into the half-filled room, my eyes immediately latching onto a vacant desk by the left wall. I went to take my desired seat and Xavier came to join in the one beside me. This would be my second hour with him, will I be able to live through it? I mean, he wasn't so bad to be around and if our love for literature was matched - this class would be a delight for us both. 

Nearly an hour later

"What do you like about it?", he asked me. 

"What do I like about what?", I asked back, lifting the end of my pen off my bottom lip. 

"The poem in front of you", he said, "You're smiling."

"Why are you asking me so many questions?", I blurted, allowing a soft chuckle to pass my lips after.

"Why not answering them?", he asked back, his voice taking on a playful-kind of tone. 

"Why not answer with another question?", I wittingly countered and linked eyes with him. As much as he tried not to, a corner of his lips curved upwards and his eyes briefly drifted away from mine before meeting them again. 

"Muy bien", he said, the sudden two words that left his lips, foreign, yet familiar, taking me by surprise and I ended up smiling so much, it reached my eyes. Xavier smiled with me.

Before I could give his question a proper answer, class had abruptly ended, leading every student to get up and pack away their things. I started gathering my books when Xavier's phone began vibrating on the desk. He was quick to grab it after looking over the caller ID and there was a smirk on his face when he said, "Sorry, amor", in which I presume was directed at me. He leaned down, making my eyes go slightly wide when he tenderly brushed a loose strand of my hair away from my face, the proximity of him catching me completely off guard, "I hope to see you around", he said, looking at me purposefully.

And the last thing I saw was the dark brown of his eyes and the lingering curve of his lips before he had left the room, allowing me to breath normally once more. 

What . . was that?  

❇❇❇

"He's a courageous flirt, I'll give him that", I said while poking a fork into my potato salad.

Sophia sighed, pushing aside the baked carrots on her plate.  "I wonder what a girl would give to have Xavier flirt with them."

"Probably too much of herself away", I muttered. 

"Well, I assume what happened in English is the reason for this many girls to be looking at us", Tamara said while cupping her face in her hands. 

I took a dissident glance around the hall and found my sister to be right, though everyone did immediately turn away after. Oddly enough, I did feel shy, the reason as to why I did was unknown to me, so I casually brought a hand to cover the side of my face. "Its one of my many fears",  I grumbled while bringing my gaze downwards. 

"What? To be a target of the