Chapter 7
[Song - Hope Tala by Tiptoeing]

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WE STARTED our voluntary service at Lockley Elementary School on Monday, at ten o'clock. Mrs Samuels, I thought her name was, came and outlined the rules, along with giving us the keys to the library. It was a good thing we weren't like those hormonal kids that used to be at our high school. We would have turned the library into our kingdom. That was if, we were together.

"Okay, so no stealing of books. That's the most important rule. And you know this, you're both twenty-three."

"Okay, I'll try not to steal any books. We will, rather." I said, pointing to myself and Aaron.

"And remember that this is a school, for kids. No inappropriate activities."

"Okay, got it," Aaron said this time.

"And I know kids these days lack something called self-control. Please, Mr Cho, have some. You've been staring at her since you came in."

All he did was nod. As for what I did, I did the normal Tayla response, which was to do nothing but smile awkwardly.

"I would love it if you both could put these new books on the shelves, in their respective genres of course. Ensure the shelves are clean before you do so. The rest will come naturally to you. Enjoy and goodbye."

And she left us there, standing in the middle of the library like two lost souls. Why did I agree to this again?

Thirty minutes in, and we're both on different sides of the room, cleaning shelves with rags—all in complete silence. Awkward silence, to be noted.

"How loud is your phone?" Aaron suddenly asked and I turned, thought and sought out an answer.

"Pretty loud, I think."

"Can't you play some songs?"

"I don't know if you would like the songs I listen to."

"It doesn't matter. Just play something."

"It would be nice if you said please..."

"Please play some songs Tayla."

I took out my phone and pressed the music app. When it opened, I turned the volume up and put it at a distance where we both could hear the tune. Then I pressed shuffle.

How are you gonna make me do this dance again?
We're getting closer but we're trying to be friends
If we start it might never end, so we keep tiptoeing
When we met I wasn't interested

"I'm not sure if I like this one." He said when the song was about to reach my favourite part.

"I do, so grow up. I already told you that you wouldn't like the songs I listen to."

"I'm joking, I said that because I knew you'd say something like 'I told you'. Plus, the song is growing on me."

"Good for you." I turned back to face the bookshelf with my cloth in my hand. I continued wiping the board shelf while humming the tune of the song. For a minute I even forgot that Aaron was in the room (the music was to be blamed). It made me move faster and gave me the energy I lacked when I first put the rag in the bucket filled with soap and water.

"I'm finished. I'll start putting on the books," I said, making my way to the boxes with the stacks of new books.

"Already? Wait, slow down. We started at the same time."

"Well, what can I do about that?"

"This is a group effort thing, you know? It's not a competition." He said, with his hand on the bookshelf and his head turned to me. He looked like a housewife, not that I was complaining about it. 

"I know, but it doesn't mean that I can go back and start from scratch again. I extend my apologies." I joked as I started to open the box with books. I took one out, smelt it then looked at its title. It read, "A Second Chance" and I flipped through its pages.

"There you go—freaking complicating this. You could have just waited until I was finished."

"Don't curse at me."

"I said freaking, not the f-word."

"It's still a euphemism. No one gets angry over someone wiping a bookshelf faster than them."

"Do what you want Tayla, you always seem to do that."

"You don't have to tell me to do what I want. I can do whatever I want, I am an adult. And a woman, who doesn't need an opinion from you, a human male."

"Why are you turning this into some feminist thing? It was just a statement without any misogyny or shit like that."

"I didn't say it was misogynistic. It just makes me feel like you're saying that I am incapable of making my own decisions."

"Well, I didn't say that. I'm just saying that you're fuc–."

I put the book I held down immediately, knowing he wouldn't stop until he said the f-word. "Don't curse, Aaron."

"Right. I just remembered that whatever you say goes."

"What does that mean?" I said, feeling my face settle in a frown. "Can you stop making it seem like I'm some control freak? I hate it."

"Let's just stop. No more arguing."

"Says the person who's cursing at me."

"I wasn't cursing at you. I was cursing at how confusing you are to me. You're making decisions on your own even though this involves both of us."

I sighed and remained quiet for a second. "I don't think you're talking about the books—but, I'm what God made of me so maybe you can ask him."

"Yup, it's the same old you—still undermining serious things. Still refusing to let people inside and still refusing to be completely honest."

"Don't try to figure me out, Aaron."

"I will figure you out, I've always been doing that. I've always had to."

"I think I should leave after I put these five books on. I don't think you do well when I'm around. Maybe you can get more work done if I'm away...?"

"Maybe or maybe not."

I nodded and turned back to the bookshelf. Maybe or maybe not, huh? I think maybe.

* * * *
Author's note:

Thank you for using your time to read this book!

See ya in the next chapter!