Fox

"This is exciting!" Eden sequels, "We should go get our dresses designed soon too!"

I watch her do a little happy dance to the kitchen and I can't help but envy her being able to move so painlessly.

It has been a few days since I had injured my leg. The medicine worked wonders and most of the tear is healed. It is still bandaged but my dress covers it nicely. Even if the damage is covered, it is still clear that I'm hurt because I now walk with a limp.

Eden's excitement is another thing that has not been hidden for the past couple of days. I was still bleeding out on the kitchen chair when Eden told me Arlo asked her to the ball. At the time, I wasn't in the state to do anything but try not to get blood on the furniture.

I just brought it up again because there is a part I need to tell her. This might make her explode from excitement.

"I forgot to tell you something." I had said after she finished talking about her and Arlo. I could tell she was eager to hear my announcement.

"Robin asked me...to the ball." I finally spit out and a series of questions fly at me. She wanted to know all the details like when he asked me, how he asked me, and if I said yes.

Her mouth fell open when I told her I agreed.

Truthfully, I felt bad about the whole situation. If I hadn't reached, unknowingly, for a box full of snakes then none of this wouldn't have happened. So, of course, I said yes because how could you not after being rescued like that?

It probably doesn't matter now, though. I'll have a good time at the ball even with Robin as my date.

Eden brings back our schedule and starts looking at times we can get a dress appointment. She decides on a date and I offer to go request it. She insists that I need more rest but I've been sitting for way too long. I finally convince her and I leave the room.

The halls are busy this afternoon. It's full of friend groups walking together in large packs and busy workers, focused on doing their jobs.

Due to my leg, I walk at a slow pace. Multiple times I am almost run over and I watch as people move around to pass me. I don't mind, however, because this is the only errand I have for tonight.

I reach the fashion design department and I'm greeted by an elderly lady at the front desk.

She works slowly as I tell her the information for the appointment. Repeatedly, she tells me to speak up, at this point, I'm yelling. Finally, she finishes and I get to leave knowing I have that task finished.

Another thing comes to mind when I remember I need a book from the library. My medicine class requires a book about herbs for an upcoming paper so I head to the library for that.

The library's open hours depend on the day, since today is a Tuesday, it closes in a few hours. I have a herb in mind so if I could find a book about it then my trip won't take much time. The library's doors are tall and heavy so I shift my weight to my good leg to pull it open. The smell of books hit me; I am immediately in a state of comfort.

Deciding not to go to the herbs section just yet, I browse around the towering shelves of books, looking at the vivid covers and enticing titles. I choose a few that stand out to me and keep them in my arms. I came here for one thing, now, my reading list has extended.

I drag myself away from the romance section to go find what I originally came here for. The medicine section is in the back of the large room. My footsteps are light, trying not to make noise because the studying lounge is right beside my section. I would hate to disturb any stressed students, but their focused faces are engrossed in the book they are studying or the papers they are writing.

I look through the herbs section, picking out a few potential books. I spot a good one on the bottom of the shelf and so I perform an awkward squat to reach it, trying not to hurt my stiff leg. I grab it and push with my good leg and also grabbing the edge of the shelf to help me up. Right as I stand up, I can feel and hear heavy breathing to the side of me. My eye catches a figure standing on the other side of the bookshelf, I can barely see who it is through the space.

Their head swivels left and right before feeling my stare on them. The person glances at me and does a double take, that is also when I realize that the mystery person is Robin. Embarrassed that he caught me looking at him, making it look like I was stalking him, I quickly went back to browsing the herb books.

"Fox!" He whisper-shouts through the bookcase. I look back up at him. His collar is popped and his hair is a mess. Oh my- What has he been doing?

"Hide me! Quick." He says, looking over his shoulder.

I don't ask questions but I do laugh as I help him, "Here, come behind this cart." I don't know what Robin is trying to hide from but he doesn't make himself discreet as he sprints around the bookcase and crashes into the floor, behind the book cart. He landed with such speed that he hit his head on a shelf.

I hold in another laugh and he glares at my amused face. You can't blame me when he's curled up like a little kid. He's holding his folded legs with his arms, trying to make him smaller. I help Robin out by scooting the cart over to cover him more.

"Thank you!" He whispers.

"Anytime."

The quiet library then becomes filled with high-pitched chatter. Through the gap in the bookcase, I can see a group of girls come into view.

"Where is he?" One of them says outraged. While another laughs, "This is so classic of him! Always playing fun games." They move around the area at a fast speed. I look down at Robin and give him a confused look. He nods, indicating that he is hiding from that group of girls. The smile I was trying to hide is now plastered on my face. I'm not afraid to show that I think his situation is funny.

I hear the girl get closer. "Oh, Robin! Where are you? Surely you didn't run away from us." I see Robin roll his eyes.

Not only do the group of girls invade the area, but library workers do too.

Someone walks down the alleyway Robin and I are in. My mind thinks it's one of the girls looking for Robin so I attempt to act like I have no clue he's squatting behind a cart right next to me. Flipping through my books, I catch a glimpse of the person, an older man.

Relief comes and goes quickly as I watch the worker roll the cart out of our section. I exchange a panicked look with Robin who is now fully exposed without anywhere else to hide.

"Do you think he left the library? We all saw him come in here right?" A girl yaps to the rest. I see her come around the corner, and so does Robin. I have no plan whatsoever so I try to back away and not interrupt this big scene that might happen.

Before I can, though, Robin's strategy happens. His arm quickly snaps to one side of me, stopping me from shuffling away. His face is close to mine and I stare into it, giving him a confused look. He doesn't do anything further until the ladies completely round the corner. Their surprised gasps are loud when they see Robin.

His back is slightly turned to them and his head is bent towards mine. The only thing separating our lips are the two thumbs he placed between them, creating the illusion of a kiss.

My breath stops and I try not to shriek in surprise because he caught me off guard. His other hand is on my waist, stabilizing me from wobbling and possibly running away from him. I close my eyes, partly to play the role and that I don't want to look at Robin. I slowly raise my hands to run them through his hair.

There's silence for a moment and then Robin reals back. For a second I think it's because he didn't like me touching his hair. "Ow!" He exclaims and I look to see that one of the girls has thrown a book at him.

They all look angry. Both at him and also at me. I better not get a bad reputation for this.

"You have a girlfriend?" One of them spits but another, who looks to have calmed down, puts her hand on her shoulder. "We're the stupid ones, Denise, of course, he's taken." She comforts.

A few nod their heads, agreeing, but the one who threw the book storms off. Robin's mouth opens and closes, he seems to want to explain but can't reach for the right words. The scene departs as they follow their angry ring leader.

I stand with Robin, both of us in shock. I'm the first to break. "So, what was that about?" I question.

Robin turns to knock his head against the wooden shelf a few times before turning back to me, a hand rubbing his face. "I truthfully don't even know. Never in my life have I talked to any of them. I swear. They randomly invaded me earlier asking all about the ball and partners and I don't even know." He sighs, "And compliments. So many compliments."

Who knew Robin couldn't take the stress of having a bunch of women attracted to him? He looks like he has aged ten years from this chaos.

Another thought comes to his head. I can tell because he cringes at himself. "I'm sorry about... just now. I hope you forgive me. I wasn't thinking." Robin apologizes, his sad eyes looking at me.

I don't know what to say about this. I'm not hurt or anything, just shocked. So, I reassure him that all is well. He picks up the book thrown at him and returns it to the shelf. I picked up my own collection.

"Welp, see you at class."

"Wait." He awkwardly trots after me. "Wanna go eat dinner? I know Eden and Arlo had planned on meeting up tonight. We should go join them."

I hesitate for a second. I could go eat in my room or I could socialize. My room is messy and the thought of it radiates bad vibes, so I agree.

We walk side by side. I stopped for a few minutes to check out my books. Robin insists on holding them for me and I let him. The poor guy seems sorry.

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So proud of this chapter *sheds tear* i-its just so good.

Anyways, vote or else 🔫