The skies begun to turn back to black while the street lights flickered on. The stars above twinkled in their synchronized dance while all life seemed to go to an abrupt pause. Night was truly the time where things seemed to slow down. The feeling of melancholy would eventually settle in—the night is filled to the brim with mysteries lurking within the shadows.

"Thanks for staying with me, today," within the darkness, I could see his bright smile as he locked the entrance doors. "I really appreciate that you also helped me."

"It's no problem," I urged.

He paused for a moment, seeming to be deep in thought, before speaking, "Here, I finished reading it."

Seto's hands lunged foreword revealing a hard covered book. I hesitatingly took it while nodding in appreciation, "Thanks. I suppose this is goodbye then."

"Yeah, it is. Nice meeting you, Brice."

A frown tugged at my lips. The odd burning sensation in my chest stopped me from moving my feet. It was almost as if I was glued to place. I grit my teeth as I attempted to force myself to leave. Strolling down the sidewalk, my limbs numbingly moved. Pins and needles—pins and needles.

"Hey wait—" the brunet called out, "can I have your number?"

Part of me was relieved he was calling me back. I turned around. We were a fair distance away from each other—I assumed about three feet. Within the moonlight, it looked as if he was shaking; possibly anxious. No, he couldn't be.

"Uh, hold on a sec," I said nonchalantly. With my free hand, I reached into my pockets in attempt to look for my phone. My heart jumped as I realized my pockets were, practically, empty.

I forgot my phone at home.

I scolded myself mentally. How could I be so stupid to leave my own phone behind? I spoke up in an attempt to not appear as if I was a total asshole, "I forgot my phone at home and I don't have my phone number memorized, sorry."

I knew I shouldn't have changed my phone number!

He opened his mouth to speak, but rejected the notion with a disappointed sigh, "Alright."

Great going Brice, you made him upset.

To avoid the air between us getting more dense, I bolted towards my vehicle that was parked across the street. Out of breath and quite exasperated, I fiddled with my car keys before successfully opening the door. I slammed the door shut, started the car, and pressed my foot against the gas. Disregarding all safety regulations, along with the law, I sped down the empty street and ignored all stop signs until I got back to the apartment complex.

I parked my car and groaned. I got the book and now I won't have to see that librarian ever again. However, I just felt so guilty. I mean, looking back at it now, it could seem like I wanted to completely avoid him.

I rested my head against the center of the steering wheel. Maybe I'm just overthinking things like I normally do. He seems like the type of guy to understand situations like those. The car released a ear piercing belch, thus sending my thoughts back to reality. I straightened my posture.

The past is in the past and I should learn to ignore things. I grabbed the book and proceeded to get out of the car. Popping the trunk, I forced myself to grab all the grocery bags. No second trips for me. I closed the trunk with my foot and proceeded to head into the lobby.

The warmth of indoors was a reliving feeling against my icy skin. Autumn was the type of season that is quite contradictory of itself; sometimes it's cold, sometimes it's hot. Humans are the type of species to be contradictory of themselves as well. Sometimes they're wanting to protect their planet, and other times they proceed to dump the planet with some nice global warming, then proceed to complain about it.

Peachy.

I decide not to take the elevator since my hands are a bit occupied. Bolting up the stairs with pounds of groceries, however, was not a great idea. I managed to make it up there in one piece. The eggs may have been a bit damaged, but that's okay. They're just eggs.

I opened the safety door and head down the hallway towards the apartment door. I know for a fact Ty's home; I can hear the FPS he's playing down the hall. I kick the door with my foot in hopes it'll draw his attention. Knowing him, he won't notice a thing. I just don't want to belch and annoy the neighbors, but considering how loud it is already, might as well.

I'd [loudly] chime in, "Haven't you ever heard of opening the god damn door, no?"

It seemed to lock his focus back onto his surroundings because the game paused. I can hear his slippers scraping against the wood floor, then the kitchen tiles. The doorknob slowly opened to reveal Ty. He's looking messy as usual.

"You bought the groceries," he pointed out. "Oh! And you got the book I needed!"

"Yeah," I rolled my eyes, "thanks captain obvious. Now, can you help me?"

Ty blinked, "Oh, right."

I passed him some of the groceries and we both carried them in. Placing them on the counter, I then handed Ty his book. He looked giddy for a moment, then proceeded to walk away. I frowned, "Could I at least get a thank you?"

"You're welcome!" He hollered back.

Cursing under my breath, I began to assort the groceries in their needed compartments. One of the shelves was overflowing with ramen noodles, due to the fact that they were having a sale. I normally don't like eating these types of food, but they were cheap and it's less cooking.

After a couple minutes of struggling to close the cabinet doors, I finally finished assorting all the foods in their proper places. It's satisfying to say the least that we have about a month and a half's worth of food supply. I shoved the plastic bags into an empty cabinet box and decide to head into Ty's room.

It's messy as usual. There are shirts and pants scattered all around, as well as multiple cans of Red Bull. The lights are off and only the gleam of the computer screen is seen. I squint, trying to make sense of what he's playing.

It takes me a while, but I notice he's playing League of Legends and vigorously yelling at someone. I'm assuming it's Adam since they always play games together.

"Hey, uh, Ty?" I beckon. He turns around from his computer chair.

"Yeah?" He answers while putting his headphones around his neck.

"Are you sure you're gonna pay the rent all by yourself? I don't want to be evicted," I say with a tone of caution.

Ty nods his head, "Of course. That reminds me, how did the thing at the library go? Y'know, with that librarian."

I felt my face heat up with embarrassment. Out of all things, he has to remind me of my previous mistakes. I gulp, nod my head, and speak non-sensible words, "Yup. Good. Totally. Radical."

I can't shake off the saddened expression on his face. It's replaying in my mind and filling me with guilt. Now that I think about it, I could have just asked for his phone number and all of this could have simply just been avoided. Hell, maybe I could have had a "friend."

Stupid Brice!

"That's great!" Ty grinned from ear to ear. It seemed like he fell for it. "Did you and that librarian hit it off well? It seemed you did because you came home later than usual."

"Are you trying to set me up?" I inquire with suspicion. Ty threw himself into a nervous coughing fit, a bit of laughing thrown here and there.

"Of course not!" He exclaims. "I don't even know who that librarian is!"

It's easy to tell when a person is lying. They begin to buckle under the weight of their lies, but brush it off as if it was the truth. From my vast waypoint of knowledge, it's easy to tell that Ty is exceptionally bad at lying. He sweats, shakes, and avoids eye contact with the person. Sometimes he even rubs the back of his neck (much like I do when I'm lying).

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah? Oh, and um I also have another favor to ask of you." He takes the opportunity to change the topic.

"Another one?"

"Can you head to the library tomorrow and get this book called The Catcher in the Rye? It's by this guy named J.D. Salinger."

I scrunch my nose up in detest. There's no way I can face that brunet tomorrow, absolutely not. But, I don't have any choice since Ty's paying rent. Hell, I'm even edging towards being his slave at this point.

I do have my suspicions, however. I'm no English Major, but why would he need another book when he just got the first one. In fact, if he needed it so badly, why couldn't he have requested for me to get Lord of the Flies and The Catch in the Rye at the same time?

"How come you need another book?" I question.

Ty huffs, crossing his arms, "Ask that again when you're an English major paying rent."

"Fair point," I nod. "I'll get it."

With that, I'm strolling back to my room and slamming the door behind me. I sit in front of my computer and log in. I'm greeted with one of my commissions that I hadn't finished. It's a digital octopus. I make sure to save and before exiting out the program. Now I head to my trusty friend, Google.

Maybe if I'm lucky enough there's a public library in the next town.

I google nearby libraries, and of course they're mostly pages filled to the brim with that bookstore called "Barnes and Nobles." I didn't want to buy the book, I just wanted to rent it. Now that I think about it, do libraries consider taking out books renting or borrowing?

After a couple minutes of scrolling, I found that the next public library is four towns away. It looks to be about a long drive, taking a grand total of 45 minutes (considering if there's no traffic on the highway). I weigh my options.

Take the expensive route and not have any interactions with Seto the Librarian, or take the inexpensive route and practically die of regrets?

I decide that I'll just go with the more expensive route.

"Hey Brice?" Ty shouts, knocking on my door.

"Come in," I reply. He turns the doorknob and the door creaks. I really need to oil that door since it gives me the creeps.

"Random question," he nervously fiddles with his thumbs, "but are you gay?"

I nearly choke at his question, "Where the hell are you getting this question from?"

"I don't know, Adam and I were just wondering," he shrugged.

"I'm as straight as a pencil," I respond. "You can go away now."

"Would you ever consider dating a feminine guy?" He muses, taking a step into my room.

"No, I'm straight," I snap. "If you would be so kind to please get out—"

"Are you sure because feminine guys are—"

"Ty."

"Yeah, okay. Adam's coming over and he's bringing Hawaiian pizza. You want any?"

"Pineapple on pizza is disgusting, so no thanks."

He pouts like a child before muttering something under his breath. He heads back to his room, not bothering to close my door. Hasn't he ever heard of closing the god damn door? I look around on my desk and to find my stress ball. It's heavy and quite large, so I throw it against the open door. The force causes it to slam shut.

Despite the fact that I'm not going to see Seto the Librarian, I'm still not looking forward to tomorrow.