Will's POV

It was no surprise when I saw him, stepping out of the stacks and catching my eye. Setting the glossy book on the counter he gave me a small smile that contrasted intimidating features, his dark brooding eyes and pitch black hair. "New book?" I asked, smiling as I slid the barcode under the scanner. It beeped and when I scanned his library card I could see records upon records of previously checked out books pop up, a new book for each new day. They varied from humor to horror, cliche romances to books from the eighteenth century.

"Old favorite," Nico responded, gesturing to the title. "Charlotte's Web. It's a classic" I laughed as I checked it out for him, handing it over. 

"You're going to finish it in a sitting, you know," I told him.

"Well, I'll read it here and I'll be back in a few hours," Nico said. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with seeing you more than once a day." My brain barely had a second to process his words before he slid out of line and the next person stepped up, slamming a stack of seven books onto the counter.

"Doing a lot of reading this weekend?" I joked, scanning the first one. The machine let out a harsh beep and I frowned, scanning it again. 

"I would appreciate it if you would check me out quickly so I can leave. You already wasted enough time talking to that black haired boy, no need for my schedule to suffer," the woman said, her mouth settling into a deep frown. I bit back a groan, putting her books through the scanner in record time. The sooner she was out of the line, the better. I wanted to snap back but I bit back my words, handing her the books with a forced smile.

"Enjoy," I hissed. There were paper bags underneath the counter but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her, and I figured she could deal without one. Just before the next person stepped up I caught Nico's eye from across the room. The book was spread open in his lap, his legs pulled up onto the paisley armchair. He gave me a small wave, his smile devilish but sweet at the same time. Working at the New York Public Library could be exhausting at points, with sleep deprived college students checking out ten books at a time and questions flying at me from all angles but if Nico was there, giving encouraging smiles and lighthearted conversation, it was all worth it.

He was back again in an hour and a half, dropping Charlotte's Web into the return slot and setting War and Peace down in front of me. "Done with a children's book and onto a thousand pages of one of the most difficult books of all time?" I asked, taking the novel and checking it out.

"It's good," Nico said. "I've read it a few times. Besides, it'll keep me here for a while." I saw that same soft smile for the second time that day, the one that made my heart skip a beat in my chest and made my tongue tie into tangled knots. 

"I can't believe you're rereading War and Peace again," I laughed. "I had to read it for my literature class and I could barely get through it. Halfway through it I began to reconsider my decision to be an english major."

"You were an english major?"

"I've always wanted to be an english teacher," I told him. "It would be cool, to make kids actually like reading. But I want to get my masters, and I have to save up. So, here I am. What about you? Any big plans for the future?" Nico shrugged, drumming his fingers against the cover. It was coated in a protective layer of plastic and with the harsh lighting bouncing off of it, the cover glinted.

"Not sure," he responded. "I've always loved reading so I went to college. I was an english major, just like you. When I got out I thought I was going to have a bunch of plans but I didn't so I'm here, just like you. But I read all the time. It's what I've always wanted to do, so that's what I do. I work part time as a waiter, and I make enough money to room with some of my friends. Some people don't think it's very satisfying, but it's been the best part of my life so far." I smiled as he talked, his eyes softening as he spoke. To most, a life living with three roommates and working part time as a waiter wouldn't seem like much. But to him, it was the best life he could imagine.

When he stepped into the library the next day he was carrying War and Peace under his arm and in his hand he held a steaming plate of something wrapped in shining tinfoil. The library visitors were sparse that day, nothing like the waves that seemed to flood the room all other times so he stepped up to me, unwrapping the plate. "I brought you food," he said. "BLT sandwich with homemade fries. From my work."

"You brought this for me?" I asked, grinning as I picked up a fry. It was a soft golden brown, crisp but not too crisp. "This is amazing!"

"Someone made extra," Nico blushed. "They said anyone could take it and I noticed you don't have much of a chance to get away, so I thought I'd bring you lunch. It's no big deal, really."

"Still," I said. "You're awesome." I picked up the sandwich, a crispy piece of bacon sticking out. When I bit into it, I felt as if someone had taken happiness and turned it into a taste. "Do you work in a palace?" I gasped, setting down the sandwich and letting the taste seep into my mouth.

"It's a nice place," Nico said. "Small, but nice. It's been around for years, and they pay well. I like it. You should stop by sometime. I always see you while you're working, it's only fair that you get to see me at work, too."

"I get to hang out with you, and I get to eat more of this," I said. "I'm in any day of the week. You can come back here, if you want. This might be too big for me, we can share it."

"You mean I get to come behind the counter?"

"No one's around," I responded. "I don't see why you can't." His smile lit up his face as he turned the corner, pulling up a stool and leaning his elbows on the counter. 

"It's so cool back here," he said. "I feel like I'm seeing the world from a whole different point of view."

"The view will change again once people start coming in," I told him. "That nice old lady you saw in the stacks will become a teeth baring monster who wants seven books checked out within ten seconds."

"Well right now, it's a different place to read, and a different view to look up to," he said, cracking open War and Peace. I could see a small scrap of paper poking out from the halfway mark. 

"You didn't finish?" I teased. "It's probably your first time not finishing a book in a night."

"Shut up," Nico laughed, rolling his eyes. He inched his stool closer to mine, leaning his head on my shoulder as he flipped the page. I felt sparks fly and not for the first time I began to feel as if there was something more, something that went deeper than a librarian and his customer. Something that might have gone even deeper than friendship.

When he was done with his book there was still only a trickle of people so he helped me. He shelved books, dusted shelves, checked out customers. I felt the pressures of my job lifting with his help and I was almost disappointed when the clock hit five. "You're out, right?" he asked, setting War and Peace back onto it's shelf. 

"Yeah," I said. "Today was a good day. It was nice having you here."

"It was nice being here," he said. "Do you have plans tonight?"

"No."

"Maybe we could get coffee together," he suggested, his eyes trained on the floor. "We see each other all the time here, but I've never met you outside of the library. We should hang out more." I felt myself smiling.

"You want to go now?"

"Yeah," he said. "I just have to do one more thing." He grabbed a book from the shelf without looking, sitting on my school and swiping his card. "I know how to check out my own books now," he said, throwing me a grin. "All thanks to you."

"You're not even going to see what it is?" I asked. He shrugged.

"I'm taking a leap," he said. "Sometimes to find something great, you have to take a leap." He slid off of the stool, offering me his hand. "Are we going?" I took his hand, grinning.

"Yeah, we are."

The steps leading from the library weren't steep, half foot increments at most. Despite this each one felt like a leap, a leap that I was able to jump past with Nico's hand in mine and his body so close. I was taking a leap to find something great, and I had never been more excited to jump.

Hi guys, sorry if that was bad again, but school's almost over for the year so once summer starts I can put more time and energy into these. I hope you liked it!

Nina