A Week Later...

The tones of Scarlet Opera absently played in my headphones, punctuated occasionally by the rasp of a page being turned and the scratch of my pen on paper, hiding me from the hustle and bustle of the morning as I lounged on a cushion in the corner of the study room.

My exam from the previous week was now in my rear vision mirror and I was now focused on an essay that was due at the end of the week. I had been lucky and undisturbed, allowing me to get most of it finished, and I was now onto the home stretch. Just an hour or two of referencing and I would be home free for the weekend.

A silhouette passed in front of the frosted glass, catching my attention. My brow furrowed. I had made a habit of triple checking my bookings, I should still have a few hours. I watched as the door handle began to turn slowly. Then, with a huge smile and her hair in her trademark bun Emma stuck her head in.

“Hey Arcane. Sorry to interrupt. I was at the front desk checking all the rooms and noticed you’d booked this one again today. Just thought I’d pop my head in and see if you needed help finding any reference materials?”

I smiled as I waved my pen in hello at her, “No thanks Em, I seem to have everything in hand, on the home stretch now and then weekend here I come.” I said theatrically.

“Okay,” she said pausing a moment before closing the door with a small cheery wave. “Good luck with it, Arcane.”

I turned my attention back to my referencing, losing myself once again in the time-consuming task. I was jolted from my reverie by the door slamming open against the wall.

“Where. Is. It.” Thea, a strange look on her face that was more than the anger she had had last time I encountered her. This was cold. Furious. Certain. …and as usual I was confused.

“Where is wha-”

“Don’t play dumb with me! I know you took it! Give. It. Back.” She cut me off, loud enough for the whole campus to hear as she stalked into the room.

“What are you on about?” I finally replied as she came to stand over me, her gaze pinning me to the floor as she looked down her nose at me.

“if you don’t give me back my bracelet right now. There is going to be hell to pay.”

“I don’t have your bracelet.”

“Bullshit! You’re the only other person who uses this room and you were the only one in here last time I had it.

“Thea, I’m sorry but I-“

“Not yet you’re not. But you will be if you don’t give it back right now!”

Confused and suddenly on the defensive, I tried to calm the situation but Thea wasn’t having a bar of it.

“You realise this means that your life is going to be hell now! You realise that I am going to make it my mission to ruin you.”

Her voice was cold and brimming with disdain as she leaned over me, close enough that I was suddenly, uncomfortably aware of her-the proximity, the suggestive cheer squad uniform, her perfume- all of it stealing my attention for the briefest time before I could stop myself.

Thea paused in that position until I shifted uncomfortable, an evil smirk confirming her control of the situation.

“You had to choose the hard way.” She whispered into my ear before straightening. She looked coolly down at me as she smoothed her uniform, then turned and walked out, leaving the door open behind her.

I sat there for a moment stunned. Had that just happened? Why did Thea Thomlinson decide that I needed to be her focus? I got up to close the door- still needed to finish this essay- when something caught my eye behind it. A silver bracelet with a small puppy charm on it. I stared for a moment as I pondered what to do with it. Do I run after her to give it back- look like some lapdog she can boss around? No way! Do I hold onto it until I see her next, which is hopefully never? Do I keep it? She thinks I took it anyway! I slipped the bracelet into my pocket and closed the door. Time to get back to work.

An hour or so later I approached Emma at the front desk, she was scanning barcodes and sorting books. When she noticed me, she straightened and smiled, seemingly happy for the distraction from the monotonous work.

“Hey Em, I’m not sure if you heard the disturbance earlier?”

“Oh yeah Arc- the whole library heard it,” she chuckled.

Sheepishly I rubbed the back of my head as I pulled the bracelet out of my pocket and held it out to her.

“I found this after she left. I think it could be what she was looking for?”

Emma took the bracelet off my hand, and without ceremony placed it in the drawer beside her desk.

“Not a problem Arcane. I will make sure it gets home,” Emma said with a smile as she turned and grabbed a stack of books.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, “Thanks Em, I appreciate it. Here is hoping Thea’s war on terror can be averted.”

Emma chuckled ruefully and shook her head, “Goodluck with that one Arcane, I don’t envy you being in her firing line.”

I shrugged as I turned and waved goodbye, “Me either, see you Monday.”

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This has been a while coming, The recipient chose that Arcane should find something in the study room. She didn't specify what but I think this works. Once she reads this chapter and tells me what she wants to happen next I can begin to fill in a bit more. Please feel free to comment and discuss, reviews always welcome to improve my writing, and who knows maybe she will like an idea someone has and ask me to take it down that path.