A pleasant distraction

"ALICE?" A high-pitched voice cuts through the somber silence of the library. "Hey girl, get your pretty ass out of the stacks, I'm hungry!" Miss Wilder can't hide the blush rising in her cheeks and before she can respond, a curvy blonde with a golden tan wearing tight-fitting jeans and a light blue t-shirt skids to an awkward halt when she that her friend is not alone.

"Oh - Hi." She walks into the room with an easy sway to her hips eying you boldly, like a coyote checking out an injured rabbit. "I'm sorry Alice," her voice is much lower with a hint of a Southern accent, "I didn't realize you had a gentleman caller." This sexy blonde might not notice Alice's pleading look, but you do and decide to take pity on her.

"Kyle Hawkfeather." You introduce yourself holding out your hand. "Miss Wilder was just helping me out with a question I had." The librarian in question buries her chin even tighter against her collar studying the carpet at your feet with careful diligence.

"Monica Fulton, Mr. Hawkfeather." Alice's visitor takes your hand in hers and squeezes it softly, she is either unaware of or not at all concerned with her friend's discomfort. "I teach French and Spanish, it's a pleasure to meet you." She has yet to let go of your hand, and smiles at you as she rests her other hand on your wrist and leans a little closer. So close in fact that you can detect the fragrant aroma of citrus.

"Alice and I were just going into town to get a bite to eat, would you like to come along?" Normally you wouldn't hesitate to accept an offer like that from this bubbly young teacher, but you can see Miss Wilder is growing more uncomfortable by your presence and you try to politely refuse. It turns out to be as difficult to free your hand from Miss Fulton's grip as it is to refuse her invitation.

"Come on," she teases as she flashes you a brilliant smile, "we just have to get Alice out of these dowdy librarian clothes of hers and tart her up with a little make-up and we'll be ready to hit the town."

"Actually Monica," Miss Wilder interrupts softly, "I can't go after all. I still have the whole European History section to re-shelve, I'd hate to have the new History teacher come look over our books and have him see them all over the floor."

There is an awkward moment as the two young women exchange a silent look and you try to decline again, aware that it is your presence that has ruined their girl's-night-out. There is a little more polite gesturing from all parties, but Miss Wilder does not change her mind.

"Well then Mr. Hawkfeather," Monica turns to you with a charming smile, "now you have to take me into town, because Alice was my ride."