Elaine was seated in one of the chairs at the library, feeling strangely safe among the towering shelves of books, they lined almost every corner, forming a protective wall around her, her eyes caught a familiar title on a nearby shelf "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde. She opened the first page, intending to read, when Alan returned, carrying a glass of water in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
He placed the water in front of her before sitting opposite and sipping his coffee.
"Thanks," she muttered sincerely, biting her lips in awkwardness. This was the same person she had slapped yesterday, the same person she recently discovered wasn't human. Silence fell between them as he observed her, his gaze unwavering, while she shifted uncomfortably on the bench.
"I thought foods and drinks weren't allowed in the library?" she asked cautiously.
"It isn't," he replied flatly.
"Then how did you sneak it in?"
"I never said I sneaked it in," he countered.
Elaine hesitated, then asked, "Then… how?" she asked curiously.
"what where you doing at the clock tower?" he asked calmly making her heartbeat quicken as the book fell from her hands, landing on the table. He gave her enough time for the shock to subside or whatever emotion was leaving her speechless.
"I...I- um...–"
"How did you get there?" he asked again now allowing her to answer the previous one.
"I was just passing by when I happened to see it…" she began, twisting the story but he cut her off with a faint smile.
"I'm sure that's not how it happened," he said, his calm voice unnerving yet soothing. Elaine's eyes widened in shock as he continued, "You were following me."
"Y-you knew?" she asked, her mind raced, but he only hummed, lifting the cup of coffee to his lips once more.
"So you just made me walk around for no reason?" she asked, her voice slightly raised. Her legs ached, and the memory of her near exhaustion made her speak more loudly than intended.
"shh" he said lazily as they were at the library.
"But if you knew I was following you, why didn't you stop me from getting there? before I saw um..."
"Before you saw Horace and Gwen in their true forms?" he helped her complete her statement.
"yes" she answered almost sounding guilty
"Maybe I didn't expect you to see them, I thought you'd get lost… or well, eaten by wild animals." he said with a neutral expression on his face.
"W-Wild animals?" she echoed, eyes wide in shock."There are wide animals in this school?"
He shrugged casually. "Who knows?"
"But you sai-"
"I know " he said leaning further into his seat.
"Elaine Randolph" he addressed her by her full name which still sounded weird in her ears as this wasn't the first time he was doing it. "Do you feel normal?", he asked his expression turning serious as he watched as confusion clouded her eyes that had begun brightening since they began talking.
She met his serious grey eyes and answered "I-I feel normal."
"Really?" he asked, unconvinced.
"Yes," she confirmed.
"You are not," he said, as if pronouncing a verdict. "By now, you're expressing memories that aren't yours… or at least, voices that aren't yours."
Elaine blinked, unsure how to respond. "I don't understand…" she said feigning ignorance.
"Have someone ever told you you're a bad liar?" he asked his expression lightening slightly.
"No, why would someone tell me that?"
He smiled faintly, lips tugging upward, dropping his coffee cup as he lost interest in it as it was no longer warm anyway.
"Can I ask you something?" she ventured politely, risking the question that had been on her mind.
"is it about what Horace, Gwen and I really are?"
"How did you know?" she blurted, herself speechless as she realized he already knew the question she wanted to ask .
Once again, he shrugged. "Who knows?"
He stared at the shelves for a brief moment before standing. "I'm leaving now," he said.
"Already?" she replied, unsure why the word sounded so cliché. She watched his smile broaden as he turned to go, unable to tear her eyes away from him.
"What? You want me to stay?" he asked, his tone light.
"No," she interjected sharply, and he smiled again before heading toward the door.
He was nearly out of sight when he called back, "Try to avoid your roommate."
"Huh?" she asked, confused. "That's not possible… she's my roommate."
"Suit yourself then"
"Wait!, she yelled quietly, who's going to return the cups?" she called after him, but the library remained silent.
"how would I pass with these without getting caught " she asked herself.