Then Between the Bookshelves

Prompt: write a short story in a library on a snowy day

He waves at her quietly. This is a library after all.

“Excuse me?”

“Hm?”

And she takes off her earphones.

“Mind if I-?”

“No, sure, go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

He puts his scarf on the table, wipes his glasses. And then he sits. 

And they sit there in silence for a bit. Maybe not complete silence, she's scribbling something in her journal while her earphones give off a tiny thump of bass from whatever song she's listening to. He opens his bag quietly. This is a library after all.

“Excuse me?”

“Hm?”

And she reaches for his scarf.

“Mind if I-?”

“No, sure, go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

She grabs his scarf, pulls it closer. And then she sketches.

And they sit there in silence for a bit. Maybe not complete silence, she's drawing snowflakes in her journal while her earphones give off a tiny thump of bass from whatever song she's listening to. He watches quietly. This is a library after all.

“Excuse me?”

“Hm?”

And he points at her journal.

“Mind if I-?”

“No, sure, go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

He scooches over, picks up the pictures. And then he nods.

“What a magnificent drawing.”

And they sit there in silence for a bit. Maybe not complete silence, she's fiddling with her pens while her earphones give off a tiny thump of bass from whatever song she's listening to. He picks out a book quietly. This is a library after all.

“Excuse me?”

“Hm?”

And she lays a hand on the stack of books.

“Mind if I-?”

“No, sure, go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

She drags her chair over, props up the first book. And then she traces.

And they sit there in silence for a bit. Maybe not complete silence, she's flipping through the pages while her earphones give off a tiny thump of bass from whatever song she's listening to. He types quietly. This is a library after all.

“Excuse me?”

“Hm?”

And he finishes typing his sentence.

“Mind if I-?”

“No, sure, go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

He pushes his computer, puts his hands in his lap. And then she reads.

“It's a bit repetitive, don't you think?”

“Sure, but it's part of the gimmick.”

“Excuse me?”

“Hm?”

And it's a game at this point.

“Mind if I-?”

“No, sure, go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

She throws the scarf around her shoulders, he extends an arm. And then they leave.

They're going somewhere else for a coffee. This is a library after all.