I bet he gave great hugs.
"Ajax. I like to paint and sculpt…I also don't like pineapple."
"Look at that, best friends already. Will you tell me why I made you sick now?” I said with a grin.
He smiled at that, his sad eyes lighting up with a bit of sparkle as a chuckle rumbled in his chest.
"Not yet.”
I hadn’t expected him to tell me anything, so at least I wasn’t disappointed.
I snapped my fingers. “Well, darn.”
"One day. Not today though. Today I have to put up this sign," He said pointing to the hardware sign half hanging off the building above our heads.
Ajax climbed back up the ladder and went back to working on the sign that looked to be hand carved and painted. I remembered Jason telling me about how Ajax did a lot of work for the town, including their nameplates. This must have been what he meant. It would have taken a few days to make a sign like that. I wondered how he ever found the time.
I wanted to push for him to tell me the answer. I really did, but I could see he wasn't the type to divulge easily and I didn't want to waste time trying. Though, talking to him gave me an idea. Something I should have thought of before.
"Ajax. I was told you made all those mermaid sculptures around town. I'm guessing you also painted the mermaids on the front of the library."
"Yes. I did," He replied, his focus completely on getting the sign well positioned for being screwed in.
"Why?"
"I was asked to.” With one hand holding up the sign he reached into his tool belt and pulled out some screws. Putting a few in his mouth he grabbed for his screwdriver.
"By whom?"
He turned on his screwdriver, the fast whirring sound piercing the air before it stopped and he said, “The mayor."
"Because he wanted this to become a tourist town with the theme being mermaids?"
“Basically,” He replied, driving in another screw.
Before he could start on the next one, I threw out, “Do you know why the mayor chose mermaids?"
He lowered his driver, making a point to stare directly at the sign before he replied.
“…No?” he asked.
He wasn't a very good liar, but I guess it worked for him since he was tight-lipped regardless.
I smiled. "Thank you for the chocolates, Ajax. I hope to see you around and get to know you better, so I can get the answer out of you one day."
He merely grunted as a reply.
With a new skip in my step and a box of chocolates, I headed towards the library. Percy might have the answers I was looking for. If not, I bet a book would.
I hadn't noticed Percy carrying around a giant water bottle and the few times I heard him laugh my brain hadn't gone all fuzzy. So whatever Jason, Theseus, and the rest of the town were, Percy didn't seem to be one of them. Which meant he might be willing to divulge anything he knew...I hoped.
It took about thirty minutes to trek up the road, through town square, and to the hill of the library. My mind wandering back and forth between the mysterious Ajax and the fun-to-irritate Percy.
Luckily it wasn't snowing, and the weather was somewhat warm, so it wasn't too bad.
Reaching the parking lot, I halted in my tracks when I saw Theseus walking out of the community center to his car. I cursed. I didn't want him to see me, but it wasn’t like I could hide. The nearest set of trees was a good hundred feet away and running to them would only attract more attention. So, head held high, I trudged the rest of the way through the parking lot, not making eye contact when I knew without a doubt that he had spotted me.
"Atalanta!" He called.
I ignored him, still hurt and mad at him for the other day. It was one thing to not tell me the truth, but another to play off my confusion and questions as if I was nuts.
My nostrils flared in anger, and I picked up my pace to the library doors.
“Atalanta, please!”
Screw him. I still had a day or so before I would let my anger abate and face him. Till then he would just have to deal. I would not look back no matter how much hurt was in his voice. Nope, certainly wouldn't.
As I reached the doors with one hand on the handle, I looked back.
Damn it! I had NO self-control with these boys.
He looked so desperate and upset. His moppy curls of red were frazzled, and his eyes had deeper shadows underneath them. I wanted to run to him and both slap him for his behavior and apologize for mine. I knew I wasn't wrong, though. With what little amount of willpower I pretended to have, I gripped the handle tighter, pulled the door open, and slipped inside.
I took a deep breath and waited to see if he would follow. After a minute or two, it was clear he wasn’t going to, so I relaxed and moved further into the library.
It was a little busier than normal with it being a Friday. There were at least twenty people that I could see milling about, several of them students, perhaps studying, and a few other regulars who were fellow book lovers like me. Percy wasn't at his desk like usual. Instead, Jason sat in the chair, staring deeply into the computer in front of him.
I walked up. "Hey Jason."
“Atalanta, hey,” He said, scrambling about in a dance of 'oh shit, a girl! Do I look good? My hair must be a mess. No stop fidgeting she's staring. act natural.' Before settling with his elbow propped up on the desk, his head resting against his fist.
It was rather cute to see him lose his cool for a few moments. He always acted like the confident jock. Having the right answer or staying calm and collected. Besides the time I had called him out on his crush on Percy, I hadn't ever seen him lose his cool in the week's I'd known him. Seeing Mr. Perfect all flustered at my simple presence was priceless.
"Whatcha doing?” I asked, leaning over the desk to try and see the computer.
He quickly turned the screen away from me.
“Uhhh, paperwork?” He asked, not stated. Asked.
We had ourselves another lousy liar, folks.
I grinned. "You know, I don't think you're telling me the truth. So, I'm just gonna assume it was porn."
“It’s not porn!" He spluttered.
"Iiiif you say so," I sang, laying on the sarcasm.
He was about as fun to mess with as Percy. Speaking of the stoic librarian, he chose that moment to walk out of the isles of books with an empty cart. He must have been putting books back. Odd, as I assumed that was Jason's job.
"Ah Ms. North, come to hound me again with another trash book suggestion? I finished the last one you gave me."
"And did you like it?"
He pursed his lips. “It was okay. The one before it was better.”
“But you totally liked it. See, they aren’t all bad.”
His usual frown deepened. “I suppose.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread wide across my face. He was so falling in love with these books. Even if he didn’t want to admit it.
He cleared his throat. "So, what can we help you with today?”
“I was wondering if you had any books on mythical creatures?” I asked.
He studied me for a long moment before saying, “…we do.”
“Great, can you direct me to them?”
He nodded and simply walked off. I chanced a glance at Jason who seemed to be schooling his features but failing. There was worry in those eyes. I waved to him and followed Percy into the books. The heady smell of paper engulfed me as I walked through the shelves, comforting and familiar.
Percy came upon a section and gestured to the shelves. "These are all on mythologies and their creatures. Though this one right here might be what you're looking for."