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Back The Library Save as PDF
Chapters (57)
  1. Cover
  2. THE LIBRARY
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. Questions for your Book Club
  55. Acknowledgements
  56. About the Author
  57. Become an Aria Addict

‘No, I had one as a kid but I don’t know where it is.’

‘No problem. Are you over sixteen?’ I nodded. ‘You’ll need an adult card now anyway. I can either input your details to our library management system or you can use the computer over there and join online.’

‘I’ll do it myself, thanks.’

‘Lovely. While you sign up would you like me to get your mum a selection of novels?’

‘Yes, thanks.’ No! I don’t need romance novels. Thankfully I’d got my bag with me or I’d be leaving with armfuls of chick lit. How did I even get in this mess? Oh, yeah, it was my loser’s approach to meeting girls. So much for that venture. Not quite the genius plan I had hoped.

I slunk over to the computer and followed the instructions, which were taped to the table. As I clicked the last button a pile of eight books appeared next to me. Eight! ‘Thanks. Err, Mum will be pleased.’ The librarian looked chuffed and I wanted to dissolve in a puddle, which could well have been possible given how much I was sweating. I wiped my palms on my jeans before I touched the books and quickly committed them to my bag and zipped it up. The librarian hadn’t taken her eyes off me. Why was she still staring?

‘Was there anything else I could help you with? We have a Young Adults book section.’ I said nothing – I’d not be able to get any more books in my bag. ‘Or you can book internet time on our computers.’

It was clear I couldn’t just sit there and wait for girls to appear and I’d run out of convincing lies. It was rubbish because I was quite liking being back in the library. ‘I’m all set, thanks.’ I patted my bag and stood up.

‘She can keep them for three weeks and you can renew online if she needs them for longer. Okay?’

No, I had rarely been less okay. ‘Yep, great.’ I grabbed my coat, put my head down and at last escaped into the blissful cool air outside. I scanned the green for anyone I knew. All clear. I pulled my heavy rucksack onto my shoulder and headed home with my embarrassing haul.

2

MAGGIE