8.9.09

counting the ways

Well, the library was falling apart. At least Oliver thought it might without Dayton there to mend books and put them away. As it was he was having to do it himself when he could.

"Oh, so now you're saying he's the best shelver we ever had." Bex had her arms crossed, following him to the stacks.

"How about you put a book away, Bex..." He wasn't asking. He was ordering. He shoved the fat book of Fountain Head toward her.

"Stop being on his side." She snapped.

"Bex. I'm not on anyone's side. I'm just trying to get this done because there are about six more carts to get too." Oliver sighed looking back at her who just held the book as if she might drop it on his foot as to put it away.

"You should fire him." She told him.

"I'm not going to fire Dayton." Oliver chewed the inside of his cheek to keep from yelling.

"Well, you should." She watched him put fiction books away.

"Just to make you happy, I suppose." He sucked in a breath.

"I don't understand this." Bex shook her head. She was talking back about the beginning when she was with Dayton and Oliver was just someone in the library. "What changed?"

Oliver stopped what he was doing and almost did a little stomp when he looked back at her. "You know I love you, it doesn't mean I have to hate him, you know."

"But you did. You did." She was so angry.

He grabbed her by the shoulders then.

"Look, I hated the things he did to you. What he put you through. You were not happy." He looked her in the eye. "Didn't mean I was going to go out and try to cut every finger off his body, toes too, just to count the ways I could make his life miserable, Bex."

She gritted then. He gave her a hug. He thought for sure she was going to drop that heavy book on his foot.

"We'll get through this," he told her. "Finish this cart. I'll get another one started. Try not to suffer to much through this, Bex."

8 comments:

simon n josh said...

I love Oliver's lines.

the oaks said...

this was good to see them together at the library.

billy and elliot said...

Oliver's got such a great attitude.

Jared said...

Oliver has a good attitude, but he seems to be a little hands on and controlling. But perhaps I am totally off. Tomorrow I'll start reading from a more beginning spot which should help. I really like Bex.

blue hearts said...

Oliver has been through a lot with Bex. He's also the head of circulation at the lib. ..so yeah, he has to take care of the books too.

Natalie said...

Hopefully Bex can eventually start to understand that just because she hates Dayton's guts, Oliver doesn't have to, too...!

Sam said...

I dont know why but i just freaking love Bex. i mean i love everything about her.

great writing!!

xx
Selena

ivy said...

I still love Oliver after all this time..from Day 1.