Books Are Trouble

Posted on Sat Aug 14th, 2021 @ 2:37pm by Iris Walker & Cameron Hood

539 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Episode 0: X Lang Syne
Location: Library
Timeline: June 20th, 1990 - Early afternoon

Cameron was browsing the school's library, hoping to find something new to read. He had recently finished his book and wouldn't have time to go into town until next week. Texas by James A. Michener caught Cameron's eye. He was reading the blurb when he heard someone talking. The normally unflappable soldier was startled so badly the book in his hand was shifted in a nasty-looking dagger as his eyes scanned the room and finding a small girl.

"Sorry," she said with a friendly smile. "Sometimes I forget how sneaky I am. I'm Iris."

A sigh left Cameron's lips as he relaxed. "Good god girl, you startled me." He looked the girl up and down, "I take it you're Iris Walker then? Professor Xavier warned me about you." He looked at the dagger he was still holding and sighed again, "I suppose I'm not reading that after all."

“Reading a dagger could only make sense here,” she replied with a grin. “You can’t change it back?”

"In a way, I can." Cameron focused on the weapon, it slowly turned back into what looked like a book. "Except I can only reconstitute its shape." He handed her a jumbled up book.

"Hm," said Iris, looking over the book. "Well, hopefully it was a terrible book to begin with." She gave him a wry grin. "Irene Iddesleigh or something similar. Anyway, what I actually was asking was could you reach that book up there for me? The Shining, by Stephen King," she added, pointing towards the book in question.

Cameron reached up to take it, studying the cover for a moment. "Are you sure you're not reading this for inspiration?"

She giggled. The thought tickled her for some reason. "I don't know, yet," she said. "I've never read it. I was talking to one of the students about how I don't like Stephen King's endings and she recommended this one and The Eyes of the Dragon."

"I read Eyes of the Dragon when I was about your age. But I haven't seen it in the library yet." He then handed Iris The Shining. "My advice, don't read it before bed. It still gives me the shivers."

Her face broke into a sly grin. “Are you sure you know what my age is?” She asked taking the book from him. “I’m older than I look.”

"Seeing as you're here, you must be at least around 14. But I am very bad at guessing ages."

Iris giggled and even she thought it sounded girlish. "I'm nearly 19," she replied. "Well, okay, so my birthday is still a few months away. But even so."

"I wouldn't take you clubbing even if you're eighteen. Because nobody is going to believe that driver's license." Cameron chuckled.

Iris giggled. "I'd only attract creeps and pedophiles anyway," she said. "It wouldn't be any fun for anybody. I'll stick to libraries."

"You do that, short stuff. It's probably safest for you and the friends you'd go clubbing with." Cameron laughed, finally putting the destroyed book back and taking his second choice. "Now I got to run, you stay out of trouble."

"In a library?" asked Iris as if he was certifiable. "No promises."

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