Chapter 14: Chapter 8

We entered the school’s library, and honestly it was the first time I had ever entered it. It was the same quality as any public library I’ve seen. All books were covered in plastic and worn badly from so many uses. I never liked the idea of handling a book thousands of people have touched with their own hands. Plus, they have a smell to it that’s dusty and oily; makes me cringe every time I think deeply about it.

Jinn led the way, she was very dead set on going to the non fiction section of the library. This was the first time I had ever seen her so determined in her own way, and I had only known her for a day. She began rummaging through Islamic books and religion, grabbing a stack of books varying through those topics. I raised my right hand.

“I think there’s only a limit to three books per person, and we have to use my student ID to check these out.”

“Oh, okay,” Jinn said and looked down at her tower of books. 

“Take your time though, read over some of them and find whichever ones you’re most interested in.”

“Okay.” 

I scanned the isles and read all kinds of book covers. The titles were all familiar and so were the topics. I never understood why so many people copy and pasted the same topic, but I guess that’s what we do in college essays. I loop back to the isle Jinn was in. I smiled as she sat on the floor with all her books laid out before her. She was only checking the front pages on all of them.

“What are you looking for?”

“Most recent publishings,” she said and closed one book to then lay it in a pile. 

“Why?”

“I want to know the recent information found in my culture.”

“Oh,” I said and knelt down with her. “Let me help.” She looked up at me and froze. “Is that okay?”

“Sure,” she said and picked up the next book in her pile.

I scan over the publishing dates, reading some from the early two thousands to even back in the nineties. When I found some published from only five years ago, I put them in my own pile that was recent.  

“So, what are you going to read over these for?”

“Like I said, I have recent information on my culture. It’s been a while since I’ve been out in the world…”

“Really?” 

“Yes,” she sighed and set down a book. 

“How long?”

“Last I remembered, it was the sixties…”

“Holy shit,” I bursted out. “How old are you?”

“We age slowly, I’ve been around for over a hundred years or more…”

“You’re a piece of history.”

“Sure,” she muttered and continued over the next book.

A hundred years… I thought to myself and watched Jinn. She looks like she’s in her early twenties at least. Wonder why Djinns age slowly.

 “I think I found the three books I want to check out,” she announced and grabbed three from a small pile to her left. “I’ll return the others if you want to check these out, please and thank you.” Jinn bowed quickly and then stood up to return all the books. I grabbed the three she wanted and headed down to the checkout. 

The lady who checked out my books barely spoke to me, which was fine but still awkward as hell. She gave me a particular glare as she read over the covers and then saw how pasty white I was. Then, Jinn came to my right side and the librarian nodded her head as if it made sense. Not sure why she was being so judgmental, it's college and I could be studying some world history class. I take the books and walk out the building with Jinn.

“I can carry those,” Jinn said shyly and reached for the books.

“It’s fine, I don’t mind carrying them,” I returned kindly and smiled. Jinn looked down as if I had insulted her in the slightest. Part of me wanted to ask her what was up, but the other part of me remembered what it was like to be questioned all the time about attitude and such.

We make it back to my dorm room and I climb up into my bed while Jinn sits in the same spot as she did before. 

“You can sit at my desk or in the chair if you want to.”

“The floor is fine, thank you.” She stuck her nose into one of her books over religion.

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I laid back and pulled out my phone to watch videos as there wasn’t much else for me to do today.

“Have you thought about wishing?” Jinn asked.

“No,” I sighed and looked down at her. “I don’t know what I want.”

“Take your time,” she assured. “My apologies.”

“No need to be sorry, you’re just curious is all.” I turned back to my phone and saw a text from David. I rolled my eyes and suddenly my phone began ringing. “I have a phone call to answer,” I announced and put my phone up to my ear. “What?”

“Dude!” David’s voice pierced my right ear as he was shouting. In the background were loud rumbling noises. “I got in!”

“Oh, to Kappa Téchnes?”

“Fuck yeah I did! I’m moving into the basement floor bedroom as we speak! Sucks that some other dude has to share the room with me.”

“Oh, what a shame,” I said sarcastically as I wiggled back into my pillow. I liked my small dorm room, except I looked down at Jinn and realized I was no longer alone anymore. 

“So, when are you moving in dude?”

“The fuck do you mean?” I snapped suddenly and sat up. 

“You didn’t get accepted? Tyler said that he sent out all the approvals.”

“No,” I sighed and put David on speaker. I opened up my emails and saw nothing from Tyler or whatever that other guy’s name was. 

“Bruh,” David said. “I told you that party was important. You fucking left so fast I didn’t even realize it until I sobered up a bit at midnight.”

“I don’t do parties…”

“Well, and I guess that’s now biting you in the hairy ass.”

“Fuck off David,” I muttered and glanced at Jinn, who was staring at me with wide eyes. I guess she had never seen me talk like this before in the past twenty four hours. “Well, good luck with moving in.”

“I can talk to Tyler if you want.”

“Don’t bother, thanks.” I hung up and set my phone down. I rub my eyes and then my temples as my chest tightens. “Dammit,” I whispered.

“Everything okay?” Jinn asked and stood up.

“Yeah,” I lied and turned to face her. “Just uh, needed to get into a frat and I’ve heard nothing back.”

“Oh,” she said and crossed her hands behind her back. She gave me a look, one of which she wanted to speak up but was afraid to. I took a moment to think and realized what she was suggesting. 

“You want me to make a wish.”

“If it would help…” 

I sat quietly for a moment and stared at her books laid out on the floor. 

“No,” I sighed and shook my head. I laid back down and stared at the ceiling. “It’s not worth it.”

“Are you sure?” Jinn said and stepped over her books to stand closer to my bed. She looked at me carefully. “You seem really disappointed.”

“I’m used to it, don’t worry.” I picked up my phone and swapped back over to watch videos. “Go back to reading, don’t worry I’ll be fine.”

Jinn quietly returned to her spot and picked back up her book.

I tried to hold back my tears, especially with Jinn in the room. Crying over not getting into a frat was stupid, and so was this feeling I had inside me. But I laughed it off at my dumb gaming videos I enjoyed watching. It made time fly by.

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