Compaq Normal Preferred Customer 2 90 2003-07-24T03:47:00Z 2003-07-24T03:47:00Z 4 1227 5507 Puget Sound Refrigeration 169 53 6696 9.3821
Wow. 75 reviews, on only 5 chapters. Thanks, everyone who has been reading this story. ^_^
~*~
She wearily reached over and grabbed another Kleenex from the box on her nightstand. Being sick was something Ginny absolutely hated. She was an active person, and didn't pertain well to lying around in bed all day. Besides that half hour when Ice had signed online, she'd been miserable all day.
Suddenly the door swung opened and a breathless Hermione ran in. "Ginny!" she panted, catching her breath.
Ginny looked up in surprise. "Hermione? Did you run here?"
Hermione nodded, still breathing rather heavy.
"Ok." She said finally. "I'm ok now." She sat down on the edge of Ginny's bed, smoothing out the blanket instinctively as she did. She glanced sideways at Ginny and began talking. "I went to the library, like you asked me to. Madam Pince sounded rather aggravated when I asked her for the book. Though I can understand why, I've had my name on the waiting list for ages. She said it's checked out right now, sorry." She cast her sick friend a sympathetic look. "She also said that if I ask again, she'll move my name back farther on the list."
Ginny sighed loudly and fell backwards onto her bed in an overly dramatic fashion.
"Why do you want that book so badly all of a sudden? I know it's supposed to be really good, but even I'm not this obsessed. And I've read nearly every other book in the library!"
Ginny sat up suddenly, thinking as quickly as she could. How was she to answer this question? Maybe she shouldn't have Hermione running errands for her anymore, it could be too risky if she wanted to keep Ice a secret. "Well, I'm pretty sick, and I want something to do. And this book seems like the perfect solution! It'll keep me busy! Uh, I really want to read it, you know?"
Nice going Ginny, she scolded herself; you've really got to get better at lying. Especially to your friends, they can see right though you.
Surprisingly, Hermione nodded understandingly. "I always feel better when I read a good book. Well, I'm going to go work on some homework. Feel better, Ginny!" Having said these encouraging words, she bolted from the room at a run again.
Sighing, Ginny opened her computer once more, and checked her buddy list.
IceyGaze:Offline
Darn it, she thought. She laid her head down on her and tried to fall asleep. The pillow felt too lumpy, and she felt a slight breeze. It was giving her goose bumps, but she was too tired to get up and close the window.
Ten minutes later, she declared sleeping impossible. Making up her mind to do something worthwhile for a change, she stepped into her slippers, threw on her robes, and bounded out of the room.
She felt a little bit dizzy as she ran through the halls, but she had more important things on her mind than her current health. Finally she arrived at the library, and ran hopefully up to Madam Pince's desk.
"Madam Pince, do you have-"
She glared at Ginny in a very annoyed, tired way. "No, Miss Weasley, 'Magic and Lust' is still checked out. I'm sorry. You are 79th on the waiting list, you are just going to have to wait your turn." She said this speech as though she had it rehearsed. Frowning, Ginny realized that she probably did.
Ginny stamped her foot. "But you don't understand! I NEED that book!"
Madam Pince rolled her eyes. "You don't think I haven't heard this before? Everyone NEEDS to read this book. I'm surprised it hasn't fallen apart already; so many people have fought over it. I agree, Evergreen is an amazing author, but this is just silly."
The finality in her voice made Ginny bite her next arguments back.
"Now, go back up to your room. Judging by the way you are dressed, I'm assuming that's where you are supposed to be," the frazzled librarian instructed.
Ginny unclenched her fists and stalked out of the library. Her blind anger for once did her good; she wasn't paying attention to where she was going. It was a good thing she tripped over her robes, or else she might not have seen the note stuck in the doorframe of the library.
Curious, she snatched it up and continued on her way, paper clutched tightly in her hand. When she got back up to her bedroom, she was relieved to find it empty, just as she'd left it. She jumped feet first onto her bed, turning the note over in her hands.
"Firefly" it said in fancy silver script.
"Oh!" she cried out loud, almost dropping the envelope. It was for her? The irony of the situation was astounding.
She opened it up carefully, and a pale green piece of paper dropped out into her hands. There were neatly typed words on one side of it. She began reading, still shocked that it was in fact left for her.
"Dear Firefly,
Well, if you have found this letter than I assumed right. You've been checking the library on an hourly basis. [grins] I'm really sorry to disappoint you dear, but if you want to get that book, you're going to have take more drastic measures. Believe it or not, you aren't the only one camping out at the library to get it. In case you forgot, there are people who want it nearly as bad as you. Though, for very different reasons. [wink] Keep that in mind. Sincerely, Ice."
Ginny was amazed. What were the chances that she would find this note before some other nosey student came across it? It was all just too ironic. To add to the coincidental events, her computer beeped, loud and annoyed, at that exact moment. When she saw that Ice was online, she nearly had a fit.
IceyGaze: Are you there?
Firefly: Sorry, I'm too amazed to speak.
IceyGaze: Oh?
Firefly: First I go to the library, find your NOTE, come back up here to my bedroom, and find you online! After you haven't been online at all when I wanted to talk to you today!
IceyGaze: Ah, you found my note. [laughs] Nice job.
Firefly: How did you know I would find it?
IceyGaze: Well, I had a feeling you'd be in the library a lot. And I guess I was right, too.
Firefly: What did you mean by "more drastic measures"?
IceyGaze: No fair if I give you hints. To tell you the truth; I'm not even sure if I could get that book back now.
Firefly: That's not exactly reassuring.
IceyGaze: I'm really sorry.
Firefly: Seriously?
IceyGaze: Yes, seriously. I don't just go around apologizing to anyone, you should know that about me by now.
Firefly: So does that mean you'll just go to the dance with me, and forget about the stupid book thing?
IceyGaze: [laughs] Dream on!
Firefly: Awww. Well, it was worth a shot.
IceyGaze: Well, you better get some rest. We can't have you missing two days in a row, can we?
Firefly: Guess not.
IceyGaze: I'll talk to you later. Don't get discouraged.
Firefly: Easy for you to say.
After shutting off her computer, Ginny gave up staying awake and finally drifted off into sleep.
~*~