Enter Leah Adams

On the next block was a utilitarian concrete building with the Public Library and some government offices.  Ami decided to wander in and see if her Anchorage Library card would work here.  The mousy girl with black braids behind the counter shook her head at it.  “No.  But it’ll only take 5 minutes to get you one.”  She slid a clipboard across the counter with a form already attached.  While Ami filled in the blanks, the girl whose nametag said “Leah Adams” went rummaging through a drawer.  She came back with a shiny plastic card that read “Aurora Bay Book Club” and showed a Raven reading a book.  When Ami was done with the questionnaire, Leah peeled a sticker off the back of the card and stuck it to the paper.  It had a bar code that matched the card.  “I’ll have you in the system in a minute.”

Ami thanked her and found the fiction section.  She picked out a modern fantasy by Briggs and a cheesy looking historical set in Scotland.  As she walked back up to the counter, she saw the jock and his father from the school passing by the front of the building.  It looked to Ami like sparks of light were trailing them.  She figured the bright sun must be giving her a migraine and it just hadn’t hit yet.

The jock turned and caught her staring, and pointed straight at her.  He grinned and walked out of sight.  When Ami turned back to the counter she found Leah gawking at her.  “Man, you don’t waste any time do you?”

Ami blinked.  “Waste time with what?”

Leah sighed and looked severe.  “Making an impression, that’s what.  That was Will Richmond, captain of the Gargoyle Football Team.”

Ami rolled her eyes.  “He’s a right gorgeous Gargoyle, and probably the world’s biggest spoiled brat, if you ask me.”  She shoved the books across the counter.

Leah shook her head.  “Very likely, but playing hard to get will only make him more interested…”  Leah looked down at the books and started scanning them into the computer.  “You want him to back off then kiss popularity goodbye.”

Ami frowned and glanced behind her.  “Consider it kissed.  What do I do to keep off Creep #1’s dating roster?”

“Join the ranks of the freaks and geeks.”  Leah gave her a wicked sideways grin and stuck out her hand.  “Wednesday Adams at your service, Freak Extraordinaire.”

Ami giggled and shook her hand.  “Sounds like more fun than make-up and pom-poms.  If you get a lunch break, I’m meeting Nora at Ruby’s in an hour.”

Leah’s eyebrows rose.  “Really?  I’ll walk with you.”  Leah turned around and poked her head into a side office.  “Mom, I’m going to lunch with some friends.  Want me to bring you anything?”  A whispery voice said something in reply, but Ami couldn’t quite catch it.

Leah threw on a black jacket that said “Go Away and Stay There” in hot pink letters across the back and propped a black fedora on her head.  If it wasn’t for the braids it would have been way too big.  She grabbed a brown card out of an organizer on the wall and punched it in the time clock before putting it back.  “Let’s Rock!”