AUTHOR'S NOTE AND A WARNING TO READERS: An assertive girl that knows what she wants pursues an innocent and shy classmate. Please check the tags and make sure that you are comfortable with them. The reluctance aspect is light, but still worth mentioning. The story is quite graphic, so be prepared for that in advance if you decide to proceed.
All of the characters in the story are eighteen or older.
All of my stories are copyrighted, including this one.
--- THE WOLF AND THE LAMB ---
Under the shadow of the enormous bookshelves, perched upon the floor with a pencil in her hand - the back of it grotesquely chewed, as usual - Calista let out an exasperated groan, which immediately drew an aggressive shushing from the librarian's lips, scowling at her from behind her desk. The young student, with hair like a blackbird's plumage, stuck out her tongue at the old woman the moment she looked away. Childish for a woman almost in her 20's. She knew that, but some bad habits die hard.
Around her, in a semi-circle, various books lay open - on ancient folklore and traditions from all over Europe, from trolls to faeries, the celebration of Beltane from early Gaelic records, and an illustrated page about the goddess Ostara on her right. Why she insisted on studying bundled up on the floor, when there were perfectly comfortable seats not ten feet away was a mystery even to Calista herself. But it felt more efficient somehow! Maybe comfort birthed indolence?
Outside of the wide windows, the sun hinted at the time, warming everything inside its radiant embrace. It must be early evening, Calista thought, for the sun was in the west - and with the beginning of summer only a few weeks away, the weather outside had been surprisingly pleasant as of late. She'd have much rather been out there, instead of stuck between dusty tomes and a librarian staring daggers at her, if given the choice. But this was one assignment that was not to be avoided. Because she had to hold a presentation, in front of the entire class. And Evelina would be watching.
Sweet, innocent, adorable Evelina. A shy and delicate flower, with freckled cheeks and hair like a fire serpent. Not conventionally attractive, perhaps - her button nose tilted upwards a smidgen too far, and her cheeks looking round like a greedy hamster - but Calista was smitten. Something about the way the young student seemed so frightened by the world around her made Calista want to wrap her arms around the petite little bundle and protect her from all harm. Whisper that she was safe now. And the red-haired cutie's constant blushes and her quickening heartbeats whenever she had to speak to other people only stoked the embers in Calista's heart. Timid girls were her weakness.
She sighed out loud, a warm smile spreading across her features upon the library floor, thinking of the other woman. But it was a challenge to get close to someone so easily intimidated. The petite little thing had a clear and vested interest in mythology, however - especially the more esoteric aspects of it. So the plan was simple; impress the young lady with a presentation that showed Calista had clearly devoted a lot of time to her research, and then attempt to get close enough to Evelina to pounce like a hungry she-wolf.
Calista popped the gum out of her mouth and stuck it underneath one of the shelves - a premeditated attack on the librarian's sacred grounds. She knew the old woman would find it one day, and she smiled to herself at the thought of the tantrum that would follow. But she would be long gone by then, of course. And although the librarian would know it was her that had done the deed, she would never be able to prove it! With that amusing image in mind, she returned to her studies, feeling much more content.
--- 2 ---
Evelina wore the branding of 'nerd' like a badge of honour. She was a social outcast, and she was absolutely fine with that - in fact, she wished people would just leave her alone entirely. Every encounter with another human being was mildly painful, and excessively awkward. It's why she preferred staying inside to going out, listening to talking, video games to parties. Her mother had always said that nerds are happiest alone - but she'd meant it affectionately.
Often found buried in her books - always on the pursuit of answers as to who we really were as a species and our origins. She loved folklore for that reason - it gave a unique insight into the beliefs and cultures that preceded our own, and how those cultures developed from what came before. But Evelina liked reading about other things too. All manner of monsters and mythical beasts. She didn't study because she had to, but because she wanted to.
But now she had to brave the outdoors. Her fridge gaped empty like a hungry maw demanding sacrifice, and her cupboards weren't looking much better stocked. Unless she wanted to eat dry cereal and canned white beans in tomato sauce for dinner, a trip to the grocery store was necessary. She pushed the glasses back up the bridge of her nose for the 10th time in the past hour, and took a deep breath, before grasping the door handle and stepping over the threshold, leaving the comfort of her safe space. The dangerous world full of strange people and potential awkwardness lurking around every corner. A little too dramatic perhaps, but still..