The Lake and the Library by S. M. Beiko Page B

chucking another one. I caught sight of the big pile of pictures he’d scooped up from the library floor, the pile that had started this whole thing in the first place. He flipped his thumb over the edges, back and forth, like he was a hotshot blackjack dealer straight off the tables. Without those pictures, I had nothing to take back with me, nothing to show. He knew I needed them, picking another one and handling it like a ninja star under his thumb.
    I dove further up the ladder, defying what happened the last time, and went after him. But Li was already to his feet, flipping over the balcony and mounting the second level like a lemur. He twisted and waved the pile around, flicking one out and snapping it in my direction.
Onslaught occurring, counterstrike!
I ducked as three sailed past my head, and in spite of myself, I laughed.
    Despite not knowing him, despite having almost met such a terrifying end yesterday, despite the sheer mystery that cloaked this entire place, I felt like I could be free here, and chasing after Li, wherever he was leading me, was what I needed to do. But when I got to the top of the ladder, I remembered how much I hated heights and could go no further.
    He clicked his tongue and whistled, beckoning.
All right, new plan
. Without a beat, I scurried down to the floor and made a break for the spiral staircase on the left. I looked up to the balcony to make sure I could find him amongst the stacks, but he darted into the dark where I knew he’d be waiting.
    When I finally made it up, trying to rein in my panting breaths, the black monolithic shelves hid him well. My chest quaked, body tensed for the attack, smile unable to be pushed into a concentrated frown. I caught myself wondering why I was chasing a total stranger.
    â€œCome on, Raggedy Andy . . .” I murmured, biting my lip as I slowly took in each corner.
    I patted the bookcases as I passed them. Solid. Nothing hiding in them, behind them . . . safe. I cast my searching eyes just ahead and up. At the end of the aisle was a short staircase with a black door at the top. I fixated on it for a second, wondering if he could’ve sneaked away up there, but there was a rush of air on my right. Out and fast came Li, and I braced myself as he lifted me from behind, twirling me as I kicked the air midspin. His hands held fast and kept me airborne.
    â€œOkay, okay!” On a reflex I kicked out, which made the up-til-then perfect performer catch his foot and bring us both down. We slammed tailbones-first into the hardwood. All I could do was laugh at the look of utter shame on Li’s face at having made such a terrible landing. I was surprised that we were having fun, were laughing, were finding all this
acceptable
. Especially since I didn’t know anything about this mystery boy.
    I sat up and shuffled back-first into a shelf as he composed himself, but he got me by the ankle. He held out his hand, pointing to the camera, then flicking what was left of his photo pile. A trade.
    I huffed. “Fine then.”
    The pictures and the camera changed hands, and we both weighed our prizes as equals.
    â€œAgh.” I scrunched my nose at one of my mug, captured midscreech. “Too much of a close-up.”
    He snagged the picture from me and held it up to my blinking face. He shrugged as if to say,
looks the same to me
.
    I flicked that one at him. “Gee, thanks.”
    I dove back into perusing the stack at hand, until the camera flashed and I flinched away. “Okay, already! One’s
enough
! What’s so special about my face, anyway?”
    Laughing in his almost noiseless way, he physically zoomed in for another take. The flash went off, but without result. His elation deflated as he shook the thing at his ear.
    â€œIt’s out of
film
,” I sang tauntingly, stealing the thing back before he could chuck it elsewhere. “I’ll get more, don’t cry about it.”
    After stowing the camera and