After Chapel

Haley knew that she shouldn't be there, but she had to look for answers. Nate would kill her, but it was just a chance she was going to have to take. She ran her fingers along the books looking for the book on supernatural ability.

He was restocking when he saw the girl wandering through the occult section. He leaned against the shelf, setting the books on his hip as he cleared his throat. "Hey. Do you need any help?"

Haley looked up with a deer in the headlights look, "No....I'm... I'm fine." Crap. She had been seen. Haley quickly put the book away.

He was a bit shocked to see Haley Archibald in the Occult section but he didn't know what she was like outside of the morning speeches she gave at Chapel and the things he occasionally heard about her; most of which he didn't believe. He shrugged. "All right then. If you need help, let me know," he said with a nod, pushing himself off of the shelf.

"Are there any books that may explain in detail supernatural occurances in that back room?" She asked uncertainly as he began to walk off.

He raised an eyebrow and wondered just how she'd know what was going on back there. "Depends," he said evenly as he set the books on the shelf. He decided he'd see if she knew what she was talking about or just grasping at straws. "What've you heard is going on in the back room?" Most of the school was circulating rumors that were off the wall and just plain wrong.

She moved closer towards him, "I... I found it one day when I was in here." Haley took a key out of her pocket, "This key opens every single door in the school. I unlocked the door and took a look around. Most of the books were in archaic languages."

"They're books that were donated to the school when it opened," he said evenly, reciting what the librarian had told him when he'd asked. "They're probably for show only. Special occasions and stuff like that."

Haley held up the key and grinned mischievously, "Wanna find out?"

He raised an eyebrow with a small grin, looking around quickly for the librarian. "Sure. Why not."

Haley smiled, "No one will explore it with me! I tried to get Serena and she said no. So, you're my hero today." She winked at him and unlocked the door.

Reaching past her, he pushed the door open. "Would you get offended if I went in first? For the sake of the lady, of course." If he cared more, he'd be upset at the twang in his tone.

Haley shook her head, her southern accent matching his own, "My own personal Rhett Butler. Who'd of thought I'd find one in Yankeeland." She winked at him with a grin.

He shook his head with a small laugh and headed into the room.

Haley peeked around the door. "What's down there? Is it just books?"

"Yup," he said, stepping into the center of the room and reaching for the light cord. "Looks to be just a bunch of old books."

Haley rushed down and looked at the small room. "That's disappointing. I was hoping to find a dead body or something." She sighed, "Looks like we can put those stupid rumors to rest."

"Well, we could try," he laughed. He heard a low buzzing noise but figured there were probably years of bugs in the ducts. "But I don't think they'd stop." He gave the room another sweeping glance before reaching for one of the books. "I wonder if there's any that are readable..."

Haley laughed then frowned, "Did you hear that?" She around, trying to see the source of the noise.

He nodded and moved closer to her. "Would it be too much to hope it's bugs, you think?"

Haley winced and closed her eyes, "I hate bugs."

He shook his head. It was too staccato to be bugs... "I think it's voices," he muttered, moving to stand beside her.

"Voices?" She repeated. "We're the only two in here."

He shrugged. "Weirder things have been known to happen. I think we should leave."

Haley nodded, "I.... I think that's probably a good idea."