Rising Shards

Kalei had a mission, and strangely enough (for her at least) it involved going to the library on a day off from class. The new Marci Coral autobiography was out and Kalei decided she’d try to check it out. 

The main library was empty; it was right before the new semester would start, but she figured some bookish types would be around. She found the book she was looking for, the plastic covering fresh and shiny, and approached the front desk. Where no librarians were present either.

“Um, hello? Anyone here?” Kalei asked, wishing there were a bell at the desk that would summon the nearest librarian. It was kind of creepy with no one around, and she didn’t want to spend any longer there than she had to. “...hello…?”

She felt a strange pressure, and realized she was clenching her jaw. If Zeta’s sister was working and she passed out or something, Kalei might be the only one who could get help. The mental image of someone in danger in the back felt too real, and Kalei didn't hesitate walking behind the desk and into the backrooms. 

It was even creepier back there. No librarians in sight. Just half filled shelves and carts of books. A door was slightly ajar at the end of the main backroom. Kalei heard someone talking, but it was muffled. She peeked into the room.

“And then you make sure the cover is completely in the wrap…Evy, pay attention,” 

“Sorry, you’re just too cute.”

It was Zeta’s older sister Stella…and Dr. Diast? Stella was putting the plastic covering onto books, and Dr. Diast had her hands on Stella’s shoulders. She leaned in to give Stella a kiss on the cheek, and it was at that moment that Kalei zipped out, jolted in a way similar to when she’d seen something she wasn’t supposed to.

That feeling faded quickly though, and she started chuckling at this juicy bit of intel. It was shocking, sure, seeing a teacher being handsy with someone. Maybe even more so that the teacher was being handsy with Stella, the sister of one of her closest friends. 

“What are you doing back here?”

Kalei whipped around, barely holding back bursting out laughing when she saw Dr. Diast leaving. 

“What are you doing back here, Dr. Diast?” Kalei asked.

Dr. Diast turned behind her then looked back to Kalei, realizing what she’d probably seen.

“Let’s have a quick chat up front,”

“Great, because I did want to check out, but there was nobody at the desk,” Kalei said, grinning widely as she waved her new book. “You wanna tell Stella to come on out, too?”

Stella looked like she’d been possessed by a robot, not saying a word as she checked Kalei’s book out.

“I have a few things I’d like to say,” Kalei said. 

“I’m sure,” Diast said. 

”First,” Kalei said, holding up a single finger. “I hold all the power now. I can make you not fail me.”

“You’re not gonna blackmail us,” Diast said. “Second, I wasn’t gonna fail you anyways, you passed the first semester pretty handily.”

“Huh. Oh yeah… Does Zates know?” Kalei asked. “Not that I passed, that you two are a thing.”

“I got it, I got it.” Diast said.

“She knows, yeah,” Stella said quietly, her face bright red with a pout crossing her lips, looking almost identical to her sister when she was in a tough social spot.

“Why didn’t she tell me?” Kalei said, maybe laying the sad voice on a little thick, but her teacher and librarian’s reactions were worth it.

“Because you immediately tried blackmailing us, so.” Diast said.

“I was just kidding,” Kalei said. “Well, half kidding. I wouldn’t really blackmail you.”

“I’m sure,” Diast said. 

“And I don’t really care that Zeta didn’t tell me.” Kalei said.

“We asked her not to tell you yet. We were going to tell you, we wanted to handle it on our own.” Stella said.

“Damn, it would have been hilarious to hear Zeta try to explain this one,” Kalei said. 

“We had tentative plans to tell you at some point in the next few weeks.” Stella said.

“You made a big deal about when to tell me?” Kalei asked.

“Because you’re Zeta’s friend, so if you hang out at our place, we’d rather you know in advance than seeing my apartment and finding out that way.” Diast said.

“OK, yeah…” Kalei said, thinking of all the material she could get from seeing inside Dr. Diast’s place. “I get why you guys were waiting to tell me.” She could have left it there, but she wanted to pry a bit more. An opportunity like this didn’t come up often for those trained in the ways of the snark. “So are you guys like for real a thing or is this just like a ‘make out in the back rooms’ kind of deal?“ Kalei gasped. “Are you both married to other people and having a secret affair?”

“It’s not that dramatic,” Diast said.

“Do you see rings on our hands?” Stella asked, holding her hands up, then grabbing Diast’s to show hers.

“You could just be hiding your rings.” Kalei said. “Putting them away to hide the shame of your affair?”

“Where are you getting this from?” Stella asked.

Kalei shrugged. “Crappy TV dramas?”

“We’re just trying to not make it a big deal.” Stella said. “We’re not hugely secret, but we’re just…”

“Doing a gradual rollout.” Diast said.

“So are you guys in trouble if the school finds out you’re hooking up?” Kalei asked.

“Don’t describe it like that.” Stella said.

“We talked to HR about it already, so the school is fine with us being together.” Diast said.

“This school does not have HR. Lmao.” Kalei said.

“Don’t say ‘lmao’ out loud.” Diast said. “Stop giggling, too, please?”

“I’m not giggling, I’m holding back a cackle, big difference.” Kalei said. “Sorry, it’s just…really funny. I didn’t think you had any game, Diast.”

“Well. She does.” Stella said. “And the school has HR, I spent a whole night reading over the dating coworkers section from their handbook.”

Kalei had seen Stella upset with her sister, but having that anger turned at her was different. Kind of funny, kind of terrifying. She was tempted to keep pushing buttons mainly to see what would happen.

Dr. Diast gave a brief timeline of her relationship with Stella, which wasn’t very dramatic or spicy or anything. She also said when Zeta found out, and in turn Oka. Normally her friends keeping a secret from her would be upsetting, but Kalei was torn between finding this very funny and being impressed that it took this long for Kalei to stumble on this.

“I think you guys are being big babies about this whole secret thing,” Kalei said. “You don’t need to do a slow rollout because I don’t think anybody would care.”

“You’re probably right,” Stella sighed. “But we’re getting better about it!”

A devious idea formed in Kalei’s mind.

“What?” Diast asked.

“No, just…can you not tell Zeta that I know?” Kalei asked.

“I don’t like where this is going.” Stella said.

“It’ll just be a little thing, I won’t drag it out,” Kalei said. “Just wait til she’s taking a drink and then say something about you two being a couple and record her spit take.”

“That could be pretty good,” Stella said.

“You really think so?” Kalei asked.

“I’m her older sister, of course I do,” Stella said. “As long as you don’t get too mean about pranks.”

“Right, right,“ Kalei said. “It’s kind of funny, I thought I’d be just getting a book, not a buttload of gossip.”

“Libraries are truly magical places,” Stella said. “Well, I guess it’s better that you walked in on us and not a faculty member. Not that they’d care, but it’d probably be even more embarrassing.”

“If you don’t want that to happen, watch the fraternizing on school grounds, lovebirds.” Kalei said. 

“We weren’t doing anything bad!” Diast said. “Don’t go around telling people we were doing…don’t go around talking about us at all, please.”

“What do I get out of it?” Kalei asked.

“Again, you’re not blackmailing us,” Diast said. “Just be cool about it.”

“Fine,” Kalei said. The absurdity of the situation hit her again.

“Seriously, stop giggling about this!” Diast said.

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