I wasn’t really doing homework, but Colton couldn’t see that. I went on every social media website known to man, and nada. Nothing. Not one scrap of information. I groaned, frustrated. Thinking about it, I didn't know him, at all. I've never seen his parents, never seen him before, anywhere. I knew every single face in my school, because we've been together since kindergarten. As everything clicked in my head, I grew more and more confused. He just suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and everyone just accepted him. If someone came into our little community, they would be excluded. But him, he fit in like he’s been there all his life.
Next I searched for Nymphus. Again, nothing plausible. Just some creepy old cult that died away sometime in the 1800s. I highly doubted that he was part of that.
Next pit stop, the town library; my favorite place to hang out. "Hey, Janet," I called, after I dialed her number on my ancient flip phone.
"WAZ UP?" Janet yelled over the music.
"What is going on there?" I sighed.
"WHAT?"
"What on earth are you doing?" I finally yelled into the phone.
"NOTHING MUCH, JUST THROWING A PARTY AT MY HOUSE WHILE MY OLD MAN IS OUT OF TOWN," Janet panted.
"Um... I kinda need your help. I'm calling in the favor from the time you asked me to write your physics report at 1 in the morning."
"CAN'T IT WAIT?" she shouted as the base drum beat in the background.
"No," I stated bluntly.
"Fine. Hold on a sec," then it sounded like the phone was thrown down. "Get your butts out of here you..." I covered my ears as the distant voice of Janet yelled some pretty bad things.
"You done get?" I asked as I covered my ears.
"Yes, my dear innocent friend," Janet replied sweetly.
"I need you to meet me at the library-" I started.
"WHAT?!" she shrieked. "Of all the places you could ask me to go, you pick the library? Why?"
"I was going to mention that part after you so kindly interrupted me," I sniffed.
"But still. Can't you call in the favor for something else?" she whined.
"If I remember correctly, that was the first report or essay that you got 100 on since 7th grade. Also, you said, and I quote, 'I promise I'll do whatever you ask for, just please help me out here?'" I mimicked her desperate tone that night.
“Ok, fine. Go on,” she rushed impatiently.
“I need to meet me at the library to help me research something,” I said.
“Wait, research what?” she questioned.
“At the library, I’ll tell you at the library.” I said quickly. “Hurry!” I hung up and shoved my phone into my back pocket. "Mother! I'm going to the library for some research, is that alright?"
A snobby voice called back, "Do not yell in the house, girl! Be back by 8 unless you want to do all the chores!"
I was going to do all the chores anyway, and she knew that. "Got it mother!" I slammed the door and ran to my bike. Pedaling as fast as I could, I raced out of my driveway, heading for north.
---
I jumped off my bike and ran to the front door; Janet was already there.
She tsked, "You're late,"
"Caught up with Mother, sorry," I sprinted towards the library doors. She knew what was going on with my family.
"What are you rushing for?" she ran beside me.
"I only have until 8, and we have a lot of work to do!” I headed straight upstairs for the informational section and the computers.
“Ok, so tell me what we are looking for,” Janet asked.
“First, I want all the information possible on someone named Colton Hunter-”
“Isn’t that the new transfer at school?” she cut me off.
“Yes, yes, and my annoying, nosy neighbor,” I said impatiently. “He’s acting suspicious, so go on the computers, and find me a lead.” I sat her down on one of the macs at the computer stand. “Search everything. If you find any little hint call me. I’ll be at the books.”
“Roger that,” she said, and started working.
I started to look along the shelves, looking for any title that remotely hints at or implies at a Nymphus or Fairy topic. Again, nothing. I went back to Janet, and saw her cursing under her breath at the mac. “Did you find anything?” I already knew the answer.
“No.” she shut the mac off angrily, and her shoulders slumped. “Sorry,”
I patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, you can’t be expected to find what’s not there in the first place. I tried but I couldn’t, so I figured you being a stalking genius could do it.”
She looked dejected, but then brightened. “There’s one place we didn’t check,” she began.
Anticipation and dread filled my gut, “Where,” I almost didn’t want to know.
She grinned savagely, “The private library in the town hall,”
