"Ms. Keene," Ms. Jones, the librarian, said, "we're getting ready to close."

Saylor Keene closed her eyes for a moment. The printed words from the medical journal she had been studying stood out in negative behind her eyelids. She rubbed her eyes, making the image disappear and fought back a yawn.

"Thank you, Ms. Jones," Saylor said, opening her tired eyes. "I'll get out of your way." Closing the journal, she started to shove her books into her pack.

The library was quiet and hushed. Saylor was the last person to leave, again. She zipped her pack closed and hefted it onto her left shoulder as she rose from the study table. The librarian stood at the end of the table, silently emanating a pungent, floral perfume. Saylor tried holding her breath, but it was useless. She was just too tired. Ms. Jones was a wonderful person, but she could use a few hints on the difference between a dab of scent and bathing in it.

Saylor slid the three medical books she had been using from the table and started in the direction of the shelves.

The librarian laid a cool hand on her arm. "I'll take care of those," she said, taking the heavy books from Saylor.

"Thank you," Saylor said. "I'm sorry I hold you up every Saturday night. I'm sure you have a family you'd like to get home to."

"Nonsense," Ms. Jones said. "It's nice to see a young woman studying hard to make something of herself."

Saylor smiled tiredly. Her mind was already on the load of work she had to do tomorrow. Hours of reading and two papers to write that were due on Monday. And, of course, she had a four-hour shift at the restaurant in the morning to deal with, too.

"I do find one thing about you distressing," Ms. Jones continued as she walked with Saylor toward the double doors of the library entrance.

Saylor giggled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Now what do you find distressing about me?" God, am I tired, she thought. For some strange reason, she felt a giggle fit coming on. But she had to control it. The older woman looked so serious standing there with a worried look on her face, still clutching the three medical books to her breast.

Ms. Jones frowned. "The thing that bothers me is that it is Saturday night, and you're here in the library ... alone."

Oh no, Saylor thought. She had just had this discussion with her older sister yesterday.

Her sister, Keefer, had a lot of experience with dating. More than dating actually. Keefer Keene was a bit ... promiscuous when it came to men. Saylor had the feeling that Keefer was just searching for something she lacked. Maybe it had to do with growing up without their mother. Their mother's death may have affected her sister to the point that she sought out 'love' constantly. She was surprised Keefer hadn't made the leap and gotten married at some point. Shaking her head, she remembered the conversation they had yesterday on the phone.

"Saylor," Keefer had said, her voice low and deep as usual, "you really need to have a little fun. You're going to wither up and turn into an old woman before you're twenty-five. Find a guy. Have some sex."

"That's your answer to all ailments, isn't it, Keefer?" Saylor had asked. "Well, I have something more important to do with my life right now. Like finish school."

"You're still a virgin, aren't you?" Keefer asked, a sense of awe in her voice.

That's when Saylor had hung up the phone.

She looked at Ms. Jones and tried to be polite.

"Don't worry about me, Ms. Jones. I'll have time for that later."