Lost in his embrace

Chapter 3

I roll my eyes and head toward our table. I find Britney reading at the table engrossingly;her elbow is propped against it and her hand is on her temple. I haven't read a book since last week, so I might as well find something to read today.

I make my way toward the shelves, where fiction stories are placed. We only have twenty minutes left for this subject. I might just borrow a book I find intriguing by its cover. I'm in a reading slump in recent days. So, I want to read something that is hard to put down.

I mostly indulge myself in fantasy books. However, today I feel like reading a new genre—something that will put me on the edge of my seat.

I already have two books in my hands. I'm on the fence whether to pick the other one or the other one. Maybe, I should just take these two. I read their synopsis and they both seemed interesting and worth reading.

The bell unexpectedly goes off before I can even make up my mind, so I don't have a choice but to just take the two. I head to the librarian to let her know that I'm borrowing books. When I get there, I tell her that I will borrow books. However, she stares at my face for like a minute, arches her brow, seemingly judging my whole being while she memorizes every single detail on my face. I try not to get uncomfortable every second she stares, but I fail. I give her a nervous laugh. When I think she's done, she hands me a sheet and a ball pen while her eyes are still glued to my face. weird. I try not to laugh while I scribble my name on the sheet she gave me. However, I stop halfway because my eyes surprisingly catch a very familiar name on the list of students who borrowed books.

Tyler Carson.

I look at the date to find out when he borrowed a book. It says Monday, July 26, which is today. There's no exact time written , but I think it was when he was with his friends earlier in the library. I remember a book under his elbow across their table. That must be it. Glad that the librarian did not reprimand him for carelessly placing the book beneath his elbow.

Had the librarian not cleared her throat, I would definitely have forgotten her existence in front of me.

"... Unfortunately, ball pens can't move themselves. Should I write your name for you, instead? " The librarian says suddenly: her voice is sweet. I hastily scribble every piece of information needed because she seems to be on her period.

“Are you done?” she asks me again. Her tone is laced with obvious strictness.

“Y-yes, Miss. Thank you.” She nods and gives me an obvious fake smile while I quickly hand the sheet and ball pen over. I head back and see all my classmates are now making their way outside. I also spot Britney at the back, standing on her toes. Her forehead creases into a frown while she looks ahead. I catch her mouth move.

She seems to be muttering something under her breath. She might be wondering where I am. A chuckle escapes my mouth because she looks like a lost child searching for her mother at a bustling and crowded market.

I notice Mr. Hernandez hasn't come back yet after he left us with his instructions. I don't want to sound nosey, but does the rumor have something to do with it? Our seniors were just wandering outside, which means they also don't have their last subject.

I quicken my pace and go behind Britney's back. I don't make a sound as I near her. We are finally outside, but she's yet to notice my presence behind her.

I temporarily place the books I borrow across a small wooden table that stands adjacent to the door. When I get the perfect chance behind her, I immediately cover her eyes and mouth with my hands. She is taken aback. She nudges me from her back and tries to take my hands off her face, but to her utter dismay, to no avail. I'm way stronger than her. She says she's going to punch me in the face etc.,

When I can't contain myself any longer, I burst out laughing. I clutch my stomach while I continue to laugh.

She kicks my shin when she finds out it's me. “I'm going to kill you!” My laughter has subsided already, and I can feel how red my face is. She kicks me once more, but I'm fast enough to avoid it. I'm about to say something, but unexpectedly I catch the library's door jerk open from the side of my eye, revealing one figure.

We're doomed. I forgot we are still at the library.

The librarian looks at us before she flashes a smile and says, “Hi, students. I just want to make sure you talk loud enough because I can't really hear your lovely and sweet voices inside... They are way too low.”

Fortunately, I'm able to pick up on the obvious sarcasm in her tone. I say in my head.

I try to look down, trying to hide my face from the utter embarrassment that has already crawled all over my skin. I watch as students turn their heads to us as they walk past us. I'm glad that most of them don't pay any heed. My eyes catch Tyler in the hallway. He's still far from us. I mentally heave a sigh. He's leisurely making his way towards our direction. His head faces his friends beside him as he talks with them. He smiles and nods occasionally. I notice, he always covers his mouth with his fist everytime he laughs. My eyes catch the cap on his head, I find him attractive with it.

“I'm sorry, Miss,” Britney says, and I agree. I don't know what to do next. I can clearly see her across from me appear so guilty, since she's the one who talked really loud, but I feel sorry because I know I'm the one who's truly in fault.

I can't count how many times I rub the edge of my right brow with my finger. It's already become my mannerism every time I'm feeling embarrassed or awkward.

I watch the librarian eye us up and down from the side of my eye before she says, “Give me your names.”

I've written my name on the sheet, I wonder if she remembers me, I doubt she doesn't remember my face. Britney says her name first before I reluctantly follow suit.

“Donovan, Corey, Miss.” She arches her brow for the last time before her heels click in every step she makes as she heads back inside.

I would also scold my own heels if I were her. They should have made the library soundproof in the first place. Look. I know we're the ones at fault, but my point is why didn't they make it soundproof ? Clearly, students talk loudly because they assume that it's built soundproof.

'Tsk, reasons, It's still not appropriate to talk loudly in front of a library, ' says the back of my head.

I mentally roll my eyes. I grab the books across the table, I almost forgot about them. I should make sure they are secured with me because my empty pocket can't afford to lose them, losing them is the least thing I want to happen right now—my every day allowance can't surely half of their price.

Britney looks at me meaningfully, I completely understand the look she's giving me. I thought she had forgotten about it already. We head downstairs with the heavy hardcover books in my hands, I can't wait to put them in my bag because they are becoming heavier with each step I take. Our belongings are still in the room, so we need to hurry up before the guard locks the door. I wonder if my classmates have already left.

My eyes catch the sun from our spot beautifully setting over the horizon. Its vibrant orange color reflects off the darkening sky, which gives off a nostalgic vibe. I look down to check the time on my wrist watch, It's fifteen past four already.

“Two dollars” Britney suddenly tugs her hand on my uniform while she bats her eyelashes at me, I roll my eyes at her wide palm near my chest.

I mumble 'thick face' before we stop our steps midway. I hand her the books first before I fish out two dollars from my pocket. She flashes a wide smile as I hand her the bucks, which she happily slips into her purse.

“Thank you, Donovan, Corey.” She mimics my voice earlier while handing me back the books.

“I didn't even agree to this lame bet.”

She was the one who came up with this stupid bet that each time someone scolds us at school I'll give her two dollars, I didn't even say yes. I was just forced to agree.

“Well—” the words cut in her throat when someone suddenly clears his throat behind us. I know exactly whose voice that is. I turn my head behind to see Tyler looking at us—at Britney exactly, while his brows are surprisingly knit deeply. I wonder why. Britney doesn't have an idea of what look Tyler is giving her because her eyes are on me already, or maybe she just acts as though she doesn't notice it.

He grips the railing with his left arm. I notice a subtle V inside a small circle just below his thumb. I've been wanting to get a tattoo, but my parents are against it. I look behind him to see if he's with his friends, but surprisingly they aren't. I usually see him with his friends when it's time to go home. I wonder what rendered him leave first.