12.

-HER-

I reach college and meet my group. They seem happy and content unlike me. Today is the day when we would finally get to know if we have managed to succeed in our mission.

Internally, I am more anxious than ever but I try my best to not show it on the surface. After a little chit chat, we leave for our classes. Lisa is buzzing with happiness and excitement as we climb the stairs to our class.

As soon as I enter the class, my eyes fall on Holly’s group. She is not present today. Where is she? Is she caught already? I cannot help but think about these questions.

Lisa seems to notice the same thing and gives me a small smirk as if she surely knows what has happened.

I look away and busy myself with taking out my notebook and pen. I could still feel people’s eyes on me. I wonder how long they are going to remember it. I wonder how long this will continue. Their eyes make my skin seem thinner and thinner and I hate it.

“She is missing. Do you think she has been caught?” Lisa whispers to me after we settle down. I simply shake my head and look ahead. The professor enters the class and starts teaching.

Holly’s group seems lost without her. Today, they seem to act normal. It’s been only a couple of times when they’ve turned in my direction to give me weird looks. They seem to be confused about the missing of the blonde.

Today’s class seems tolerable than most days. Though, the professor proves us wrong soon by giving us two essays to be completed this week. Despite Lisa’s attempts to lure me into joining them for a movie in the evening, I end up finding my way to the library to get some books for the essay.

Lisa decides to not accompany me to the place because she hated reading books.

The college library is three floors big. I find myself on the second floor to get some books on Egyptian dynasties. I run the tips of my fingers along the spine of the books as I walk from shelf to shelf, looking at the books.

This portion of the library is fairly empty. I doubt if I am the only one in this section but I don’t mind it. I wanted to be alone for some time. As an introvert, it drains my energy whenever I am around people.

It’s not like I don’t like my group. I like them but sometimes, I just need to be alone to collect my thoughts.

I continue looking at the books. A particular book catches my interest. I stop and read the title of the book on its spine before taking it out.

My heart stops for a moment when a familiar pair of black eyes stare at me through the empty space where the book had been sitting before. I freeze in my place and stare back into those eyes.

I know whom they belong to.

Him.

I see interest in his eyes before he cocks an eyebrow at me. I gulp before clutching the book in my hand and spinning on my heels and walking away as fast as I could manage.

I don’t look back and just walk towards the stairs that descend down to the first floor. Just before I could step out of the rows of the shelves, I am being pulled back by my bag.

I gasp at the sudden tug before I turn around slowly to look at me. He has his eyes narrowed on me. I take this moment to study him closely. This is the closest I have been to him.

He is still holding my bag as if he has no intention of letting me go anytime soon. He is fairly tall and muscular. He has a defined jaw and a beautiful angular face. His hair is in a buzz cut.

There’s something different about him. I cannot quite put a finger on it. I don’t feel anything… for him. I don’t feel the pull or those overwhelming emotions that seem to keep me awake at night.

Though I have this strong urge to flee from the fear of getting caught.

“Were you running away?” He speaks for the first time. His voice is deep but it sounds different. I turn around to face him fully.

“No,” I answer simply. He releases me after seeing the book in my hand. He takes it from me without saying anything before thrusting a paper in my hand, taking me by surprise.

“Help me find these books,” He speaks but it sounds more like a command. I look at the paper to find the names of at least ten books. I look back at him in bewilderment.

“Um, ok?” I mutter before he leads me back in the labyrinth of high bookshelves.

“I think, we might find this book there,” I say pointing to the far-left bookshelves. He takes a look at the name of the book before walking in that direction.

“Found it!” He bellows triumphantly, holding the book up. Seeing the puzzled look decorating my face due to his reaction, he sighs, “My girlfriend told me to get these books. I have been lost here for almost half an hour. I hate this place,”

I nod, suddenly remembering the brunette I saw him with. So that’s his girlfriend. Or maybe he is referring to the black-haired girl?

I am soon confused but I do not let it show as I help him get the other books as well. I could not help but stare at him when he is not paying attention to me.

He looks attractive, seems to be from a rich family and is the president of the student’s council. The same guy whose office I had vandalized just yesterday.

I wonder what he’d do if he ever gets to know about the truth.