Malefactor [H.S.]

20

The Jefferson Market Library has unofficially become my home for the entirety of this week. Today is Thursday, meaning it's the last day of the week for my classes since I don't have any on Fridays. Monday marks the first day of finals week, and I've been frantically studying in preparation. Every spare second I have is spent with my nose tucked into a book or on my computer, going through my notes and creating online flashcards to drill the material into my head.

I tried studying at the library on campus, but considering everyone else had the same idea, it was packed. Unsurprisingly, many people don't understand that libraries are supposed to be quiet and made it near-impossible to focus. Not to mention, I've been spending hours on end in the library, so the idea of having to catch the bus and then hop on the subway just to travel from Brooklyn to Niall's place in Greenwich Village isn't exactly the most appealing idea.

Riley also still thinks I'm being stalked since we don't know how to get around Niall's idiotic excuse, so me being only a few blocks away just overall works out better for everyone.

The low battery warning appears on the righthand corner of the screen, alerting me that I only have 10% left. I sigh, looking at the time and seeing that the library closes in fifteen minutes anyway. Saving all my work, I shut down my laptop and slide it into my bag. Once all of my books and notebooks are put away, as well as my chargers and AirPods, I begin to head out of the library. One of the librarians, an older woman who has noticed me coming all week and struck up a conversation with me about school, waves goodbye.

I shoot a quick text to Riley and Niall, telling them I'm leaving the library now and will be home after I stop to get food. My stomach growls loudly, sharp hunger pains shooting through me since I haven't eaten anything in at least eight hours. I usually can't go more than four or five hours without eating, so how I've managed to go this long is a mystery to me.

Heading in the direction of the nearest Chinese takeout spot, I call up and place an order. Hanging up, I hurry along the sidewalk but keep my eyes on my surroundings. Greenwich Village is one of the safest spots in the entire city, but that doesn't mean someone with bad intentions couldn't come into this neighborhood and do something heinous. Maybe I've just been more paranoid than usual due to recent events, but I hug my bookbag straps to my shoulders a little tighter and keep an annoyed look on my face to lessen the chance of anyone trying to talk to me.

I'd like to think that as the head of whatever kind of crime it is that he's involved in, Colin has more important things to do than hurt me. Still, that doesn't lessen the constant worry that he's going to pop out of the shadows like the boogeyman and come after me.

Riley and I probably could have gone back to our apartment in Brooklyn by now but truthfully, I'm too scared for us to be there alone. Things seem to get more serious between her and Niall every day, and I'm beginning to think that when I do eventually have to go back to my own place, she won't follow and will start staying with Niall more permanently. I don't want to be alone.

The door to the small, mainly-takeout restaurant chimes as I step inside. A man and his two young children are sitting at a table eating, a woman is leaning against the wall scrolling on her phone as she presumably waits for her order, and another man is at the register paying. Good. This shouldn't take too long.

I get in line behind the man, drumming my fingers along my forearms. As I wait, someone else gets in line behind me—someone who, despite not being able to see them, I can tell is incredibly tall compared to me. Fueled by anxiety and paranoia, I turn to look casually, but the man in front of me is stepping away from the counter with his order.

"Hi," I smile as I approach the woman working the register. "I called in an order about ten minutes ago for Camden."

The woman nods, pulling out my corresponding order and typing it into the register. "$17.26," she reads me my total. I insert my chip into the card reader, pulling it back out once it beeps. She passes me my receipt, informing me, "We'll call you when it's ready. Give us another five minutes or so."