A single bullet // M.C ✔️

12

To kill a mockingbird, boring. Fifty shades of grey... tempting but not today. Twilight, holy throwback. My fingertips ran over the book's slime edges, reading them as I skimmed the shelves. I didn't know what I was after— just something that got my attention.

Harry Potter was on the next shelf, definitely not for me. I sighed, looking through more books. The coloured spines stood out against the wooden grain beneath them.

"Find what you're looking for?" Someone interrupted me. I spun, annoyed that someone's interrupted my me time, opening my mouth before I snapped it shut.

"I haven't seen you here before," I looked at the stranger, his hazel eyes staring back at me.

"Do you know everyone or something?" He scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. Tattoos popped out from under his red shirt sleeves.

"Most of the people who come here, yes," I shrugged. "I spend a lot of time here, so I've learnt everyone who comes in often. I've never seen you before."

"I'm new here. I've lived here for five years and never came, but my friend was after a book..."

"Oh, what book? I know this library like the back of my hand."

"You know what I don't remember..." he trailed off.

"That's not suspicious or anything," I joked, laughing. "How can you get a book for your friend if you've forgotten it?"

"I was hoping it would just pop out at me when I saw it. This is the last shelf I need to look on, but someone's been in the way for the last ten minutes, just feeling the books up," he scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"No need to be an ass," I muttered, stepping over the way and letting him step forward. Brown watched on as I watched him scan the books the same way I was moments before, before sinking back.

"Ah, here it is!" He explained, grabbing Twilight.

"Twilight, huh? I didn't take you as an Edward girl," I laughed, covering my mouth.

"Like I said, it's not for me, and I'm more team Jacob myself."

"Unbelievable. Well, best think you should check that book out and give it to your friend. I'm sure she's wanting it badly if she sent you here to get it."

"Haha, I'm hurt," he rolled his eyes, shaking his head, curls falling in front of his face. I'm a darn sucker for curls. Especially long fucking curls. "Also, it's a he."

"What?"

"My friend, it's a he. I've always liked this kind of crap." He tucked the book safely under his arm, grabbing a pair of sunglasses out of his pocket and sliding them onto his nose.

"Hey, now I'm not judging," I raised my hands in mock surrender, smiling softly. "I just assumed." I shrugged. "Anyway, the second book is better. The first one's a bit of a drag."

"I agree. The third one's interesting too. But like I said, it's for him anyway, not for me," he seems to glance behind me before looking back at me. "I'm Ashton, by the way."

"Nicky," I held my hand out to him, waiting for him to shake it, which he did.

"The news reporter?"