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 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 colour spines standing out against the wooden grain beneath them.

"Find what you're looking for?" Someone interrupting me. I spun annoyed that someone's interpreted 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 popping out from under his red shirt sleeves.

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

"I'm new here. Lived here 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."

"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? 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. Always liked this kind of crap." He tucked the book safely under his arm grabbing a pair of sunglasses out his pocket sliding them onto his nose.

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

"I agree, 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?"

"Oh wow everyone knows me," I laughed awkwardly

"I just know most people. You're not the only person who knows people," he laughed moving the book back to his hand to hold it. "Also a big new reporter..."

"Yup, people keep telling me." I sighed as I heard the same words leave his mouth that Calum has mentioned previously.

"I love your work..." he carried on ignoring my interruption. "How did you know the gang was going to do what they did?"

"Pot luck," I smiled fakely moving my lips to the corner of my mouth before sighing "everyone always asks me that. I have other articles you know." Damn me for speaking my mind. It was starting to get frustrating to only be known for the two recent ones I've done out the other hundred ones. The two I don't really care about at all as opposed to the others I put my heart and soul into.

"I know you do. That one on the new shopping center really drew me in especially when talking about the robbery that happened the day after. That shop was so unlucky," he laughed throwing his head back, a proper chest laugh leaving his lips.

"It was weren't it. And then it-,"

"Got burnt down," he finished making me nod.

"You really did read it." I was shocked, that was an old article from six years ago......

"Why were you reading New York articles when you weren't even here." Now that confused me.

"Looking up on the place I was moving to obviously Nicky."

"Well yeah..." I played with the rings littering my fingers as I let my eyes flick around the room falling into an awkward silence.

"Suppose I should leave you, get this book to my friend." Ashton smiled tilting his head filling the silence.

"Sure he's really needing it," I joked "got to know what happens to Edward,"

"Spoilers Nicky," Ashton laughed way too loudly for a library making surrounding people shush us giving slight glares and daggers in his direction. I waved goodbye to the third mysterious male I've met recently before spinning around and walking to the front door to leave not spotting the book that I was needing.

"And you say I'm the creeper,"

"Well well well if it isn't Calum," I turned and faced my favourite Australian "never thought I would see you in the library."

"Was meeting up with my friend as he was taking so long in here. Sent him in here to look for someone and he takes hours."

Everyone's looking for something in this library today.

"Look it was nice seeing you Calum but I have to go. Got to look at another library, I really need this book." I smiled rolling my eyes "seems like everyone wants this book."

"What book? Maybe I can keep an eye out for it,"

"Can't ask you to do that,"

"I mean it Nic, I'm your friend I can look out for it."

"Ooo have I been upgraded to a friend from acquaintance," I smiled wildly not trying to hide how giddy it made me.

"Oh shut it or you'll go down to enemy, not even acquaintances."

"Murder in the city: New York. Specifically the 1910-1920 one."

I watched slightly as the colour seemed to drain from his face as he squinted his eyes.

"Why do you want that?"

"You know it!" I couldn't believe it. No one knows that book unless you're really into killings and New York history.

"Yes I know it Nicky. Everyone into that stuff knows it and the reports In it."

"Into that stuff? Killings?"

"Well isn't that why you want this book. I'be got to admit Nicky I never took you as that kind of girl."

"I'm not!" I explained way too loud for a library setting "I'm into the reports of it all and want to know the full stories about photos I studied. No one knows the full version as the book was never fully released. Some people hid it but I heard a few libraries have it so I'm on the hunt for it. For the reports!"

"Mmm sure Nicola for the reports." I slapped his arm at that, shocked contact was made and he never blocked me like Luke previously did.

"It's true! What do you know it because of the killings?"

"And what if I say I am Nicky? Make you scared." He smirked crossing his arms making me scoff.

"Of you. Fuck no," I scoffed rolling my eyes. "Everyone can be into killings," just didn't think you would be.

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