Reckless {HS}

one

Delilah's Pov

The sun was already dipping behind the campus buildings as I rushed out of my sociology class, my mind racing through a mental checklist of everything I had to do before the day ended. Rent was due, and Grandma's check was burning a hole in my backpack. If I didn't deposit it soon, I'd be late on rent—again. That was the last thing I needed, another warning from my landlord or worse, an eviction notice.

The bank was just a few blocks from campus, nestled between a coffee shop and a clothing boutique I always passed but never had time to visit. My feet ached from walking all day, but I pushed through the doors, grateful for the blast of cool air that greeted me inside. I glanced around. It was quiet, almost eerily so, with only a handful of people scattered throughout the room. The steady hum of fluorescent lights filled the air, the kind of sound you didn't notice until it was all you could hear.

Good, no line.

I approached the counter, shifting my bag on my shoulder as I offered the teller a small smile. She didn't smile back, her face tired and drawn, and I wondered what kind of day she'd had. Probably worse than mine. I handed over the check, grateful it was enough to keep me afloat for another month, even if just barely. My thoughts were already drifting to the assignments waiting for me when suddenly—

BANG!

The sound of a gunshot shattered the stillness, louder than anything I had ever heard. My entire body jerked in shock, heart slamming against my ribs as the windows rattled from the force. I spun around, eyes wide, just in time to see four men burst through the door. They moved like a wave, swift and deliberate, their faces hidden behind dark bandanas. My stomach twisted in knots.

The tallest one raised a gun, and before I could even process what was happening, he fired another shot into the ceiling.

"Nobody moves!" he shouted, his voice booming and authoritative. "Get on the ground—now!"

Time seemed to slow. My legs felt like lead, but I forced myself to drop to the cold marble floor, pressing my back against the counter as I tried to make myself as small as possible. My hands were trembling, my pulse hammering in my ears, blocking out every other sound. This wasn't real. It couldn't be. Bank robberies didn't happen in broad daylight. Not here. Not to me.

I kept my head down, but I couldn't stop myself from peeking up just as one of the robbers passed me. He moved with a strange calm, like he had done this before. His steps were deliberate, each movement purposeful. Even through the bandana covering the lower half of his face, I could see his eyes—piercing green, sharp, and cold.

"Make sure no one tries anything stupid," he said, his voice low and measured.

A shiver ran down my spine. There was something unsettling about how calm he sounded, like this was just another day for him. His gaze swept across the room, but for a moment, it locked onto mine. My breath caught in my throat. The way he looked at me—it was like he could see right through me, like he wasn't just scanning the room, but seeing me. Really seeing me.

I tore my gaze away, pressing my knees to my chest as if I could disappear into the floor. But I could still feel the weight of his eyes on me, lingering even after he had walked away.

"This is too easy," one of the other robbers, a blond guy with an Irish accent, said with a chuckle as he stuffed stacks of money into a duffel bag. "I almost feel bad."

"Focus, Niall," another one snapped, his voice sharp. "We're not here for fun."

"Maybe next time we should rob a police station, Louis," Niall shot back, grinning beneath his bandana.

"Enough," the tallest one barked. His voice was different—rougher, more impatient. "We're almost done."

I hugged my knees tighter, my mind spinning. They were talking like this was nothing, like they had done this a hundred times before. The realization sent a cold wave of fear washing over me. Whoever these guys were, they weren't amateurs.

The green-eyed robber walked past me again, his gaze flicking toward me. This time, it stayed. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it. There was something in the way he looked at me, something that made my skin crawl and my stomach churn. It wasn't just a passing glance. It was... more. Like he was memorizing my face. Like he was making sure he'd remember me.

Then, just as quickly as it had started, it was over. The robbers slipped out the door as smoothly as they had come in, the sound of their footsteps fading into the evening. The tension in the room snapped like a taut string, people around me scrambling to their feet, whispering in panicked tones. But I stayed where I was, frozen in place, my body still trembling.

I knew I should get up, that I should do something—call the police, find my voice—but I couldn't move. My thoughts were tangled, my heart still racing. All I could think about was him.

And that was the first time I saw those piercing green eyes, but I knew it wouldn't be the last.