Sign Your Name Across My Heart

Chapter twenty-two

I sit at my desk at work, reading a book, just like everyone else in here, though I'm not paying as much attention to my book as everyone else is. In reality, all I can think about is how much sex Ash and I have been having. It's been a month since the first time we had, and I don't think we've gone even one day without doing it. It's hard not to think about it. Honestly, it's the only thing I can think about. I swear I feel fireworks bursting in my body every time he touches me.

Trying not to daydream too much, I snap myself back to the present. There's a few students who look around seventeen, sitting at a table at the far right of the library, nose-deep in their books. An old man sits in the comfy chair by the big window, giggling at a book in his hands. He makes me smile.

A young woman, maybe my age, is sifting through books on the shelf in front of her, her eyebrows furrowed, deep in concentration. She's in the Thriller section. I wonder what kind of book she's looking to find. A specific one? Is she just browsing? Did her friend tell her to check out a really good book that she's now beginning to think isn't the right one for her based on the summary in the back?

I love my job for this reason. Getting to look at all of the different people in here, some regulars, some people I've never seen before, all here for similar reasons. I find it fun.

I'm working the closing shift today, which isn't something I do often, but I don't mind doing every once in a while. Getting home after is always a little scary, but I'll just call a taxi most of the time.

Once 9:00 pm approaches, everyone in the library makes their ways out, checking their books in, checking some books out. The teenagers from earlier stay right up until close.

I wonder if they're studying for an upcoming test. I remember those days. They weren't so far from me.

As I lock the doors to the library, I fix my purse as it falls off my shoulder, down my arm. I begin walking home, as it isn't too dark out just yet. The sun always stays out longer in the summer and I love it.

As I walk home, only living about twenty minutes away, I hear a small scuffle behind me. I don't look, I simply keep walking - though I am conscious that someone may be behind me.

After a couple more minutes, turning down onto another street, I hear the scuffles turn into very clear, heavy footsteps that seem to speed up. I also speed up, still choosing not to look behind me. Am I being followed or is someone walking just a little too close to me? I don't know if I feel threatened yet, but I don't like how quick the footsteps have gotten.

I am finally near my apartment and I suddenly feel a sense of urgency to make sure I'm not being followed. What if whoever is behind me has been checking to see what building I go into?

The footsteps have quieted down, I almost don't hear them anymore. As I walk, I don't stop - as I think that isn't the best idea, and I quickly turn and look over my shoulder, expecting to see someone, but I don't. There is nobody there.

I let out a sigh of relief, swallowing the lump that had been building in my throat. Despite knowing that there's nobody behind me, I still finish off my route in a small jog to my front door. I hurry to get my key and I get inside, quickly shutting and locking the door behind me.

I check through the little window for about fourty seconds, waiting to see if anyone passes by - but no one does. Was I just imagining it? Was what happened with Hawthe last month freaking me out and making me paranoid? I hope not.

I yawn and get ready for bed, but not before sending Ash a text message.

When am I seeing you again?

A couple seconds pass before he answers.

How about tomorrow night? I think it's someone's birthday if I remember right. I'm going to take you out.

I grin from ear to ear and send back a heart before I doze off.