Hold On

Chapter One

I sit uncomfortably in a stiff chair in the corner of the library with my head shoved into a thick book. The rain beats hard against the windows as I flick through the pages of my book. I love reading while it rains, it’s beautiful and calming. I look out the window and smile at the weather. I find rain comforting in a strange way. The old library fades away as I read more and more of my book. It’s nice and warm inside the library opposed to outside where it is absolutely freezing.

The librarian tilts her head up from her book, her glasses almost falling off the end of her nose. “Library shuts in two minutes Rose, go home before the storm hits,” she says as she gets up to grab the closed sign to hang outside the library. She slowly walks over to the door and waits for me to come outside before she can lock up. The librarian is an elderly lady. Her name is Mrs Brown. She is wearing a long green dress covered with a cardigan over it and numerous scarfs around her neck. She wears her grey hair up in a bun with hair falling around her face. She has been the town librarian ever since I was little. She is always kind to everyone and helps people find a book just right for them. I always feel at home here and she is one of my best friends.  

I look up at her and nod. I shove my book in my backpack. “Okay, I’ll have to catch the bus home now I guess,” I sigh as I look outside at the oncoming storm. The librarian gives me a nod and grabs her coat. The two of us walk outside and rain hits my face hard. I quickly put on my coat and open my umbrella. The chill is slicing through my body like a sharp knife. I feel like asking Mrs Brown if I could get a ride home but I remember she lives on the other side of town and it would be quite inconvenient for her. She hangs the closed sign on the library door and locks up. She gives me a wave goodbye before running to her little green car. I let out a sigh as I realize I don’t know how I’m supposed to get home. I rethink catching the bus and decide to walk home in the rain.

I hold my umbrella over my head and begin to walk home. Just as I start walking, I catch a figure in the corner of my eye. I turn around sharply on my heel and look through the library window. There, sitting reading a book is a figure of a boy. I didn’t see him in the library before which is strange. He runs his hand through his hair and turns his head slightly like he knows somebody is watching him. I suddenly panic, the poor guy is going to be locked in there all night, he probably doesn’t even know the library had shut. I decide to knock on the glass to get his attention.

“Hey, you in there, the library has closed!” I yell, hoping my voice is audible through the glass.

The boy turns his head and gives a slight nod.

“Did you want me to open the door for you?” I ask as I hold out my own set of library keys. The boy doesn’t answer, he just shakes his head. He runs his hand through his hair again and it occurs to me how beautiful the boy actually is. I look closely at him and notice his thick curly hair, beautiful face and perfect posture. I stand outside the library in the pouring rain for little while and watch him. I try to think of where I’ve seen him before or what school he goes to. I search my brain but I realize I have never seen him before in my life. The rain soaks my hair and my clothes as I stand there waiting for him to come out but he stays still in that chair reading for what seems like forever. His mind is completely inside that book. His eyebrows are kitted together in concentration and I notice his changing emotions as he flicks through the pages.

As it gets late and I decide to leave him there. I unlock the library door for him with my own set of keys so he can get out.

“Well I should be going now, I unlocked the door for you,” I say to him before I leave. The boy doesn’t answer. I glance at him one more time before I turn away and walk home.

As I walk home the rain beats down heavily. My whole body is absolutely soaked. I can almost feel the cold soaking through my bones. I stare down at my boots and walk as quickly as I can. I look up and observe every person and car that passes me. I suddenly feel extremely nervous and I get a sick feeling in my stomach. I hate walking alone at night, there are so many strangers and so many bad things that could happen. I shiver and as I turn the next corner thankfully my street comes into view. As I approach my house I get a pang of anxiety. It’s almost 9:30pm, what are my parents going to think? I rub the mud off my Dr Marten boots at the door mat, take a deep breath and quietly enter the house. As soon as I walk through the door I’m greeted by two angry looking parents.