Bookworms | ✔

nineteen

Nicholas leaned against the trunk of the tree, the sharp edges digging into his back. The book in his hand was a classic, The Picture of Dorian Gray. He wasn't in the mood to start a new book, so he reread the older ones that his teachers used to force him to read.

The autumn leaves fluttered down in different shades of deep reds, yellows, and browns. A gentle breeze caressed the blonde strands that had fallen to his forehead, blowing them with the gradient of leaves. Nicholas's wool sweater kept a small amount of warmth to his body, but he didn't mind. He loved the cold, the freezing temperatures, the chilly atmosphere. The frost numbed his skin like the way books numbed his emotions.

He sighed, closing his eyes as he placed the book down on the bed of grass beside him. The city was bustling with noise, cars honking, teenagers laughing, and dogs barking. Thanksgiving was right around the corner, and Nicholas was feeling as lonely as ever. He opened his eyes, willing the dangerous voices to stay in their prisons of solitude.

Everyone would spend the holiday with their family, except Nicholas. Elijah had packed up to spend time with his girlfriend's family, leaving Nicholas alone for the next couple of days. He would sit in his small apartment, watching the parades on the television and maybe visiting the library. It had become a routine of his. Every holiday, he'd open the library and sit until the last hours of day faded away.

"Dina, you screwed up," said a very familiar deep voice from behind him.

Nicholas shifted in his seat after hearing her name, looking for the source of the voice.

"Haroon, you're supposed to help me with my tajweed (Quranic grammar)," scoffed Dina.

Turning around, he spotted four siblings sitting in a small circle. Each held a thick book in their hands, the leather cover glistening with golden calligraphy. Nicholas assumed that they must have been reading a holy scripture, he just didn't remember the name.

"I am helping!" exclaimed Haroon, adjusting the beanie on his head from the howling winds. "I'm telling you that you suck in a nice way."

Dina scrunched her nose in annoyance. "That's just rude."

Their little sister, Dunya, looked up from her recitation, her curious eyes on Nicholas. Uh oh, he thought. Nicholas quickly hid behind the tree again, hoping that the siblings didn't see him. Heat crawled up the back of his neck as he heard the crunch of twigs from the footsteps that neared him.

"Hey, Nicholas," greeted an amused voice to his right. It was most likely Haroon.

"Didn't know you were so afraid of us, sport," laughed another deep voice from his left, probably Humaid.

"I'm not," he mumbled, holding his book against himself. "I was just startled."

Haroon's light brown eyes glimmered, his frames reflecting a small amount of sunlight. "Mind if we join you?" he asked.

"I don't."

"Awesome," grinned Humaid before turning to his sisters. "Dunya! Dina! Come over here."

Dina and Dunya walked towards the twins. Nicholas's eyes instantly met Dina's gaze, getting lost in the dark brown orbs that seemed endless in his mind. Her lips curled into a smile, shining her bright white teeth at him and warming his heart more than his sweater could. He wanted to run to her, but her brothers were there.

"Hey, Ne-I mean Nicholas," she amended as she sat near her brothers.

Humaid raised a suspicious eyebrow at her. "You two know each other?" he asked, glancing between the two of them.