Scars. |✔️|

Chapter 1: The Library Visit

"Okay, I gotta go. Talk to you tomorrow, L"  

"Okay, girl. Goodbye, I'll talk to you later."

I️ hang up the phone call with my best friend, Laura, and sit my phone down on the table. Laura Cruz is a mixed, light skin girl, but everyone always thinks she is white. She is my one and only friend. She has been there for me through thick and thin, even through my abuse.

I️ walk towards my bathroom and start to pick out an outfit. I️ pick out a long sleeve black shirt, dark skinny jeans, and my black Converse. I️ look in the mirror and let out a sigh at what I️ see. I'm a 23 year old girl in California, where it is always hot, in a full on fall outfit. Even though I️ know that I️ will be burning up I️ have to cover up. No one can see my...

Crash. 

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of boxes falling and glass breaking. There must be someone moving in next door. It's about time. That apartment has been empty for a year.

Bzzzt.

My phone vibrates and I️ see my father's name appear across the screen. I️ quickly decline the call and grab my books and my backpack and head out of the door.

~~~

"Good afternoon Aaliyah! You here for return or to check out more books?" Mrs. Cole says.

Mrs. Cole is the librarian at the Los Angeles Community Library. However to me, she is so much more than that. She is one of the only people that has been there for me through my, well, shitty life. If I️ wanted to stay in the library a little longer she would let me. If I️ needed to talk to someone she would listen. She is the mom I️ never and will never have.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Cole! And both."

"Well go ahead and put your books here and are you looking for any specific book? Even though I believe you have read most of them," she laughs.

"Actually I️ am. Do you have Friday by Lotanna Oraedu? I️ know it's a newer one but I️ was just wondering."

"Um... I️ don't know if I've gotten that one yet. If I️ do have it, it will be in Section C on the top shelf. There should be a stool if you need help getting up there."

"Okay, I️ will go look. Thank you!" I️ say, starting to walk away.

"You're welcome, sweetheart. And what did I️ tell you about those long sleeve shirts. It's 100 degrees outside."

"I️ know, but I️ am self conscious about them. You know," I️ say embarrassed.

"I️ know sweetheart, but one day your ass is gonna burn to death in them sleeves. You gotta let it go. You are beautiful even with your..."

She is interrupted by the bell on the door ringing signaling that someone was entering the building. I️ walk away not caring to see who it is. I️ go to Section C and search around until I️ see the O's. After looking through some books I️ finally found it, but it was on the top shelf just like she said.

"Of fucking course," I️ mumble to myself.

After what felt like forever searching for the stool, I️ start to jump up and down to get the book, failing every time. Soon, I️ decide to give up.

"Fuck it."

Suddenly, a muscular arm reaches across my shoulder reaching for the book. When he takes the book out, he hands it too me while slowly touching my hand.

"Here you go," he says.

Damn. That voice.

I️ turn around and see a tall, light skin guy towering in front of me. His hair is braided to the back and he was amazingly fine. I️ look him up and down, but I️ get stuck on his lips. God. His lips are full and lightly pink. The kind of lips that are practically begging you to kiss them. After a while, I️ guess he caught me staring because he repeated himself a little louder.

"Here you go," he says with the same sexy voice.

"Oh um... thank... um... thank you," I️ studder.

"No problem. Do you come here often?" 

"Everyday since I️ was ten."

"Really why ten? And why so often?" 

I was ten when my father first hit me. And ever since, I come here everyday because it became my escape place from the cruel, cold outside world.

"Bookworm, I️ guess. Why did you ask?" I️ lie.

"Oh okay. I️ was just wondering if you could help me find a book."

"What book?"

"To Kill A Mockingbird. I️ thought it would be in L-O for Lee, but I️ don't see it here."

To Kill A Mockingbird. Really? That's a classic. What does he want to do with To Kill A Mockingbird?

"Oh that's cause it is in the classics in Section E. Do you want me to show you?" I️ ask praying that he says yes so I️ can have one more minute with him.

"If you don't mind."

"I️ would be happy to," I️ say giggling a little bit. "Follow me."

I️ probably shouldn't have said that because when we start to walk, I️ can feel his eyes on my ass the entire time.

"Here you go," I️ say.

"Thank you," he says grabbing the book from my hand.

When he grabs the book, our hands touch once again and we look each other into the eyes like some movie type shit. I️ quickly snap back to reality and pull my hand away as quickly as possible.I️ turn around and run away, leaving him there alone and confused. I️ know I️ probably hurt his feelings doing that, but I️ cannot catch feelings for any man. Not trusting men is something I️ have been taught from a young age. My dad abused me all my life and taught me that no one will ever love me. Ever. I️ quickly run out of the library rushing past Mrs. Cole.

"Girl you betta stop running or there's gonna be a problem," she says, causing me to stop running.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Cole," I️ say out of breath. "Can I️ take this book home and check it out tomorrow? Please..."

"Fine girl. But this is the last time. You gotta check it out tomorrow, I️ can't keep doin this."

"Thank you."

I️ run to my car and start it. Just as I️ was about to drive off, I️ heard my phone ring again. My father's name flashed across the screen and my body instantly becomes tense. I️ ignore the phone call and take a deep breath.

"Breathe, Liyah. You just gotta breath."

I️ remember what my therapist told me when I️ was younger. I️ pull of the lot and drive home. The only thing on my mind is that boy. I️ never even got his name. But something tells me I️ am going to. I️ don't know why, but I️ had this feeling that I️ haven't felt since I️ was really young...

Happy.
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I️ hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of Scars! Make sure to go check out Friday by my good friend LotannaOraedu!

Make sure to vote, comment, share, and follow me for more!

Stay tuned for Chapter 2... coming soon!

-Nadia ❤️