15 Library

Who could have known that at the library one could hear their own heartbeat. I really loved staying at the library. 

 I munched slowly on my cookies while reading a book about werewolves. They're cool and all. 

 And the best part is their loyalty and love to their mates. Loving them no matter the mistakes. 

 Like fan girls. Only they don't stay together with their idols. Hard truth. 

 Nikki had been quiet besides me. I guess trying to avoid Stray Kids all day drained her. 

 I felt more relaxed though. And maybe this should be for the better. 

 Nikki received another text and she hurriedly checked her phone. I knew it was from them but I still asked. 

 "It's Han. He's asking where we are for the nineteenth time" she groaned. 

 "Desperate much?" Zara smirked, besides me. 

 Nikki wanted to throw a punch on her face but she began laughing earning a "Silence" from the librarian. 

 I rolled my eyes, "Nikki, we aren't ignoring them but saving our parents job" I reminded. Turns out Nikki's dad walked at Irene's company as well. 

 "Also, it will help the boys focus. Weren't you the one that said due to dropping you off they missed their dance practice? Don't worry they have each other" I tried to pacify. 

 She grunted, "How'll they focus if Irene starts rubbing herself on them. Or don't you know that's what she'd do now we're gone..?"

 I scrunched my face. What did she mean now we're gone? Where we protecting the boys from Irene or what? What kind of movie was playing in her head? 

 And if Irene wanted to meet them, she doesn't need to push us away. She just wants us out… if that made sense. 

 "Irene could be a Stay too. Let her be. She has lots of followers on Instagram and tiktok. So she'd help promote them" Zara added. 

 "I have followers on tiktok too" 

 "How many?" Zara asked Nikki. 

 "Doesn't matter. Nikki forget it" I silenced both of them. The library's catch is that it's quiet. If it doesn't stay quiet, it loses it's 'librariness'. 

 I was having English class next with all four of them. Nikki too. We always tried to come late then leave on time. The boys didn't ask us anything so far. 

 All Seungnim had asked once was "Are you avoiding me?". 

 The question didn't have any emotion in it but I was hurt. I had just smiled and said I was awfully busy and scampered away before one of Irene's minion bore hole in me. 

 This English class I'd act more natural. 

 Knowing their usual seat positions, Nikki and I stayed far from it. 

 Zara waved as she joined us. She usually skipped this class but was having it today, for some reasons. 

 "Hey, guess who's making a tiktok video with Stray Kids at the hallway?" she grinned. Nikki rolled her eyes. 

 "Irene?" I asked like I didn't know. 

 Nikki groaned as she had began hating that name. Well, judging that 'Awkward silence by Stray Kids' just got released, they should be some tiktok vids to make. 

 Hyunjin and Felix came into the class with Irene. She wasn't having English classes. She in the same class with me just angered me. 

 Felix looked around and due to my sluggishness, his eyes met mine. 

 "Act natural. Act natural" I shouted inside me. I wriggled my fingers at him and sent him my most natural smile. It worked as the darkness that covered his eyes when he looked at me, vanished. 

 And then shit- he was coming close to us. Irene looked at him and then over to me, and I was fast to look away from him. 

 "Bummer" Nikki sang as she noticed Felix walking towards us. 

 "Hey, Nikki, Lia" I felt my cheeks burn, hearing that accent, hearing that deep voice. 

 Okay- 

 "You didn't see me?" Zara playfully hit his shoulders. He just gave her an uninterested glare and sat on the table closet to Nikki and I. 

 That was just harsh but I wanted to laugh. Zara looked shades of red, of anger but she looked the other way. 

 "So what have you been busy doing?" Felix asked, peering into my eyes. 

 Well, hiding from you guys and enjoying the quietness of the library. 

 "Doing stuffs" I answered instead. 

 "Like?" he asked again, the darkness in his eyes returning. 

 I was tasking my brain to think of something else. Looking around the class I'd see a book or an excuse. Only two other kids were in class doing boring things. 

 My eyes darted to Irene and Hyunjin and if she wasn't becoming to close to him- was she trying to kiss him?

 The sweet boy was just watching a vid, probably a tiktok vid, from her phone with pure disgust. If she kept her face so close to him then— I wasn't watching this. 

 "Spent the day streaming Awkward silence. And reading Landon Snow. Ha-ha" I tore my eyes away. 

 Nikki squeezed my hands from under the table. She was obviously panicking from Irene's closeness. 

 "Irene, your friend?" Nikki blurted, just when the witch was about coming closer. Shit- was Hyunjin a stone?

 Felix turned behind him and Irene retracted her cakey face. I glared at her as a smirk played in her lips. 

 Hyunjin glanced at her from the corner of his ears in confusion. 

 "What? What happened?" Felix turned back to me. 

 That was it- if Irene was keeping Stays away for Stray Kids to molest them, not that they can't take care of themselves but some are strangely oblivious- then Stays are gonna have Stray Kids back as always. 

 "Um… nothing. Well, we were really busy streaming cos we hoped you'd win awards with the new song. We'd be more free from now here on" I assured. 

 He kept his gaze ardent on me, before moving it to Nikki who looked away. 

 "Will you join us for lunch?" it sounded more like a command than question. I met Irene's eyes. 

 "Yes, we would join you guys for lunch, sure!" Nikki answered. I squeezed her hands but she just kept her smile. Felix smiled back and walked back to Hyunjin and the witch.