Abigail's POV
The library is unusually quiet today, the stillness pressing down on me like a weight. I sit at my usual spot near the large window, a few open textbooks scattered in front of me. But reading is impossible. My thoughts keep circling back to one person-Nathan.
The journal.
Every time I close my eyes, I see his smirk as he taunted me, the way he looked at me that night, knowing exactly what he'd found. What will he do with it? Will he show it to the entire school? The humiliation would be unbearable. And then there's his threat-to make my mom leave his dad.
I don't know what's worse: the possibility of him exposing me or the fact that he has this much power over me. My chest tightens as I try to focus on the words in front of me, but the letters blur together, meaningless.
I rub my temples and take a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Maybe he won't do anything. Maybe he's just messing with me.
The thought doesn't bring much comfort.
I glance at the clock. It's been over an hour, and I haven't read a single page. The library is supposed to be my safe space-a place to escape everything. But now, even here, I feel suffocated by the weight of Nathan's threats.
Suddenly, a noise cuts through the silence-a muffled thud from the back corner of the library.
I freeze, my heart pounding. That part of the library is always deserted, reserved for old, dusty books no one reads anymore. Curiosity mixed with a flicker of unease tugs at me.
Slowly, I stand, peering around the shelves. The sound comes again, followed by a hushed voice. Someone is definitely back there.
I consider going back to my seat, pretending I didn't hear anything, but something compels me to investigate. Cautiously, I tiptoe toward the noise, keeping to the shadows. As I get closer, I hear more voices-low and threatening.
I peek around the corner and my stomach drops.
Nathan and his friends are standing in a semi-circle around a boy I recognize from my science class-Billy. His round face is pale, his eyes wide with fear. Nathan leans casually against the wall, hands in his pockets, while Jaxon flips through Billy's textbook, laughing.
"Trying to make us all look bad, nerd?" Jaxon sneers, holding the book just out of Billy's reach.
Billy lunges for it, but Aiden shoves him back, laughing as the poor boy stumbles.
"You've gotta hit the gym, Billy," Aiden taunts. "Or at least stop eating your weight in snacks."
My fists clench at my sides as I watch the scene unfold. It's disgusting. They're ganging up on someone who can't defend himself, and Nathan-he's just standing there, letting it happen.
For a moment, I consider running to find a teacher. But then Nathan's voice echoes in my mind, his threat to ruin me if I cross him. What if he does more than expose my journal? What if he messes with my grades, or worse, makes life unbearable for me and my mom?
I bite my lip, torn between doing what's right and protecting myself.
My hands tremble as I step back, deciding to leave before I'm noticed. But as I turn, my bag slips from my shoulder, and my books tumble to the floor with a loud, echoing crash.
I freeze, panic flooding my veins.
The laughter stops.
"What was that?" Aiden's voice is sharp, cutting through the silence.
I don't wait to find out. I crouch low, trying to gather my books quietly. My heart races as I hear footsteps approaching.
"Stay here," Aiden whispers, and I know he's coming for me.
I scramble to hide, ducking behind a tall shelf filled with encyclopedias. My breath catches as I press myself against the cold wood, praying he doesn't find me.
The footsteps grow louder, stopping just on the other side of the shelf.
"Found her lurking," Aiden's voice suddenly cuts through the air, and before I can react, he grabs my arm and hauls me into view.
My stomach twists as he drags me toward Nathan and the others.
Billy looks at me with wide, terrified eyes, while Jaxon raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised to see me.
"I wasn't spying," I say quickly, my voice steady despite the situation. "I was just...reading."
"Reading," Jaxon repeats after me, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Right. And I'm the queen of England."
I ignore him, my gaze locked with Nathan's.
I can't move, can't speak. My eyes lock with his, and for a moment, everything else fades. There's a flicker of something in his gaze-confusion, hesitation-but it's gone as quickly as it came.
"Let her go," Nathan says abruptly, his voice sharp.
Aiden hesitates, then releases my arm. I stumble back, clutching my wrist.
"Are we done here?" I ask, my voice trembling but steady enough to sound defiant.
Nathan's lips curl into a smirk, and he steps closer.
"Not quite," he says, grabbing my arm again. His grip is firm but not painful as he pulls me toward the middle of the group.
He shoves me lightly, and I stumble, landing on my knees.
"Deal with her," he says, his voice cold and detached.
The others exchange uneasy glances. Jaxon scratches the back of his neck, while Aiden shifts uncomfortably.
"What's your problem, man?" Jaxon mutters. "She's a girl."
Nathan narrows his eyes at him. "Do I need to remind you who's in charge here?"
Jaxon falls silent, but his discomfort is evident.
I glare up at Nathan, my fear giving way to anger. "What are you doing?" I demand, my voice shaking but defiant.
He crouches down, bringing his face close to mine. "Teaching you a lesson," he says softly, his eyes boring into mine.
For a moment, I see something behind his cold exterior-something vulnerable, conflicted. But then it's gone, replaced by the smirking, arrogant mask he always wears.
Before I can respond, Billy speaks up.
"Leave her alone," he says, his voice trembling but firm.
The group turns to him, stunned.
Nathan straightens, his expression unreadable as he stares at Billy. "What did you say?"
Billy swallows hard but doesn't back down. "She didn't do anything to you. Just let her go."
Nathan's jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he's going to lash out. But then he exhales sharply and runs a hand through his hair.
"Fine," he says finally, waving a hand dismissively. "We're done here."
The tension in the air dissipates slightly as Nathan steps back. Aiden and Jaxon exchange confused looks but don't argue.
I scramble to my feet, brushing off my jeans. My heart is still racing, but I force myself to meet Nathan's gaze.
"Next time," he says, his voice low enough that only I can hear, "stay out of my business."
I hold his gaze for a moment longer, then turn and walk away without looking back.
As I reach the library doors, I glance over my shoulder. Nathan is still watching me, his expression unreadable.
I push open the doors and step into the hallway, the cool air washing over me like a breath of fresh air. My legs feel like jelly, but I keep moving, determined to put as much distance between myself and Nathan as possible.
What just happened?