Chapter 7
The smell of old books always feels like home to me.
That evening, I head to the library, hoping for peace–an escape from the tangled mess my life has become.
I wander through the aisles, my fingers skimming the spines of worn novels, the quiet atmosphere soothing my frayed nerves.
I find a cozy spot in the corner and settle in with a mystery novel I’ve been meaning to read. As the words pull me in, the chaos outside begins to fade.
But then it happens.
At first, it’s faint—a whiff of something sharp and acrid. I sniff the air, frowning. Smoke.
I stand, looking around nervously. Then I see it: gray tendrils curling along the ceiling. My stomach drops.
“Fire!” someone shouts from the main room.
A wave of panic ripples through the library. People scramble toward the exits, their shoes thudding against the floor.
My heart pounds as I join the rush, but when I reach the main hallway, flames block the way. The fire spreads fast, devouring shelves and sending thick smoke rolling through the
air.
I cough, pulling my sweater over my nose. My eyes sting as I turn back, searching for another way out. The crackling of the flames grows louder, and fear claws at my chest. “Aria!”
I freeze. That voice….a familiar and urgent and urgent one.
Through the haze, Brandon appears, his face streaked with soot.
Relief washes over me, quickly followed by confusion. Yes, I’m utterly confused. Why is the monster in my life walking in like he’s the hero in this story? “What are you doing here?” I croak.
“No time for that,” he snaps, grabbing my arm. “We need to get out of here!”
“I can’t see-”
“Just trust me!”
He pulls me through the smoke, moving through the maze of shelves with surprising confidence. I stumble, my legs weak, but he doesn’t let go.
The heat is unbearable, and every breath feels like fire in my lungs. Just when I think I can’t go any further, we burst through an emergency exit.
Cool night air hits my face, and I collapse onto the pavement, coughing violently.
Brandon kneels beside me, his hand on my back. “Are you okay?”
I nod weakly, tears streaming down my face from the smoke.
“I think so. Thank you.”
Not that I want to thank him, but I have to.
He gives a small, relieved smile. “I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you.”
Before I can respond, he reaches out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch lingers, and I stiffen.
“Brandon, don’t,” I say, pulling back.
His expression falters.
“I just..seeing you in there, I realized how much I still care about you.”
“Stop,” I tell him immediately.
I know where he’s heading to, and I don’t like that.
“I appreciate what you did, but this doesn’t change anything.”
His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he’ll argue. But then he nods, stepping back.
“I’m glad you’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
I watch him walk away, a combination of gratitude and frustration swirling in my chest.
Yes, gratitude since he saved me from that fire. But still, I’m frustrated that I crossed paths with him.
Later that night, I’m curled up on the couch, trying to process everything, when there’s a knock at the door.
Thesitate, half–expecting Brandon again, but when I open it, Harry stands there, his expression a mix of relief and concern.
“Harry,” I say, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard about the fire,” he replies, stepping inside. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say, closing the door behind him. “It was terrifying, but I got out.”
“Brandon was the one who pulled you out, right?” he asks, his tone careful.
I nod, sighing. “Yeah. I didn’t even know he was there.”
Harry’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t say anything right away. Instead, he walks over to the couch, sitting down and gesturing for me to join him. “What happened in there?” he asks softly.
I sit beside him, wrapping my arms around my knees.
Chapter
“It all happened so fast. One minute I was reading, and the next..the whole place was on fire. The smoke was so thick, I couldn’t see anything, I thought I was going to—”
My voice breaks, and Harry reaches out, his hand covering mine.
“You’re okay now,” he says gently. “That’s what matters.”
I nod, blinking back tears.
“Brandon just…appeared. He pulled me out. I don’t even know why he was there.”
“Probably keeping tabs on you,” Harry mutters, a hint of irritation in his voice.
I laugh softly, shaking my head. “Maybe. He did try to kiss me afterward.”
Harry’s head snaps up, his eyes narrowing, “What?”
“Relax,” I say quickly. “I didn’t let him. I told him it didn’t change anything.”
Harry relaxes slightly, but his gaze stays intense. “Good. You deserve better than him, Aria.”
I meet his eyes, my chest tightening at the sincerity in his voice.
Indeed, I deserve better.
“Thank you, Harry.”
“For what?”
“For being here,” I reply in a soft tone, and Harry chuckles.
“For caring,”
His lips quirk into a small smile. “Always.”
