Saving her

Nora's POV

I strolled down the hallway towards my locker. 

Bradford would always have after school hours in the library for students who preferred to study or read.

With no doubt, I was for the latter. 

After classes ended, I would always spend one hour in the library to read novels. There was a particular section specifically for the same. Putting the books inside, I locked the door when my eyes trailed on the two figures few lockers ahead.  

Liam who was clad in an eggshell white sweatshirt and light blue ripped jeans was leaning against the locker, playing on his cellphone. Next to him was a girl with light brown hair I didn’t recognise. She was so breathtakingly beautiful that even as a girl I found it difficult to look away, not to mention the boys around. She was looking for something inside the locker and talking to Liam. Although he was playing on his phone, he occasionally gave her replies, earning a big smile from her. His eyes containing never so seen gentleness in them. From the way they behaved, they seemed pretty close to each other. Standing together, they looked like a perfect couple.

According to what I’ve heard, Liam never dated anyone from the school as he regarded them as nothing but love-struck fools, which was rather true. But then again, those were just groundless rumours. Although I knew he never lacked women around him, after witnessing it

personally, I felt a bit sour. 

Without dawdling much, I turned around, not wanting to witness their PDAs anymore when I felt my legs swept up the floor. A pair of powerful hands caught me and spun around, earning a deafening scream from me. The person laughed heartily and put me down. The scowl on my face changed into a huge grin when I looked at the person in front.   

Joshua Quinton. 

Or Josh as he went by was still dressed in his sports suit. He was not just a typical jock, rather one of the hottest and coolest you’d ever meet. 

He had Ink Black hair and a charming pair of dark brown eyes that always crinkled when he smiled. He was almost 6’0 tall.  

Of course, his handsomeness was only second to Liam. 

He smiled widely and promptly pulled me into his arms. 

I returned the hug and patted his torso. 

“How are you, Nora? It’s been ages since we last met.” He squeezed me tightly.  

“Just how you left.” I replied pulling out of the hug and letting him rest his hands on my arms. 

“What about you? Did you just arrive?” 

“Yeah! We’ve won yet another game.” He said breaking into a grin. 

God! his smile was really the most beautiful thing to exist in this world. 

“And why am I not surprised?” I crossed my hands over my chest.

“Of course you’re not.” he replied laughing. “Let’s grab a coffee. There’s so much I wanna talk about." He continued, leaving no room for objections. 

I nodded, and he grasped my hand, taking me along with him. 

As he pulled me away, I could feel someone burning holes in my back. However, when I turned around, I couldn’t locate anyone. 

I shook my head, assuming I was imagining things

yet again. 

I first met Joshua in the second semester of our first year in Bradford when we were paired together for an assignment. It didn’t take long before we became good friends, surprisingly, as I was never the one to be comfortable around a stranger so quickly. That was mainly because Josh knew his limits. He knew when to stop and give me my space.

He was always respectful, making little to no awkwardness between us. The only person to cheer me up whenever I was in a rotten mood. Taking care of me and the things I cared about. I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy his company. 

Josh is the best basketball player in the campus. Whichever match he participated in, victory was evident. If opportunity arises, he’d soon take part in the NBA.

Despite that, however, he wasn’t the captain of the school’s team. When the voting for the captaincy was held, he even won with a score of 16/20 though he declined the position later. With higher position comes greater responsibilities and Josh was like me, who didn’t like to be tied down. He’s already busy enough, seldom getting time off even when he’s not the captain. So imagine the amount of workload he had to shoulder, had he not given up his spot.

Part of it I knew was because of me. 

Having shared such a close relation, it wouldn’t be surprising to tell Joshua was pursuing me. It was last year, during the annual gala, when he asked me out.

I wasn’t shocked to be precise and had seen it coming.

Call it a girl’s sixth sense, but I knew he looked at me in a way a man would look at a woman.

Put in a tough spot, I didn’t know how to react. Joshua was the best guy one could ever ask for in her partner. The perfect ideal type a girl desired.

In my story, however, he was but The Second Male Lead.

Frankly, I had no reason to turn down his proposal, but still, being the blockhead I am, I did it. That is because I had no feelings for him. It’s not like I did not try. We both did go out for several dates. But even then, my heart didn’t skip a beat for him. I wasn’t selfish to keep him hanging all the time, and hence I confessed my honest thoughts to him. Joshua

was rather calm about it. He respected my decision and did not want to force me into anything against my will.

That only made me feel more guilty towards him. He could’ve had anyone, but still, he chose to fall for me.

Someone who had no place for the word called ‘love’ in her life. Someone who was immune to all the feelings and emotions when it came to the matter of hearts. 

Anyway, we agreed not to push things further and went back to being friends. 

---

Nora was already 30 mins late than the usual time when she arrived at the library. She had almost considered skipping today had Joshua not been called out by his coach. They had to stop their patch up unwillingly and parted ways. 

Pulling open the heavy door of the library, she walked inside, passed her ID card to the librarian and sauntered around. The library had a separate section for novels, which was renewed recently. Facing the shelf, Nora groaned as she watched the books lined up till the top.

The shelf was divided into three sections. The bottom comprising the magazines, middle of novels and the topmost of the exam paper set. 

To reach the novel section, she had to climb over the ladder. 

Dragging a stepladder from her side, she climbed up before sitting on the seater. The ladder was about 9-10 feet tall enough for her to sit comfortably on it and read. 

Nora picked the novel titled, ‘Him & I’, put on her airpods and began reading. 

Though there was nothing unique in the way she sat, students who walked down past her couldn’t help but take a second glance at the sight.

The sunlight flitting through the window illuminated her side profile, making her appear as a model for a beautiful painting. 

It didn’t take long for Nora to get lost in her fantasy world.

She was so immersed in her reading that she didn’t notice a figure standing below. 

Liam, who needed the mock test papers, was staring at the girl sitting on the ladder reading peacefully.

He was already in the parking lot, ready to leave the school campus when he received an SMS from the teacher who asked him to take the mock test papers along with him for the term end exams.

So here he was, looking for the same.

To be honest, he never once entered this place. The number of times he had been to the library could be counted on one hand. Little did he expect to bump into Nora. 

Didn’t she go out with her boy-toy? 

What was she doing here instead? 

A contemptuous smile showed up on his lips and he climbed up the ladder without any hesitation. As he was tall, he only needed to go up a few steps.

At that moment, the shadow of his towering, sturdy body like that of an ancient Greek could be seen on the floor.

It was only when he picked the book did Nora feel some movements behind her. She lifted her head to meet Liam, removing a book from the section above. Feeling her gaze on him, Liam looked down at her and their eyes met. Nora hurriedly looked away and almost lost her balance when a broad palm held her steady on the place to prevent them from falling. 

“Stop moving.” His warm breath landed, producing a tickling sensation on her neck. 

There was barely any space between them and it was giving Nora a nervous feeling she didn’t know but also didn’t want to overlook. 

She did not respond and remained still in her seat, feeling perplexed. 

Why was he everywhere? 

He was just like an obnoxious fly following her wherever she went. 

At this rate, she would suspect he was doing it on purpose and was up to something. 

Liam picked up the papers he required and darted a look at the girl below. Her silky hair blew on his face and its smell wafted into his nose.

For as long as he remembered, he never knew someone could smell so fragrant. It was rare for people to be in their natural scent. He had an impulse to ask her which products she used. 

She smelled so nice. 

He bend slightly and sniffed again, inhaling the faint and refreshing aroma from her.

That was when his eyes caught sight of her fingers. She had clutched the book so hard that crease appeared on the pages.

She also kept bitting her lips, impatience apparent on her face. 

Did he really scare her that much? 

Or was it she did not like him being around her? 

She was all fine and smiles when she spoke to other boys. 

Why was she being so reserved around him? 

He had never been treated this way by anyone before.

She was the first one.

Feeling indignant, he climbed down the ladder. 

Be it then.

He was going to do as she pleased. 

When the towering body disappeared from above, Nora relaxed her tensed body.

Just as she continued reading a loud thud startled her.  

Nora looked alarmed at the shelf in front of her that was swaying lightly. Her stomach churned as her face turned ghastly pale. It appeared

someone was deliberately hitting on the shelf from the other side. 

She assumed the shelf would fall on her and in the moment of panic, Nora forgot she was sitting on a ladder. Because of her movements, the ladder started to become shaky, and toppled over. 

Nora let out a cry. A fall from such a height was definitely going to result into a broken arm or two. She closed her eyes and waited for herself to land on the floor. However, the pain she expected never arrived.

At this moment, a pair of strong arms reached over and held her waist, preventing her from getting hurt. 

Nora immediately clung onto his neck tightly, as though her life depended upon it. 

After what felt like hours, a cold and deep voice rang out from above her head. “How long do you plan on staying like this?” 

Nora slightly peeked from her eyes. 

Oh my god! She was lying in the arms of Liam.

The person she thought had left was actually standing below.

And he saved her.

This devil, who constantly forced people into their graves, had saved her. 

Nora was so moved that she wanted to cry.

However, hearing his cold voice she immediately wriggled out of his arms and staggered backwards knocking on the shelf behind. Because of the immediate force, the already swinging shelf dropped the books out. 

Plop! Plop!

Fell the books on the floor. 

Liam vigorously pulled Nora into his arms, and she landed in a warm and broad embrace. 

Unfortunately, Nora was still hurt.

As she crashed against the human wall, her nose was almost knocked crooked.

Her eyes glistened with tears, and her nose turned bright red. 

Damn! was his chest made of bricks?

It hurt so much.

Liam glanced down at the girl in his arms, who was rubbing her nose. Her eyes twinkling with tears, reminding him of a small adorable kitten that has been bullied. 

He almost reached out his hand to tap her nose.

However, Nora squirmed out of his hold and spun around with a simple, “Thank you.”

Liam was annoyed.

That damned women!

She was really out on making him angry. He glared at her back fixedly and then strode out of the library.

Nora went away from the shelf.

The librarian and several other students were now gathered because of the commotion. 

“It’s you again.” came the raging voice of the librarian as he flared his nostrils at her.

Nora shuddered at his glare. 

As soon as his voice fell, thumping sounds could be heard once more. 

Nora immediately put her hands in the air and denied. “Not me.” 

The librarian humphed and along with the group walked towards the direction where the noise came from.

Nora followed them behind at a distance.

Upon arriving at the other side of the shelf, the lot found two boys, supposedly from class 12 B, throwing punches at each other.

The librarian intervened to break them, but was socked instead. 

It took several boys to separate the two fighting.

Upon inquiring, one of them revealed that they were fighting because the other one had kissed his girlfriend. 

Nora resisted the itch to go forward and slap the shit out of those two. 

They could fight all they want and for whatever reason. But why did they have to involve her? 

If it were not for Liam, she might’ve been in the hospital covered in bandages. 

Speaking of which, where was he? 

Did he leave already?

Nora glanced around and confirmed he had left.

Who cared, anyway!  

The librarian then summoned the two boys at the principal’s office. 

Nora wanted to bitch at the librarian, but after looking at his bruised face she felt good and decided to be a bigger person. 

Letting out an exasperated sigh, she turned around and walked out of the library. 

Thanks to these people, she had lost her mood to read.