Chapter Text
You push open the door to the library, the warm air hitting your face. A sigh escapes your mouth as you scan the different bookshelf sections— art, music, language, literature, math, science, biology, life, space— I, wait, space. That’s what you're looking for.
Small footsteps echo from your feet as you gently grab a book: “A Deeper Look Into Astronomy.” You quickly find your usual seating area, pulling a chair out and plopping in it like you belong there.
The book in your hand isn’t too thin, neither is it too thick, making it a good pick to read if you wanna be there for around 2 hours. You hum your favourite song as you open the book to the first page, reading quietly, getting comfortable in your position as you flip through the pages.
You look up for just a moment or two. A man with yellow hair and a shiny blue ice-resembling crown catches your eye for a brief moment. His hand rests on a bookshelf in the exact place you were in 3 minutes ago. His gaze lands on you, making you quickly look away, slightly embarrassed. You go back to reading, but it isn’t long before the footsteps approaching your table become louder. When you look up from your book, low and behold, it’s the guy you were staring at.
He observes you closely, a neutral expression on his face. “Hey,” he says, taking a step forward. “You were looking at me earlier.” The man doesn’t try sugarcoating as he bluntly states your actions, causing you to be at a loss for words.
“Uh..” You think to yourself, fuck, how were you supposed to even respond to that? “So.. so what if I was?” You counter, trying to regain control of the situation— even though you just sound awkward.
He walks around the table, now being directly beside you, hand casually placed on the unoccupied chair that sat to the right of yours. “I couldn’t blame you, then.” He chuckles. “Mind if I take a seat?”
“Sure?” You say uncertainty, watching as he repeats the same actions that you used to sit. He gently rests his head in his palm, staring directly at you.
“What brings you here? You don’t seem like the type interested in…” He trails off, looking at the book in your hands. “..astrology.”
You chuckle at this, but it was mostly a reflex rather than to be genuine. “I can like what I want to.” You state, staring back. “You don’t seem like the type either, so tell me, were you interested in the planets, or interested in me?” That might genuinely be the only thing you’ve said with confidence— and it was a bit corny, too!
I mean he didn’t laugh so that’s a bonus!
It’s not like you were serious when you said that, but this makes the other person sitting next to you pause and think for a moment before he answers. “I enjoy my fair share of space every now and then. But I guess you interested me a little bit, even before you stared at me for a bit too long.” He hummed as he tapped his fingers against the table in a rhythmic pattern, not really hesitating.
“Honest.. I like that about you.” You admit, becoming more invested in this guy by the second. I mean, he didn’t look half bad, the way his hair settled across his face, his crown glistening in the early winter light through the windows, he was.. uh, wait, you’re zoning out, quit staring. “Y’know, I never got your name.” You say, waiting for an answer.
“Itrapped,” he answers calmly. “And to whom do I owe the pleasure of?” He patiently awaits your response. You gingerly mumble your name, Itrapped repeating it after he hears it, testing how it feels on his tongue. “Not bad, not bad at all.. it suits you.”
You continue to read, trying to ignore the eyes burning into the side of your skull. Just focus and read, focus on the space book, focus on the stars and planets, focus on the universe. Focus on the words across the page telling you about Saturn’s 274 discovered moons. Itrapped still sat beside you, and even though his eyes weren’t on you, you could still tell that he was observing. Watching, waiting for something.
He sighs as his eyes return to you. “When did you start reading here?” Itrapped asks, almost bored.
You hesitate with an answer, not remembering yourself. “Uhm.. I’d say back in late July, midsummer.” You answer, your eyes meeting his.
“So around 4ish months,” Mumbled Itrapped after quickly doing the math. “And was it all because of space? Or did you want to study something else?”
“Mostly because of space,” you admit. “but I did need to study for my exams in post secondary— wait, I know those are in months but uh.. I wanted a headstart.” A jumble of words spill from your mouth. Even you're confused about what you’re saying.
Itrapped nods, seemingly able to understand what you’re rambling about. “Yeah, yeah, got it. I’m listening. Go on, I want to hear more..”
The clock on the wall ticks slowly, 20 minutes turns into 60– and neither of you glance up at the clock as you chat about what’s mostly you saying random space facts. Once Itrapped finally does, he quickly returns his gaze back to you, reaching for something in his jacket. “I have plans.” He says, pulling a phone out of his jacket pocket. “But you’ve been pretty entertaining. Can I get your number? Not for a weird reason.”
You watch as he unlocks his phone and hands the phone over to you, waiting for you to input your number. That’s exactly what you do, clicking digits and typing a contact name, giving it back to him.
“Alright, thanks.” Itrapped says, looking at your contact. “I’ll probably text you sometime..”
With that, he stands up gently sliding his phone back into his pocket, giving you a wave as he turns around and walks out the door of the library.
After he leaves, you decide that there’s not exactly more of a reason for you to stay in the library. You engrave the page you were on in your memory before shutting the book close. The chair lightly scrapes the ground as you tuck it in after getting up, you walk away from it moments later, book still in hand. The receptionist types away at a keyboard, clicking sounds made from each key. You calmly approach her, placing the book on the countertop, where she pauses and looks at it.
“Huh-? Oh, hi,” She mumbled, seemingly snapped back into reality. “Yeah I’ll.. check that out for ya.” She grabs your book and after a few minutes, swipes a scanner on it, checking the book out.
“Have a good day.” You say kindly before you turn on your heel to leave, exiting through the doors of the library, the cold, winter air hitting you like a car.
Today was surprisingly nice. You really loved space, but there was never anybody to tell that too, nobody wanted to listen, in fact, you barely knew at all. You were stuck with your own hyperfixations, alone.
But it's alright.
Because that changed the moment Itrapped sat down at your table.
At least you can go home and sleep peacefully with that thought.