library | jmb

1

i was locked in the library trying not to panic, and when i say locked i mean locked, no escape

every door, every window, every air vent

okay i haven't actually tried the air vents, but I was seriously considering it

i wasn't desperate enough...yet

my friends would realize what had happened and they'd come back and get me, i just had to wait

it all started when I had to go to the bathroom

well before that there had been a lot of soda that sabrina had smuggled into the library

i had drank more than half of the bottle when jacob sat down next to me

it wasn't until the windows darkened to black that the librarians asked us to leave, and we made it all the way to the underground parking garage where the fifteen of us were dividing into four cars that i realized i wasn't going to make it down the street, let alone all the way to the canyon campfire.

"i have to pee" i announced after i plopped my bag into jacob's trunk

my friend luna rolled down her window
and her car, parked next to jacobs's was already running

"i thought you were coming in my car addison"

she gave me a knowing smile

she knew i wanted to go with jacob

i smiled too "i'll be right back theres no toilet at the bonfire"

"there are a lot of trees" jacob said rounding the car and slamming his trunk shut

it echoed through the nearly empty garage

in his car i could now see three heads in the backseat and a fourth in the passenger seat

they all beat me to it

i would have to go with Luna after all

no big deal, I'd have plenty of time to talk to jacob at the bonfire

it wasn't in my nature to be bold, but with my limbs all jittery from nearly two liters of caffeine and luna's warning about avi stealing jacob out from under me buzzing in my head, i felt powerful

i rushed back down the long hall, up the stairs, and through the glass walkway that overlooked a courtyard

when i made it to the main floor of the library half the lights were already out.

the library was too big and needed more bathrooms

i pushed open the heavy wooden door and quickly found a stall

the box holding the paper seat covers was empty, looked like I'd have to squat

as I was zipping my pants back up, the lights went out

i let out a yelp then laughed

"funny guys" noah, jacobs best friend, had no doubt found the breaker

it seemed like something he would do

the lights remained out, though, and no laughing followed my scream

they must've been on motion detectors
i waved my hands, nothing

i inched forward, feeling along the door, trying not to think about all the germs clinging to it, until I found the lock and slid it open

a streetlight shone through an upper window, so i was able to see just enough that i could wash my hands

i wiped my hands on my jeans