Esmeralda Reinhart had never been the model student, she was one to yell her mind to the whole world and she'd damn any one who looked down on her to hell. It was her strong belief that had landed her in detention.

2 hours earlier

Esmeralda had woken up in a bad mood. It was one of those rare occasions where she had a nightmare about her rotten father who was wasting away in a dark cold cell at the famed Iron heights prison, no one at the school knew this and it was a secret she'd carry to the grave if it meant keeping her mom and little brother safe. She had been catching some sleep during study hall period when someone who was clearly tired of living slammed the table she was resting on.

Esmeralda reared up, ready to beat the living daylight out of the sorry fool when her eyes landed on Vincent Lorenzo. She let out an animalistic growl, he'd been a thorn in her side since junior year. His sole purpose of existing was to infuriate her

"What the hell you piece of shit! You have a death wish?!" He smirked at her angered expression

"Sorry I thought i saw a spider on the table cookie, wouldn't want to scar your ugly little face anymore now would you?"

Her hand twitched to the scar that her hair concealed just above her eye

No... he wouldn't know about that

"Spider my ass, you fucking retard. You couldn't spot a spider if it hit you in the face" Esmeralda's fist connected with his face then all hell broke loose. They were separated by their study hall supervisor and marched straight to the principal's office

The spiteful old woman had given them a week's detention without even listening to Esmeralda's explanation. She'd decided that she knew her personality enough to know she was at fault in the matter

And now here she was with fucking Lorenzo shelving books in the library, it was way beyond the school's closing hours and with the huge pile of books left unshelved she knew she would be in here for far longer. She took out her phone and dialed her mom's number

I need to tell her I'll be coming home late again, all thanks to one annoying twit

Her mom answered on the second ring

"Esmie? Sweetie where are you? Why aren't you back yet? Seth and I have been worried sick...you, you didn't go back to... that place did you?"

Esmeralda felt her heart ache at her mother's words, even after 5 months she was still unable to say it.

"No mom, I'm in school"

"Detention? Again? Look sweetheart if there's something that you need to t-" Esmeralda cut her off

"No mom its nothing like that, I just got into a small arguement, that's all. I'll be back a bit late so it's best if you and Seth don't wait on me okay?"

The line went silent for a few minutes before her mother finally replied

"Of course dear, just..."

"Be safe, I know. I love you"

"I love you too"

Beep beep

The line went dead. The sound of a chuckle made her remeber that she was not alone. She turned to glare at the source of the laughter, the culprit smirked at her

"A small arguement? Why didn't you tell her the truth?" Esmeralda scoffed and turned away from him

"What kind of guy listens in on a lady's conversations" his eyebrows furrowed in mock confusion

"Lady? I don't see any, do you?"

"Just leave me alone you prick" Esmeralda went back to focusing on the shelving of books. All the books had tags so you'd know where to put them, that made the task easier.

She picked up a dusty book and read the tag, her brows furrowed in confusion "H-5? I didn't know our library had a section H" she mumbled to herself but her counterpart heard her words

"It doesn't you dummy, only A-G"

"Then explain this smartass" Esmeralda threw the book at him. Vincent caught it and read the tag before tossing it back to her

"Must be a mistake, just dump it in G-5. I'm sure that's what the librarian meant to write"

"Don't tell me what to do" Esmeralda grumbled but made her way to the G section anyway. This particular section had the least light as it was the farthest away from the light source.

Esmeralda was about to shelve the dusty old book when she felt a chill, she turned to face an abandoned looking part of the library.

I've never seen this part of the library before

"Boo!" She turned and shot out her fist at the voice, determined to put an end to the sorry person who had attempted to scare her.

A hand stopped her incoming fist before she could cause any damage.