??????????.

"Okay."

He began to walk around the library, excitement bubbling up in his lower abdomen at the mere thought of finding a vast amount of new books to read— so excited that he didn't watch where he was going, and smacked right into the back of a girl.

"S-Sorry, I didn't m-mean to bump into you," The Jamaican boy quickly apologized to the slightly taller female, his stomach beginning to turn with dread, preparing himself to be yelled at.

I didn't mean to...

But the oddest thing happened instead; She looked at him with furrowed eyebrows, as if she was trying to remember him from somewhere— and Nas couldn't help but do the same thing.

"It's okay, I should've watched where I was going. But you're  the kid from the sixth-grade hallway, right?" She questioned, cocking her head to the side a little— her curls falling almost gracefully down her shoulder when she did.

That's the girl who was nice to me... Nas thought, instantly remembering where he had seen her face at.

"You're the o-one who stood u-up for me. I n-never got the c-chance to t-thank you," Nas said with a small frown on his full lips, and the pretty brown-skinned girl shook her head immediately with a warm grin.

"It's fine. They had no reason to be bullying you at all," She responded, her smile dropping for a split second— but if Sebastian had blinked, he wouldn't have even seen her smile disappear.

"I'm Harlem by the way, but everyone calls me Lotti," She introduced herself while tugging gently at the sleeve of the fuzzy, soft-looking pale blue sweater that hung loosely over her shoulders."I never got your name."

"S-Sebastian, but y-you can call me N-Nas. That's what my best friend K-Kross calls me."

"I like your name, it's so cute. Reminds me of the Little Mermaid." She let out a minor giggle, and Nas felt his face grow warm with embarrassment— though he knew she wasn't laughing at him.

"I l-like your name t-too. A-and your nickname."

" I can help you pick out some books," Harlem offered Sebastian who began to look around dumbfounded on where to start looking for books, and he paused right in his steps. "You know, only if you want."

"R-Really?" He questioned, a toothy grin slowly creeping onto the lower half of his mocha canvas, astonished at her offer.

"Mhm. I know where all of the good books are, come on."

The 12-year-old's beat-up sneakers hit the rough carpet that covered the large library floor as he trailed behind Harlem as she weaved through the tall wooden bookcases filled with a plethora of colorful books— gazing around in awe.

The library never failed to leave him in awe every time he stepped foot in the place, it was one of the only places in East New York that remained pretty and new despite all of the chaotic things going on there.

"What kinda books do you like to read? Do you like mystery books and stuff?"

"W-Well, I h-have been r-reading the W-Wayside stories. I only r-read one of them though. B-But I d-do like mystery books." Nas focused on her as she reached up on the tippy toes of her blue Ked's which matched the soft-looking sweater she wore, leaning against the bookcase as she snatched a few books down from the large shelf.