Lovebirds

@VINCEANDSPENCE

She'd heard the notification in the hall. On the way to class, sprinting past the lockers along the walls, the notion to check it far from her mind.

Spencer weaves between the students as they do the same, most everyone doing their best to make it to their first class on time. For her, it's AP Psychology. A course that she and her three closest friends carefully fit into their schedules, crossing their fingers that they'd share the same period.

Passing the classroom's threshold just as the bell rings, Spencer spots Maisie and Felicity. No Edith. She curses in her head, making her way across the room to sit beside her friends.

"Have you seen it yet?" Maisie whispers over Spencer's shoulder as she takes her seat.

Spence shakes her head. The teacher welcomes the class and begins passing out the syllabus.

"Freddie posted a new picture on the vinceandspence Insta. Here," holding her phone low for Spencer to peek at.

It's she and Vincent in the hall, holding to each other like there's no end to the depth of each other's embrace. Kissing like tomorrow holds no promise, and Spencer can't help but scoff. It always seems so stupid on camera. Just two teenagers fooling around. Puts a pit in her stomach, like every other image on the account that shows she and Vince in intimate positions.

Maybe she should rescind the permission she gave to Freddie. Or at least provide parameters.

The teacher puts a few sheets of paper on her desk; take one, pass back the rest. He moves on to the next row, Felicity's row, doing the same.

When he's gained enough distance, and the room's shrouded in murmurs as students skim the syllabus, Felicity leans over, explaining that, "The caption is even better. Show her again," signaling to Maisie.

Again the picture. Again the tangy kind of butterflies. But this time, Spencer's eyes read 'a little love from our favorite un-couple to start the year! Well and truly welcome back to Hillsdale Central, folks!' With a wary glance at Spence's sour expression, Maisie presses the button to show more.

'The real question is whether or not the pressure of Senior Year will finally push these two lovebirds into becoming official bf/gfs. Be sure to keep you updated on every little detail! Go Fighting Harpies!'

"Do you want me to DM him to take it down?" Maisie offers, pulling the phone back.

"No," as the teacher stares down their little group and Spencer returns her focus to the class. "It's fine; he doesn't mean anything by it."

Sharing a brief, worried glance, Maisie and Felicity follow Spencer's example. Facing forward, eyes on Mr. Hubbard, but they can't shake the feeling of unease that radiates from Spencer's body. Another year, another push for officiality.

And so it begins.

Again.