Tones of Grey (Lady Lesso x OC)

Office hours

A/N: There might be another chapter tomorrow around this time of the day. I'm just really invested in the story😭 and need you to read it to see what you think LOL. Stay tuned. And I beg you to tell me what you think💫

Sofía's POV:

The sun rose on Sunday morning, casting a soft glow over the School for Good and Evil, though its rays struggled to penetrate the thick, overcast sky. As usual, my internal clock woke me before my alarm. Still, that didn't mean I woke up as gracefully as I would like. The scream that came out of my throat made it hurt like hell. I was hurting my vocal chords each day, and I didn't like it at all. The first thing I did when I stood up was take some water, to try calm the pain a little before I could drink something with honey at breakfast.

The mirror reflecting the weariness in my eyes. As I was doing my hair and make-up, I remembered I still hadn't found the courage to go find Clarissa to talk about the topic that had me so troubled. I had hung out with Agatha and Sophie's friends the day before and even managed to meet officially all the other teachers, but still, no meeting with her. It was a conversation I couldn't delay any longer. I had to do it that day if I wanted to keep my promise.

I left my bedroom on time just as Lady Lesso was about to head to the end of the corridor herself. We hadn't been able to talk much the last three days; I hadn't even seen her at all yesterday. Our schedules had kept us apart for the past few days as she was too busy with her classes and paperwork, and now the Beast was officially missing. The same day she told me she had cut Sophie's hair, the creature had just vanished, and no one understood what had happened. So now she had to deal with that as well. I could see she had a little frown on her face, already stressed out at seven in the morning, but it was gone the second she saw me.

"He—" I began, my voice cracking before I could finish the word. Damn these nightmares. I cleared my throat and tried again. "Hey, stranger."

"Still screaming at night, I see, Losty," she replied, falling into step beside me. We started walking together to go have breakfast.

"I hate what it's doing to my voice. If it stays this way, I won't be able to sing for a while. Nemo has been helping me out to try to control the scream so it doesn't hurt my throat, but I haven't achieved much yet."

"I wish I could help you myself, but..."

"You got a lot on your plate already. Sorry, I didn't want to add something else to what you have to do. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine, I can handle it," I assured her, though the concern in her eyes tugged at my heart.

"I know you can. Or at least that's what you keep telling yourself and others. But you don't ask for help often, do you?" she observed, her gaze piercing through my defenses. I blushed. Fuck, she could read me so well.

"Perhaps not. I tend to tell a lot about my problems to people but I don't ask them for help, I just laugh it off with them and deal with it myself," I admitted, feeling a flush of embarrassment color my cheeks.

"Come to my office later. I'll try to help you out," she offered.

"No. You don't have the time for it. It's kind of you to offer, though."

"I'll make the time," she insisted, and I found it damn cute.

"Really. I'll be fine. You should deal with all the issues going on around the School first, then I'll let you help me. I'm not going to be another pressure on your shoulders."

"You wouldn't be, because I choose to help you. But fine, if you won't let me either way... Have you at least talked to Clarissa yet? About the other day?" she asked and tensed up a little.

"I was going to go find her after breakfast."

"Yes. Do that. I don't like having to tell you to go to her, but if you won't talk to me, at least you should have someone help you out. And if there is something Dove knows how to do, is to try help people."