Between the desks

Chapter 11

A week has passed...

Amren's POV

Monday morning rolls around once more, and this time, I wake up feeling surprisingly refreshed—no hangover in sight. I decided to take a break from drinking yesterday, and honestly, it feels great.

I stretch out of bed and make my way over to the mess of clothes strewn across the floor. After tossing them into my closet, I head to the shower, scrubbing away the remnants of the weekend.

Today is packed with classes, so I need to be on my game. My first lesson is English with Professor Olsen, which sends that familiar knot tightening in my stomach. Following that, I have basketball with Coach Johansson, and then my last class is Latin with Professor Blanchett. It's going to be a day filled with stern professors, that's for sure.

I briefly consider skipping out on it all, but I shake my head. No way, Amren. You're not doing that.

I pull on my favorite dark mom jeans and a slightly revealing black top that shows just a hint of cleavage. Maybe I'll catch someone's eye—who knows?

Next, I brew some much-needed coffee, grabbing a banana and a mandarin for a quick dose of vitamins. As I light a cigarette, I shoot a quick text to Lily to let her know I'm on my way to pick her up.

After a hurried descent downstairs, I hop onto my motorcycle, driving responsibly (mostly). I pull up to Lily's place and call out, "Hey honeybee!!!"

"Good morning, MILF!" she yells back, laughter dancing in her voice. I chuckle as she jumps on behind me, and we zoom off toward campus.

We make a quick stop for coffee before arriving at campus and heading to our lockers. I stash my helmet away and Lily asks, "What class do we have first?"

"English," I reply.

Lily raises an eyebrow, surprised that I actually remembered. But she lets it go, and we walk to class together.

For some reason, I choose to sit in the front row today. "Since when are we first-row students?" Lily teases, her grin wide as she clearly understands my motivation.

"Since... uh... now!" I retort, sticking my tongue out playfully.

Just then, Professor Olsen strides into the room, her presence commanding instant attention.

I can't help but check her out; she's wearing a black suit that fits her legs perfectly. What am I doing?

I catch Lily stifling a laugh, and I shoot her a puzzled look. "What?" I mime, but she just shakes her head, that mischievous smirk still on her face.

As the class begins, Professor Olsen launches into a discussion about reading—a topic everyone seems eager to engage with.

"Who wants to talk about why they like reading?" she asks, and a few students fumble for their water bottles, avoiding eye contact.

Without thinking, I raise my hand. Lily's eyes widen in surprise; I'm not usually one to speak up like this, but I do love reading.

"Amren, please enlighten us," Professor Olsen invites, her tone both soft and amused.

Standing up, I walk to the front of the class.

"Hi everyone, I'm Amren. I love reading because it transports me to different worlds and lets me experience the lives of diverse characters. For me, reading has always been a coping mechanism, especially during tough times. It helps me survive."

I clear my throat, and Professor Olsen nods encouragingly as I make my way back to my seat. My face feels warm with embarrassment, and I catch Lily still staring at me in disbelief.

"Thank you, Amren, for sharing your perspective," Professor Olsen praises.

As a few other students share their thoughts, I find my mind wandering. The knot in my stomach feels tighter, and I can't quite put my finger on why.