Between the desks

Chapter 13

The next day...

Amren's POV

I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed after a good night's sleep. Yesterday had been a tough one; after Professor Olsen's class, my mind felt like a scrambled mess. Once we finished Latin, my brain was completely fried, and focus seemed like a distant memory.

I got ready, the routine familiar yet somehow comforting, and hopped on my bike to school. It was the same cycle every day. With a test looming this Friday, I knew I'd have to stick around after school to study. I could never concentrate at home; the distractions were just too overwhelming. The library, however, always had a soothing ambiance that helped me dive into my studies.

Not that I was complaining—I loved the library. But first things first: English class. When I saw Lily, I wrapped her in a quick hug, and we stepped outside to share a cigarette, savoring the morning air.

"Good morning, ladies!" Both Professor Olsen and Professor Blanchett greeted us as we leaned against the wall. "Good morning, professors!" Lily and I chimed in unison, our voices blending harmoniously.

I couldn't help but steal glances at her. She looked fantastic in that dress—an elegant blouse dress that flowed gracefully around her, paired with chunky boots. Her hair was pulled up, giving her an effortlessly chic vibe. "You are drooling," Lily's teasing voice snapped me back to reality.

"What?" I feigned innocence, attempting to play it cool.

"Yeah, sure, girl," Lily replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. But I could see the amusement in her eyes; she was enjoying this far too much.

"What?" she mimicked, raising an eyebrow.

"Stop it!" I laughed, playfully punching her on the arm. The laughter felt good, a momentary escape from my swirling thoughts.

We settled into our seats at the front row. Professor Olsen was already busy scribbling on the board, her concentration unwavering. Students trickled in, some chattering among themselves, while I felt my heart race as Professor Olsen turned around. Our eyes locked for a brief moment, and my heart leaped in my chest. What was that about?

I quickly looked away, scrambling to find my water bottle in my bag. Lily was speaking to me, but her words were lost in my haze. "Do you even—"

Suddenly, Professor Olsen's authoritative voice filled the room, cutting off Lily mid-sentence. "Good morning, class!" she declared, commanding attention effortlessly.

The class began, and the anticipation of our upcoming assessment hung heavy in the air. While Lily was diligently taking notes, I found myself paralyzed by the knot in my stomach that seemed to tighten with every passing second. It was hard to focus; my mind was racing, trapped in a whirlpool of anxiety.

Professor Olsen handed out a practice assessment to gauge our understanding of the literature we'd been studying. "Take notes, bitch," Lily whispered playfully, snapping me back to reality. Right. Focus. I grabbed my pen, forcing myself to jot down some notes.

But after an hour, reality was jolted back to me with a light punch from Lily. "What the hell?" I exclaimed, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

"We're dismissed," she chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Oh, right!" I stood up, slightly dazed, and stumbled toward the exit. Professor Olsen hurried out with the other students, her pace brisk. The knot in my stomach gnawed at me, leaving a sick feeling behind. Why was I feeling like this?

"What's wrong with you today?" Lily asked, her tone laced with empathy as she fell into step beside me.

"I don't know, I'm just a bit... absent," I admitted, glancing down at my shoes, unsure of how to articulate the chaos swirling in my mind.

Lily raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying my vague response. "You sure it's just that? You seem off."

"Yeah, just a lot on my mind," I replied, hoping to change the subject.