Between the desks

Chapter 15

Elizabeth's POV

I stared at the words on the page, but they were just that—words. I wasn't really reading them. No matter how many times I tried to focus, my thoughts kept drifting back to the person sitting just across from me. Amren. The name echoed in my mind like a secret I was trying to keep, yet couldn't stop repeating. Am-ruhn. It felt right somehow, rolling off my tongue, even though I never dared to say it aloud.

I glanced up, my eyes drawn to her like a magnet. She was completely absorbed in her work, her glasses slightly askew, resting low on her nose. Her messy bun looked even more unkempt than before, stray strands of hair falling against her face. Her brows were furrowed in concentration, every bit of her energy focused on whatever it was she was studying. She looked determined. Ambitious. The kind of person who doesn't stop until they've reached their goal.

Why did I feel this way? Why did seeing her so deep in thought make my stomach flutter? Was this even normal?

I pretended to read for another half hour, but the tension inside me was building, anxiety making my palms sweat. I wanted to talk to her, but something held me back—a fear that once I spoke, I wouldn't be able to hide how much she was distracting me. Eventually, though, the silence became unbearable.

"Have you eaten yet?" I blurted out, my voice breaking the quiet.

She looked up slowly, as if pulling herself out of a deep mental space, her eyes still fixed on the glow of her laptop. "No, I haven't," she replied, her voice distant, like she was only half paying attention.

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "Do you... want something? I'm going to grab something from the cafeteria," I said, softer this time, my stomach making an embarrassing noise that matched my nerves.

"No, I'm okay, thank you." Her eyes finally met mine, and there was something unreadable in them, like she had questions she wasn't asking. I nodded quickly, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks, and hurried out of the library.

I made my way to the cafeteria, my thoughts a jumble. Why did talking to her make me feel so... on edge? I bought a salad—chicken and pesto, my go-to—and headed back to the library, the silence returning as I sat down and ate quietly. She didn't seem to notice; Amren was still buried in her work, as if the rest of the world didn't exist.

I checked the clock. 8:30 p.m. already. The school was going to close soon.

"Amren, the school's about to close. We need to leave," I said, breaking the stillness once more.

"Ah, shit. Okay," she mumbled, quickly gathering her things. I found myself waiting for her, standing awkwardly by the table. Normally, I would've left by now, but for some reason, I lingered. As we walked out together, I broke the silence again. "Did you make any progress on your assessment?"

"Yeah, I'm getting on track," she said, her tone casual but focused.

"I'm glad. You've been working hard." I smiled at her, though I could hear the slight tremor in my voice. Why did she make me so nervous? Was it because of the awkwardness from the first time we met, or was it something else entirely? I couldn't figure it out.

She caught me off guard with her next question. "Was your book any good?"

I laughed awkwardly. "It was... kind of boring, honestly," I admitted, feeling a bit sheepish.

She chuckled, and the sound made my heart skip a beat. "It looked boring," she teased.

"Hey, don't judge a book by its cover!" I grinned back, trying to match her light-hearted tone. But my heart was racing, and I didn't know why.

As we reached the parking lot, I turned to her. "Where's your car?"

"Oh, I'm on my motorcycle," she said, pointing to a sleek black bike parked nearby. It was stunning, a perfect mix of elegance and power.

"Wow... that's a gorgeous motorcycle," I said, impressed.

She flashed a grin, one that made my stomach do another one of those strange flips. "Thank you, Professor."

That word—Professor—on her lips sent an odd shiver down my spine. I smiled back, feeling something I couldn't quite place. "It was nice talking to you, Amren, but I should probably get going." I glanced toward my car. "See you next Monday."

"Yeah, see you!" she said, her voice light as she walked toward her bike, not looking back.

I stood there for a moment, watching her leave, feeling an inexplicable pull in my chest. When I finally got into my car, I let out a deep breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

What was this feeling? And why couldn't I shake it?