In between- Spoke x oc!Fem

XXXII

The faint glow of early morning sunlight streamed through my window, casting soft shadows across my room. It had been a few days since I returned from Japan, but it felt like a lifetime ago. My mind was still buzzing with memories of the trip—every shared laugh with Spoke, every delicious snack we had tasted, the quiet moments when our eyes lingered a little too long. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of it all.

"Are you ready for the first day back?" Sofia's voice interrupted my daydreaming. She leaned against my doorframe, arms crossed, her head slightly tilted as she studied me. "You've been lost in thought for ages."

Sofia was my best friend. We used to be a trio with Thomas, or toms as I call him, but me and Toms stopped talking since I started talking to spoke for some reason. It's been kinda awkward every time we talk.

I grinned, pulling my hair back into a messy bun, I didn't have the patience to redo my curls. "Ready as I'll ever be. I just can't believe school is back already." I had missed the routine of classes, but I also dreaded the chaos that came with it—especially the project presentations we were assigned right at the beginning of the term.

"Hey, at least we have each other," Sofia said, nudging me with her elbow. "And I get to hear all about Spoke. You have to tell me everything!"

I was wearing a Nike tee and some baggy jeans with my grey converse.

I rolled my eyes, my cheeks warming at her enthusiasm. "There's really not that much to tell. We've been talking non-stop, but I'm not sure where we stand yet."

"Non-stop talking is a good sign, Avs," she encouraged. "It means he's into you!"

We both laughed, but I felt a pang of uncertainty. What did "into you" even mean for us? We were still figuring things out, navigating the complexities of our situationship. I wanted to dive deeper into it, but I was also cautious not to rush anything.

After finishing breakfast, we headed to school together, a comfortable rhythm falling into place as we chatted about everything from classes to our friends. Walking through the bustling halls, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. The familiarity of the school was comforting, yet everything felt a little different this time around.

When I entered the classroom, I scanned the room for familiar faces. I spotted Toms at our usual spot, his head bent over a notebook as he scribbled down something. My stomach twisted a little at the thought of working with him. We hadn't spoken much since I joined Life Steal, and I felt a distance between us that I couldn't quite explain.

"Hey!" I greeted him as I took my seat next to him.

Toms looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Hey, Avs! It's been a while. How was Japan?"

"Honestly? Amazing," I replied, unable to keep the grin off my face. "I have so much stuff to tell you about."

"Good to hear!" he said, his voice brightening. "I'd love to hear all about it."

As our teacher began outlining the project details, I felt a mix of relief and nervousness. Working with Toms might be awkward, but I hoped we could navigate it without too much tension. When the teacher announced our pairs, I wasn't surprised when Toms and I were assigned to work together. It felt like a twist of fate—or maybe just my luck.

"Looks like we're stuck together," I said, forcing a lightness into my voice.

"Yeah, I guess so," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "We should meet up later to discuss ideas?"