ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ

Chapter 4: Awkward Encounters

Sarah's pov

The tension hung in the air like a thick fog as I sat by the piano, fingers  tapping a rhythm on the keys. It felt strange being in this room, knowing Izuko was just a few feet away. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the nervous energy. It had been a year since we last spoke, and I wasn't sure how to bridge that gap. l ignored her question abt what i was doing at College and was focused on what I was gonna ask.

"Hey, uh, how have you been, Izu?" I finally managed to ask, my voice more casual than I felt.

"I've been.....good! Just surviving the chaos of college, you know?" She replied with a smile, and even though it was a bit shaky, it lit up my heart.

Just as I was about to say something else, the door swung open dramatically, and my heart skipped a beat. In barged Aysh and Riy, practically crashing in together. "Sorry! Didn't mean to crash the party!" Aysh exclaimed, laughter spilling from her lips.

Before I could react, they sent Izuko and Nya flying to the floor. I couldn't help but burst into laughter as I watched them land with huge thuds. Izuko looked over at Nya, her giggles escaping despite the situation, and for a moment, it felt comfortable...

"Did we interrupt some dramatic showdown?" Riy teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Something like that!" Nya replied, her laughter still echoing off the walls.

As we all scrambled to get up, Natasha came in, exuding confidence. "Sarah! l knew u would be here!" She was about to say something else when she spotted Izuko, "Wow, Izuko! I can't believe you actually came in here after everything that went down between you and Sarah," she said, smirking as she leaned against the doorframe. "What, did you forget how to avoid the awkward?"

My heart sank a little at her words, but Izuko stood her ground. She didn't seem affected. "Well, I figured I'd take my chances. Besides, I'm not here to provide to anyone's expectations, especially not yours, Natasha," she shot back, sass radiating from her.

I couldn't help but admire her bravery. Natasha looked taken aback, her eyebrows shooting up. "Wow, I didn't expect you to have some fire left in you! But seriously, how could you even come in here after the ghosting incident?"

Izuko crossed her arms defiantly. "I mean, it's called growing up, Natasha. Maybe you should try it sometime instead of making stupid comments."

Laughter erupted from our group, and I felt a rush of relief wash over me. The tension was thick, but moments like these made it feel a little lighter. Natasha's expression shifted from shock to annoyance. "Well, excuse me for caring!" she huffed, but there was no bite to her words now.

"Care from a distance, please," Izuko quipped, and the laughter grew louder.

As I sat there, watching Izuko hold her own against Natasha, a warmth spread in my chest. The awkwardness between us was still present, but for now, it felt manageable. Maybe we could navigate this mess together, one awkward moment at a time.

Welp-

another chapter, Hope y'all will like it! <33