Fem!Y/N x Lacey (Lacey Games)

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 1 - Caught in the Crowd

You pressed the textbook further into your messenger bag, your brow furrowing in frustration at the object that clearly couldn't take a hint.
The stale air in the apartment seemed to seep out of the minimalist, boring wallpaper no matter how far you opened the windows. As you struggled to put on your shoes, you blew on the red spots on your fingers from practically stepping on them, later opening the door.

Today's air was hot, as expected for a summer day in LA. Your palms found an uncomfortable stickiness to stay in, while your hair was in a perpetual state of bed-head. You shrugged it off, the students in the library didn't care about hair anyway. Sure enough, the oppressive heat followed you inside as soon as you entered high school. You headed straight for the library, but a familiar voice stopped you.

"Y/N!" Ari called from behind you, and a part of you wanted to ignore it and move on, yet you knew that wasn't a choice with this girl. A half-hearted smile adorning your lips, you turned around and met her gaze.

Her hazel eyes, bright with excitement, caught the light, making them look like they were blooming under the hall's artificial shine. She tilted her head, brown hair slipping down her shoulder.

"There you are!" she said, trying to throw an arm around your shoulder but stopping short due to the height difference. "Where've you been?"

You shrugged. "Home,"

She stared at you for a moment, waiting for you to elaborate, but the words never came. Her expression shifted to a frown as she furrowed her brows.

"Home, you say..."

"Yup,"

"And did you by chance go deaf over the weekend?"

You gave her a confused look as she held up her slim, silver flip phone and gently bobbed it left and right.

"You didn't answer any of my texts," she said, a slightly amused smile spreading on her lips.

You went quiet for a moment, your mouth opening to say something, then closing again. Your gaze drifted away from hers as you let out a telling "Uhh..."

"...No credit?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Uhuh..."

You forced a smile and quickly redirected toward your locker, not wanting Ari to follow you into the library, chatting up a storm and getting you kicked out for a day or two.

"You know, if you'd much rather be sad and lonely I can do that for you!" she insisted, keeping your pace as she walked beside you. You cast a glance her way.
"I'll delete your number from my phone and let you do calculus—"

"It's biology."

"—Biology, in your little safe haven, cursed to forever sit at the table where everyone puts their gum and argues who's got the sickest MySpace layout until one day you show up with black and pink hair, raccoon tail extensions, and spend your weekends crying over Fall Out Boy lyrics on Tumblr"

"Alright, alright, Jesus..." You picked up the pace, but Ari stayed glued to your side.

"Then answer me next time, loser," she said with a mock-serious tone as you reached your locker.

The noisy hallway buzzed around you, blending with the clatter of your locker door swinging open. You shoved a few textbooks inside, pretending to organize them while Ari kept chattering.

"You've been here what, two months? Still no friends. Can't afford to be so picky, you know that, right?" She placed her hands on her hips.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Sorry," you repeated, letting out a sigh that went unheard among the voices in the hallway.