Back To You;

CHAPTER 1

Hi, I'm Marie Vinson.

Straight-A student. STEM major. Aspiring journalist. First Aid Organization member. All-around overachiever. And, apparently, the universe's favorite target for awkward encounters with my old crush.

Yeah, that's right. Crush. As in, used to like him, moved on, totally over it... right?

Anyway,  I'm of average height, wear glasses, and have short hair that I always tie back with my signature red ribbon. People often say the ribbon is cute, but honestly, it's just so no one mixes me up with the other "Marie" in the STEM building. (not to brag, but I’m the smarter one.)

Now let me tell you about him.

Lauren Chiu. A gym rat with curly hair, a straight-A student, family-oriented, and the human equivalent of an "effortlessly cool" Pinterest board. Oh, and his eyelashes? Unfairly long. Like, did the universe run out of fairness when handing those out?

Lauren and I have history. Not the cute kind of history where high school sweethearts make it to the movies. No, our history is the kind where you trip over your own feelings, run away in embarrassment, and leave everything unresolved for years.

The first time I saw him again was on a Wednesday. A completely normal day. Until it wasn't.

I was walking through the STEM hallway, juggling my books and trying to remember if mitochondria was still the powerhouse of the cell, when BAM!-I collided with someone.

"Marie?"

I looked up, and there he was. Lauren freaking Chiu, standing there like a scene straight out of a rom-com. Except this wasn't cute. This was a disaster.

"Uh... hi," I squeaked. Yes, squeaked. Very dignified.

"You okay?" he asked, crouching to pick up my books.

"I'm fine! Totally fine!" I blurted out, grabbing the books so fast you'd think they were on fire. "Thanks! Gotta go!"

And then I ran. Because clearly, nothing says cool and collected like fleeing the scene.

But the universe wasn't done with me yet.

Two days later, I was in the courtyard, tending to Richard, the stray dog our First Aid Organization had adopted. I was scratching behind his ears, enjoying a moment of peace, when-surprise!-Lauren showed up again.

"Still volunteering, huh?" he said casually, crouching down next to me.

I nearly dropped the water bowl. "Are you following me or something?"

"Maybe." He grinned, and I wanted to throw the bowl at him. Not because I was mad, but because that stupid grin made my stomach flip, and I hated it.

Richard, the traitor, wagged his tail and immediately leaned into Lauren's hand.

"You know this dog?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Yeah, I used to feed him before I go to the gym," he said, scratching Richard behind the ears like they were best friends.

"Figures," I muttered. "Even dogs like you."

"Is that jealousy I hear?" Lauren teased, looking up at me with those ridiculously long eyelashes!!

I glared at him, but my cheeks betrayed me by heating up. "Nope. Just stating facts."

That was just the beginning. Lauren kept popping up everywhere-outside my classroom, in the courtyard, at the library. It was like he had a radar for wherever I'd be.

"Are you stalking me?" I asked one afternoon, crossing my arms as he approached me near the vending machines.

"Technically, no," he said, leaning casually against the wall. "But if I were, would that be so bad?"

I nearly choked on my water bottle. "Yes! That would be terrible!"

He smirked. "Good thing I'm not, then."

Over time, I stopped running. Mostly because it was exhausting, and partially because Lauren wouldn't let me. He started sitting with me during breaks, helping me feed Richard, and even teasing me about my perfectly color-coded notes.

"You're really intense about this," he said one day, pointing at my planner.

"I prefer the term 'organized,'" I shot back, shoving it into my bag.

"You're still the same, you know," he said, his voice softer this time.

I looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Back in eighth grade, you always acted like you had everything together. But I think you were just as scared as me."

His words hit harder than I wanted to admit. I opened my mouth to reply, but all that came out was, "Richard needs his water bowl refilled."

Lauren laughed and murmured, "Classic Marie."

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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FINISHING THE FIRST ONE GRAAAA! IT MEANS ALOT TwT