It's Always Been You

Strains of Tradition

While we sat in The Beanery attempting to study, I let out a small laugh, shaking my head at Michelle's dramatics. "With the amount of coffee you've had, you should be way more productive right now, Elle."

Michelle lifted her head off the table to shoot me an utterly unamused look. "With the amount of coffee in my system, I can barely sit still long enough to focus," she deadpanned. "My brain is buzzing, but not in a productive way."

Leaning back against the booth, I watched her misery with fond amusement. Michelle had always been one to procrastinate until the last possible second. "This is why you learn to manage your time better and not leave all your assignments for the night before they're due."

"Sorry we can't all be as naturally motivated as you, Fia," Michelle groaned, slumping back in her seat with a petulant pout. "God, I just want it to be summer already so this semester from hell will be over."

I scoffed lightly. "It's only the second month of our freshman year. We've got a long way to go before that summer break, my friend."

Michelle shrugged carelessly. "Well, at least we get a nice long Thanksgiving and Christmas break coming up in just another month or so. I can look forward to that."

Sucking my bottom lip between my teeth, I felt my shoulders tense imperceptibly. "Right...Thanksgiving and Christmas," I echoed, unable to keep the dullness from my tone.

Michelle's brows knit together as she studied me carefully. "What's wrong? Why don't you seem excited?"

I shot her a wry look, sighing deeply. "You know the whole deal with my family, Elle," I said by way of explanation. "I'm definitely not looking forward to seeing them. And yes, I'm aware of how bad and bitchy that probably sounds."

"What sounds bad and bitchy?" an unexpected voice rang out.

Michelle and I both looked up to find Wes sauntering over, that signature smirk already playing at the corners of his lips as his eyes danced with amusement. "Hello, ladies. Am I interrupting something juicy?"

I forced a sarcastic smile, arching one brow. "If I say yes, would you actually leave us alone?"

Wes scoffed, not even having the decency to consider my request as he slid into the booth beside me, our legs brushing together in the cramped space. "Nope," he stated simply, popping the 'p' in that infuriatingly cocky way of his.

Michelle's eyebrows shot up as she watched our interaction, her lips twitching like she was trying not to laugh outright. "You two look awfully warm and cozy together...again," she said, her tone laced with heavy insinuation.

I shot her a withering glare, silently pleading with her not to go there in front of Wes. But of course, she seemed to take perverse delight in my embarrassment.

"What do you mean 'again'?" Wes asked, his brow furrowing in confusion as he looked between us.

"Oh, you know, just that night after the party when-"

"Don't you have a date or something?" I cut Michelle off abruptly, my voice taking on a falsely bright tone as I tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. Anywhere else, really.

Wes's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied me, clearly picking up on the sudden shift in my demeanour. "No, why would I have a date?" he countered, letting out an uncertain chuckle. "Unless you're trying to pawn me off on someone new already, Fia?"

I shrugged one shoulder, keeping my gaze averted as I mumbled, "I don't know, I just figured that's how you liked to spend your free time."

Wes clutched a hand to his chest in an overly dramatic fashion, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "I'm hurt that you think I'm such a shallow, womanizing person, darling," he lamented with a shake of his head, though the teasing lilt to his voice stripped away any true offence. "I do have other matters to keep myself preoccupied, you know?"