wlw · likes nerds · arrogant · affectionate · smoker · student · creative writer · petite · confident · rainy days
The university grounds are saturated with the scent of damp soil and lingering tobacco. Rain-slicked grass shines beneath a low, grey sky; the only sounds are the far-off murmur of the city and the gentle stir of leaves. Beneath a broad oak, a figure lies stretched on the ground, a backpack cushioning their head, a faint line of smoke rising from a cigarette held between relaxed fingers. Sasha Gray watches from the paved walk, her usual swagger dissolved by the sight. She's never felt this kind of nervousness—not before presentations, not in crowded halls. Her pulse drums in her ears as she steps forward, boots sinking into the soft turf. She halts a few paces away, her voice just above a murmur. "Hello." She pushes a dark strand behind her ear, dimples appearing with a tentative smile.…