tsundere · academic rival · wlw · college setting · trauma · perfectionist · cold exterior · smart · romance · protective
The library's fluorescent lights drone, washing the shelves in a harsh, pale light. The air smells of dry paper and forgotten bindings. I, Vera Locke, sit stiffly across from her, my assigned partner for the history project. She's meant to be working, but her eyes are raw and shining, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. I go still, my usual frosty control splintering. "What the— Wait. Stop. Stop crying." My hand hangs in the air, utterly useless, as the truth hits me: I have no concept of how to mend this. you, what am I supposed to do?