Chapter 15: Back to Work
The weekend felt like a dream, a fleeting moment of freedom that was quickly swallowed by the realities of their college lives. The group had parted ways reluctantly on Sunday afternoon, all agreeing that they'd need a recovery day before jumping back into the whirlwind of school. But as Monday came, so did the weight of assignments, deadlines, and responsibilities.
Riley sat in her usual spot in the classroom, her back resting against the chair as she absentmindedly scrolled through her phone. She couldn't help but think about how the weekend had shifted something inside of her. She was still feeling the aftershocks of her newfound confidence, but it wasn't just about looking different or feeling good in her own skin anymore. It was about taking control, about leading-not just in the river, but in her life.
She glanced around the classroom, the usual chatter of students filling the air. Her eyes briefly scanned the room, landing on Elena, who was seated a few rows away, her gaze focused on the front of the class. There was a certain stillness about her today, something unreadable, and Riley wondered if maybe Elena was still processing the weekend, too. It hadn't been long since their unexpected conversation on the hike, and Riley still wasn't sure what to make of it. They hadn't talked about it afterward, and part of Riley was relieved, but another part of her wished they had.
The class began to settle, and Riley snapped out of her thoughts as the professor walked in, setting the stage for another day of work. It was a project-heavy semester, and Riley had come to terms with the fact that most of her assignments would involve group work-luckily, her project with Elena was still ongoing. The fact that they were paired together felt like fate, even though neither of them had mentioned it again since their hike. Riley had, however, been thinking about it a lot.
She turned her attention to her notebook as the professor began explaining the day's task. "Alright, team," the professor said, "I want everyone to take a few minutes to outline their thoughts on the project. We'll reconvene in groups shortly, and I expect you to have a solid foundation for your ideas."
Riley's eyes wandered once again, landing on Elena. Elena's pen was moving steadily across her paper, and Riley couldn't help but notice the way her concentration seemed so intense. Elena had always been meticulous-always put together, always on top of things-but today, there was something different about her. She seemed... more distant, even in her focused state. Riley couldn't decide whether that was a good thing or not.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the professor started organizing the students into groups, calling out names one by one. Riley's heart rate quickened as her own name was called, followed by Elena's. It was almost as if they were tethered together in this academic world, fated to keep working side by side.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, Riley stood up, stretching slightly. Elena, as expected, gathered her things with precision, her movements sharp and purposeful. Riley could feel the slight tension in the air, the unspoken words lingering between them like an invisible barrier. It wasn't awkward, but it wasn't exactly natural either.
Riley grabbed her backpack and walked over to Elena, trying to ease the air between them. "Hey," she said casually, smiling slightly. "Ready to get back to work on this thing?"
Elena paused, glancing up at Riley for a split second before nodding. "Yeah," she replied, her voice calm but there was a noticeable edge to it. "I was thinking we could meet at the library after class and discuss what we've got so far."
Riley agreed, noting that Elena had a way of keeping things professional, keeping them at arm's length even when they'd shared more personal moments over the weekend. Riley didn't mind though. She was okay with taking it slow, letting whatever this was evolve naturally. And maybe, just maybe, today would bring them a little closer to understanding each other.
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The library was bustling with students when they arrived later that afternoon, the low hum of conversation and pages turning filling the space. Riley wasn't a fan of working in such a busy environment, but she knew it was the best place to get things done.
"Over here," Elena said, motioning to an empty table near the back. They settled down across from each other, the stack of books and papers between them a reminder of their looming deadline. Riley glanced up at Elena, who was already pulling out her notebook, jotting down some quick notes. Her concentration was fierce as she organized her thoughts, completely absorbed in the project.
Riley took a deep breath, unsure how to start. The last time they'd worked on this project together, things had been different. They were friends now, sure, but there was still a strange, unspoken tension that lingered in the air. Riley had no idea what Elena was thinking, and it was driving her crazy. She wanted to know, wanted to break through that barrier, but she had no idea where to begin.
"So," Riley started, trying to ease into the conversation, "what do you think we should focus on next for this? The research is pretty solid, but we still need a solid plan for the presentation."
Elena paused, glancing up from her notes to meet Riley's gaze for a fraction of a second. She cleared her throat and spoke, her tone neutral. "Yeah, I was thinking we could break down the major sections of the project and each take a part to present. We can put the outline together and figure out how to divide it from there."
Riley nodded, but she felt the conversation drifting again. She didn't want it to be just about the project-they had more to talk about, more to unpack after the weekend. The weekend where they'd been so close, yet still so far from understanding what was really happening between them.
Elena scribbled down some ideas, her pencil moving swiftly across the paper. Riley's eyes wandered once more to her, the familiar feeling of admiration creeping in, something that was becoming hard to ignore. What was it about Elena? Why was Riley so drawn to her?
"Riley?" Elena's voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back to reality. "Are you okay? You've been quiet."
Riley blinked, caught off guard by Elena's sudden attention. She wasn't sure how to answer-should she say something about the way Elena had been acting lately? Should she ask what was going on in her head? No. Not yet.
"Yeah, I'm good," Riley replied with a shrug, leaning back in her chair. "Just trying to think of how we're going to make this thing stand out. You know, get an A."
Elena smiled faintly, and for a brief moment, Riley thought she caught a glimpse of something-something soft behind Elena's eyes, maybe even something that was more than just academic focus.
The moment passed as quickly as it had come, and Riley returned to the task at hand, pushing her feelings aside. But as they continued to work, Riley couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing. She just wasn't sure if it was for better or worse.