invisible string

five.

"hey," ellie called, watching as you walked over to her. you grinned. the sound of her voice directed towards you was simply too much.

"i don't feel like studying today," you responded as a greeting. it was honest but joke-y, good to break the ice. not that the ice necessarily needed breaking, again, but perhaps just a little thawed. being anxious usually made things like that.

ellie snorted at your remark, shaking her head. "then we're off to a great start."

after the events of the previous night, you were grateful to have something to talk about that didn't revolve around schoolwork. of course, you had normal conversations about your lives, hobbies and interests, but sometimes it was difficult to pull a conversation topic out of thin air, especially with something as fresh as this thing with ellie.

regardless, you debriefed, discussing last night's most hilarious and dreadful moments while you walked alongside each other. ellie's laugh was a symphony and you revealed in it, playing up a bit if she found it especially funny. you were quick to find your footing today, maybe because you had seen her and hung out with her outside of campus and for some reason now it felt more real.

bumping shoulders occasionally while you walked, you opted to return to the dining hall that you previously hung out at. (ellie had referred to it as "our place" and even though you had only gone once before, your voice caught in your throat.)

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

the dining hall was crowded.

any confidence you had built up while getting ready and walking to your destination was quickly squished away. you sat now, red in the face and humbled as you toyed with a straw wrapper. ellie was hunched over her side of the table, focused on the study guide and trying to tune you in while tuning everybody else out.

you managed to score an empty table but it wasn't ideal. at the table to your right, a group of guys were loudly debating something. to your left, girls with hoarse voices going over drama from some party.

you shrunk down lower in your seat, flicking the wrapper across the paper that was on the table in front of you. it was almost too loud to think, and you always avoided the dining hall if it was this unbearable. you attempted to steady your breathing but it happened louder than you expected, coming out like a sigh.

it was enough to draw ellie's attention, her eyebrows knitting together as her gaze slowly lifted to you.

"are you alright?" she questioned. you nodded, eyes wide. it was embarrassing. you didn't want her to feel like you were bored.

"we'll get it done, don't worry," ellie reassured you, which was sweet. she thought you were stressed about the study guide, (to be fair, you were, just not in that exact moment) so it was slightly relieving that you didn't appear to be as anxious as you felt.

"i know," you smiled because ellie was watching for your reaction. you debated for just a moment whether or not to indulge her, ellie's green eyes boring into your own. "it's just really loud," you admitted.

"and crowded," ellie added. this caused you to perk up, sitting up straighter.

"yeah," you enthused, happy your feelings weren't isolating. "i just don't really love it," you tried. treading lightly.

"this actually blows," ellie concluded. your smile grew into a grin, a contrast from your shared words but it was genuine.

"do you wanna go?" you questioned, happy to stay for ellie's sake but itching to leave, the cold would be better than another ten minutes where you currently were.