Between Us

☆ part one ☆

The first day back at school always feels like stepping into a room where everyone knows a secret except you. The air hums with tension, buzzing conversations filling the hallways as people compare schedules and summer stories. It should feel normal by now. I've been here for three years—same corridors, same faces, same tired smell of old books and cleaner. But nothing feels normal. Not this year.

I tighten my grip on my notebook and weave through the crowd. My heart races for no reason at all, like I'm running late, even though there's still five minutes before the bell. My eyes flicker around the hall, pretending to look for my locker, but really, I'm searching for her. I spot Liam first. He's leaning against his locker, laughing at something Oakley said, his brown hair catching the fluorescent light. His laugh carries, warm and familiar, but it barely makes a dent in the knot tightening in my stomach. He looks so... happy. He's so easy to be around, so kind, so good. And I should be happy too—I mean, isn't this what I wanted? But then my gaze drifts a few feet to the left, and I see her.

Lark.

She's leaning against her own locker, half-listening to Indiana, who's gesturing wildly like she's in the middle of a heated debate. Lark's arms are crossed over her chest, her brown hair falling loosely around her face. She looks the same and yet completely different.
There's a sharpness to her now, like she's built a wall around herself. Her green eyes glance over the crowd, skipping right over me like I'm not even there. My chest tightens. It's been like this ever since summer—ever since Liam asked me out and I said yes.

"Hey!" Liam's voice cuts through my thoughts as he pushes off his locker and heads my way, that familiar grin stretching across his face. His brown eyes light up when he sees me, and it only makes the guilt hit harder. "There you are. I was starting to think you ditched me for another boyfriend already."

I laugh, but it's thin, shaky. "Right, because the options here are just overwhelming." He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me in for a quick kiss on the cheek. I catch Oakley raising an eyebrow at us from behind Liam, but he doesn't say anything. Not that he ever would—Oakley doesn't get involved in drama unless it's his own.

"You ready for tonight?" Liam asks, steering me toward the main hallway. "Mom's making her lasagna. She said you're officially family now since you're the only person besides me who likes it. Lark hates when mum makes lasagna so consider it a miracle."

"Sounds great," I say, trying to sound enthusiastic. I know it's what he wants to hear, but I am distracted as my gaze drifts to his sister watching her roll her eyes and walk away down the corridor. I want to say something, but what? What could I possibly say to fix the chasm that's grown between us?

"Hey, Sophie," Kitty's voice cuts in, sharp and sugary. She appears out of nowhere, flipping her dark hair over her shoulder and giving me a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Cute outfit."

"Thanks," I mutter, already bracing for whatever she's about to say next. Kitty doesn't give compliments without strings attached.

"Liam, you should have told me you started dating Sophie! I think you guys are an interesting match..." she trails off giving him a look I couldn't decipher.

"Kitty," Liam says, his tone laced with warning. "Don't start."

"What? I'm just being nice." She flashes me another smile before turning and sauntering down the hall, her heels clicking against the floor.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "She's... something."

"She's just messing with you," Liam says, squeezing my shoulder. "Don't let her get in your head." The problem is that, when Liam kisses me goodbye at my locker and heads to class, I catch myself looking down the hall to see if Lark is  still there. She's not.

The moment Liam disappears around the corner, I exhale like I've been holding my breath. My locker is right in front of me, but instead of opening it, I lean against the cool metal and press the books tighter to my chest, staring blankly at the sea of students moving past.

"Sophie."

I turn, and there's Indiana, standing a few feet away, her hands on her hips, one eyebrow raised like she's already figured out I'm hiding something. Her long black hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, a few strands framing her face. She's wearing her signature look—ripped jeans, an oversized hoodie, and an air of no-nonsense.

"Hey, Indiana," I say, straightening up. "What's up?"

She steps closer, crossing her arms. "I was gonna ask you the same thing."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Lark," she says bluntly. "She's been walking around all quiet and moody, and you—you're acting weird too. So, what's going on with you two?"

I hesitate, unsure how to respond. Indiana has a way of cutting straight to the heart of things, and lying to her feels pointless. Still, I don't want to drag her into something I don't fully understand myself. "She's been... distant," I say finally.

"Yeah, no kidding," Indiana replies, leaning against the locker next to mine. "She's been like this since summer. The only thing that's changed is you and Liam. So, what gives?"

Her question hits me harder than it should. I glance around, making sure no one is listening, then look back at her. Indiana isn't the type to spread gossip—if she's asking, it's because she cares. "I think it's about her bother," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know for sure, but... ever since we started dating, Lark's been ignoring me."

Indiana frowns, her sharp brown eyes narrowing slightly. "Why would she care about that? I mean, yeah, it's probably weird for her to see her twin date her best friend, but Lark's not the type to freak out over something like that."

I shrug, frustration bubbling in my chest. "I don't know! I've tried to talk to her about it, but she just... shuts me out. She won't even look at me half the time."

Indiana stares at me for a long moment, then lets out a low whistle. "Wow. This group is a total dumpster fire sometimes."

A small, dry laugh escapes me. "You're telling me."

She shifts her weight, glancing down the hall like she's considering something. "Look, if you want my opinion—and I'm giving it even if you don't—Lark doesn't hate you. If she did, you'd know. She's stubborn, yeah, but she's not cruel."

"Thanks," I say, though the weight in my chest doesn't feel any lighter.

"Don't mention it," she says, pushing off the locker. She starts to walk away but pauses after a few steps, looking back over her shoulder. "And tell Liam to stop letting Kitty hang around him. She's insufferable."

I nod, watching as Indiana disappears into the crowd, her words echoing in my mind. Lark doesn't hate you. Maybe she doesn't. But she's still avoiding me, and I don't know how to fix it. I glance down the hall again, hoping to see her, but there's no sign of Lark. Just an empty hallway stretching in front of me, full of people who aren't her.