Between Us

☆ part twelve ☆

The end of the school day couldn't come fast enough. I found myself bouncing my knee anxiously through my last class, unable to focus on anything except the thought of seeing Lark again. The idea of spending time with her alone, without the weight of everyone else around us, had me feeling equal parts excited and nervous. The clock finally struck the hour, and I practically bolted out of my seat, weaving through the crowded hallways and out to the parking lot.

And then I saw her. Lark was leaning against the hood of her car, her phone in one hand, a half-smile tugging at her lips as she scrolled through whatever was on the screen. The late afternoon sun cast a soft glow over her, highlighting the sharpness of her jawline and the curve of her cheekbone. As if sensing me, she glanced up, and her face immediately lit up, a brilliant grin spreading across her features.

"Hey, Blondie," she called out, slipping her phone into her pocket and standing up straighter. The sound of the old nickname hit me like a shockwave, making my stomach twist in a way I wasn't entirely prepared for. It was so casual, so familiar, like no time had passed at all. I told myself it was just nerves—just the strange tension that came from being around her again after so much distance.

"Hey," I replied, my voice a little breathless as I walked up to her.

She tilted her head slightly, her grin softening into something more genuine. "You ready for the beach?"

I nodded quickly. "Yeah. The beach." I felt like I was repeating her words like an idiot, so I tried to recover. "So, the beach?"

Lark chuckled, opening the passenger door of her car and gesturing for me to get in. "Yep, but I'm picking us up food first."

I paused, curious now. "Food? Where?"

Her grin turned mischievous as she climbed into the driver's seat. "It's a surprise." The answer left me buzzing with anticipation. I slid into the passenger seat and shut the door, stealing a glance at her as she adjusted the mirrors and turned on the engine. She was so at ease, so effortless, and it made me wonder how we'd ever managed to drift apart in the first place.

The car ride was quiet at first, filled only with the soft hum of the engine and the occasional sound of passing cars. I stared out the window, watching the world blur by, but my attention kept slipping back to Lark. It didn't take long before she broke the silence. "So, you still obsessively listen to that one singer? What was it? Adrianne Lenker?"

"You remember," my heart warmed, I said laughing. "And yes, thank you very much, I still listen to her."

She shook her head with a playful smirk. "Of course you do. Some things never change." Her teasing felt light, easy, like slipping into an old pair of shoes that still fit perfectly. It made my heart swell in a way that I hadn't felt in months.

"You're one to talk," I shot back. "Still stealing random mugs from coffee shops, or have you finally kicked the habit?"

Her laugh filled the car, rich and warm. "Hey, I only took the cool ones. And, for the record, I haven't stolen one in at least a three weeks. Growth." I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. This—this back-and-forth, this easy rhythm—was exactly what I'd missed. It felt like no time had passed at all, like we were still those same two girls who used to drive around aimlessly on weekends, talking about everything and nothing.

As the car sped toward wherever Lark was taking us, I found myself settling into a quiet contentment. The tension I'd been carrying around for so long seemed to melt away in her presence. For the first time in months, I felt like I could breathe. I glanced over at her as she fiddled with the radio, landing on a station playing a song by Taylor swift. She started singing along under her breath, and I had to bite back a laugh.