Between Us

☆ part twenty nine ☆

Sophie's pov

Monday Morning. The halls of the school were bustling as usual, the sounds of chatter, laughter, and lockers slamming filling the air. It was a sharp contrast to the uneasy quiet that settled in my chest. I walked toward the entrance, my bag slung over my shoulder, and spotted Liam leaning casually against the doorway. His easy smile lit up when he saw me, and he pulled me into a quick side hug as I approached. "Morning," he said, his voice warm and familiar.

"Morning," I replied, but my eyes immediately darted around, scanning the crowd. Something was off—something was missing.

"Where's Lark?" I asked, trying to sound casual as I looked around again, hoping she'd appear like she always did, slightly aloof and effortlessly cool.

Liam shrugged, his expression neutral. "She's not feeling great. Stayed home today."

My heart sank, the weight of his words settling uncomfortably in my chest. Lark didn't just stay home. She wasn't the type to miss school unless she absolutely had to. "Is she okay?" I pressed, keeping my tone light, though my stomach churned with worry.

"Yeah, I think so. She didn't really say much. You'll see her tonight, probably," he said with a smile, nudging me toward the doors.

I nodded, forcing a smile back, but the heaviness in my chest didn't ease. Liam turned, holding the door open for me as we walked into school together, but my thoughts were miles away. Lark wasn't fine. I knew it.

As Liam chatted about the weekend plans he'd started organizing in his head, I nodded absently, barely hearing a word he said. My mind was with Lark, replaying every moment of the trip, every glance, every touch, the kiss. I could still see the heartbreak etched on her face yesterday when she told me how hard this was for her. How she hated seeing me with Liam. How she hated that I wasn't hers, and that we were tangled in something messy and impossible. And now she wasn't here. Guilt twisted in my stomach, sharp and unrelenting. I wanted to be with her, to comfort her, to tell her it was going to be okay—but how could I? I was the one causing her pain. The memory of her tear-filled eyes, the way her voice cracked when she spoke, was still fresh in my mind. I'd told her we'd figure this out, but I hadn't even told Liam yet. I hadn't taken the first step toward making things right, and now she was paying the price for it.

"Soph, you okay?" Liam's voice broke through my spiraling thoughts.

I blinked, realizing we'd stopped in front of his locker. He was looking at me with a curious tilt of his head, his easy smile still in place but laced with concern. "Yeah," I lied quickly, plastering a smile on my face. "Just tired."

He chuckled. "That trip really took it out of you, huh?"

"Something like that," I said softly, glancing down the hall again as if Lark might magically appear. But she didn't. And as I followed Liam toward our first class, the ache in my chest only grew.

The morning dragged on endlessly. Every tick of the clock felt like it was mocking me. I'd texted Lark during every break between classes, sent messages she still hadn't answered.

Hey, are you okay?
I'm worried about you.
Please let me know you're alright.

Nothing. Not even the three little dots that meant she was typing. By the time lunch rolled around, the knot in my stomach had grown into a full-blown ache. I sat at the edge of the table, Liam chatting away with Oakley about the game next weekend, Kitty chiming in every now and then. Indi plopped down beside me, her tray loaded with fries, and nudged me with her elbow. "You've been quiet," she said, her voice low enough that the others wouldn't hear.