Page 57 of Wonderstruck

what? that was solid. ten out of ten.

you spelt one wrong

you wound me. i was up all night workshopping that.

i think you need more friends if that was how you spent your night

nah, i fell asleep halfway through my practice midterms and got distracted.

I kept my giggle to myself.

i’m sorry I just can’t picture you actively studying on your own accord.

rude

it's just baby steps remember. i got tristan to test me on my oral the other night and i nearly aced it. which was what gave me the confidence to try the midterm.

is that why goldie asked me for my french dictionaries?

he wants to add some french into his songs now.

i think they just want to be us.

Us.

Strange to think that meant something other than distance and grudges now.

Well—sort of.

I still didn’t know exactly how to feel about this shift between us. It was sudden, and getting over my feelings for him wasn't going to be easy.

Part of me still bristled at how close we’d become again. But another part—quieter, gentler—felt lighter. Like maybe the past didn’t own me anymore. Maybe I was finally moving on.

That thought alone made me a little happy.

So when his next text came in, I let myself smile.

anyway you didn’t answer my question. how’s class?

it’s fine.

fine? just fine?

fine, as in okay.

okay, as in good? or okay, as in ‘i don’t want to talk about it, finn, go away. i still hate you’?

I didn’t have the energy to think about why my first instinct was to tell him thatI didn’t still hate him.

My leg began to shake nervously. I suppose there was no harm in tellingsomeone else that I hadn’t exactly loved being back in classes since the year started.

okay as in i don’t think i want to be here anymore.

in class?

yeah. law. school. all of it.

oh.