Hi, I'm a bookworm

Sophia's shoes clicked softly against the pavement as she followed Ethan, who seemed determined to walk at marathon speed. She kept pace, but inside, her thoughts were racing even faster than her feet. Her eyes kept darting to his twisted braids and glasses that caught the light just enough to make him seem effortlessly cool. Meanwhile, she was pretty sure her own nerves were showing in every stiff movement.

"So, is this how you normally walk? Or are we training for the Olympics?" she asked, a hint of humor in her voice to break the tension she was feeling.

Ethan glanced over, one side of his lips twitching upward. "Cardio," he said simply, "and I want you to be on time. Arriving last on your first day won't leave a good impression."

Sophia snorted, immediately regretting it. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine. That's a solid snort," he said, his voice low but amused. "Definitely memorable."

She chuckled, feeling her shoulders relax just a little. "Well, I aim to leave a lasting impression."

"You're doing great so far," he replied, keeping his gaze ahead.

They fell into a comfortable silence as they neared the entrance of the lecture hall. Sophia's nerves returned in full force as the reality of her first day in class hit her again. She fidgeted with her notebook, trying to keep her mind from spiraling.

"You'll be fine," Ethan said, surprising her by breaking the silence. His voice was quieter now, almost like he didn't want to intrude on her inner battle but still wanted to say something reassuring. "Promise."

Sophia looked at him, his steady expression calming her just a bit. "Thanks," she muttered, managing a small smile. "I'm hoping I don't trip over my own nerves."

Ethan's lips twitched again. "If you do, just call it 'performance art.'"

She laughed, feeling the knot in her chest loosen slightly. "Right, I'll make it look intentional."

They stopped at the entrance, and Ethan turned to her, a small pause between them. "Meet me after class?" His tone was casual, but there was something in the way he said it that made her heart skip.

"Yeah, sure," Sophia agreed quickly, hoping she didn't sound too eager. "Library?"

He nodded once, the briefest of smiles tugging at his lips. "Library."

With one last glance, Ethan turned and walked off, leaving her to face the first-day jitters alone.

---

Inside the lecture hall, Sophia spotted Leah waving her over. She weaved through the rows of seats to the back, trying to push down the nervous energy that buzzed in her chest.

"Hey, how was the walk?" Leah grinned, immediately leaning in. "You and 'Sam' looked... cozy. You guys look good together."

Sophia shrugged, though her face felt warm. "It was fine. We just walked. Don't get any weird ideas, we are just friends."

Leah raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the casual act. "Just walked? Right. And I bet there were zero awkward moments."

Sophia rolled her eyes, sinking into her seat. "Okay, fine. Maybe it was a little awkward, but that's normal, right?"

Leah snickered. "Awkward is your love language. I can't wait to see you officially dating."

Sophia was about to retort when the professor's voice boomed over the class, commanding attention. "Let's get started with introductions. Name, major, and something interesting about yourself."

As each student took their turn, Sophia's stomach churned. Why did they have to start with introductions on the first day? Her palms were sweating, and her mind raced for something that wouldn't make her sound completely boring.

When her turn came, she stood, feeling every eye in the room on her. "Uh, I'm Sophia Mills," she began, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm a first-year in Public Relations."

There was a small pause, and she could feel the pressure of needing to say something interesting. "And I... uh, I really like reading novels." Lame. But she quickly sat down before she could embarrass herself further.

Leah nudged her, a smirk playing on her lips. "Not bad for a first try."

Sophia just groaned quietly, sinking deeper into her seat. "Can we never speak of this again?"

---

After class, Sophia made her way to the library, her heart beating a little faster than it should. She spotted Ethan leaning against one of the pillars outside, his hands in his pockets, looking completely at ease. Her nerves spiked again, but she pushed them down as she approached.

"Hey," she greeted, trying to sound casual, though her voice was a little breathless.

Ethan straightened up, offering her a small nod. "How was it?"

"Survived," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "But let's just say public speaking isn't my thing. I sounded like, Hi, I'm a bookworm"

He let out a soft chuckle. "It's not bad to be proud of your hobby. Besides, you'll get better at it."

Sophia smiled, though she still felt that jittery excitement in the air. "You really think so?"

"Yeah," Ethan said simply, then added with a slight smirk, "But if not, there's always professional mime work."

She laughed, the sound more genuine this time. "I'll keep that as a backup plan."

They began walking, the conversation flowing a little more naturally now, though there was still that undercurrent of awkwardness—one she found oddly comforting.

At one point, as they were nearing her dorm, Ethan slowed his pace slightly. "Hey," he started, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "Do you, uh, hug?"

Sophia blinked in surprise, but before she could answer, Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, clearly unsure if he should've asked. "I mean... if not, that's fine. I just figured—"

"No, I do!" she blurted, feeling her cheeks heat up. "I mean, yeah, hugs are... good."

Ethan gave a small nod, stepping closer. His arms wrapped around her in a quick but warm hug, and for a moment, Sophia forgot how to breathe. It was brief, but it left her feeling... different. Like the hug had meant more than just a friendly gesture.

When they pulled apart, Ethan gave her a half-smile. "See? Less awkward than a handshake."

Sophia smiled back, still trying to process how natural that had felt. "Definitely."

As they reached her dorm building, Sophia found herself not wanting the moment to end. But Ethan was already taking a step back, giving her that same quiet look he always seemed to wear.

"See you tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice soft. "Tomorrow."

Ethan gave a quick nod, then turned to walk away. Sophia stood there for a moment, watching him disappear down the path. Her heart was still fluttering, and she knew she had a long night ahead of her, because her overthinking mind wouldn't let her get over her awkward moments on their first meeting.