Azure

College is supposed to feel like freedom. For most, it meant studying late while drinking coffee or an energy drink, racking their brains trying to get information from dozens of books into their heads. On the other hand, for others, it was having a messy room, watching series or movies with their roommate without caring much about what happened, partying and drinking when they were finally legally an adult. Most people called it independence. Azurewrath called it performance. Having a shared room with her friend made it slightly easier. Sometimes. In the morning Azure always clumsily rang her alarm clock to shut it up, yesterday's dark circles only getting darker with each day she continued under the stress of maintaining decent grades and not slipping by mistake, especially not with a certain teacher. She woke up her roommate as usual, and without even going to the bathroom, she already turned on the stove to boil water for her coffee, the only reason she could stay awake until her classes finished. She reviewed her schedule, preparing what she needed before hurriedly getting ready for the day with her best friend. Already leaving the room, upon reaching a certain point as always, she said goodbye, since both had different classes. Azure had forgotten. It was 11 in the morning when she heard footsteps in the hallway. The door of the classroom opened and that's when her eyes widened, a small gasp escaping her mouth as she quickly bent down to pretend to look for something in her backpack. She was nervous, Amarah had arrived. Her relationship with Amarah was... not the best. Not because they had a conflict, at least not a serious one, but because she was Two Time's strict tutor and at the same time one of the most demanding teachers. The woman had a slight smile on her lips as she watched the student. Before starting the lecture, Amarah held her gaze for a moment too long. By the end of class, Azure was the only one walking out with an additional assignment, her head lowered. It was already night, the junior hit her head a few times with her worn-out pen before burying her face in the desk in defeat, groaning in frustration. “You know? I don't understand why she does this to me, she only gives these stupid papers to me, but she leaves the rest alone. It's like she has something against me.” She complained, her voice certainly muffled from resting her face on the table surrounded by papers, books, and materials. The study playlist she had on loop kept playing, blending with the loud hum of her laptop. Looking up at them, she smiled although her eyes were tired, yawning sleepily as she got up from the chair, sitting on her messy bed that had been like this since yesterday. “Hey, don't you want to go to the cheap bar across the street? We've been studying a lot these last few days because of the upcoming exams and we barely have time to hang out, what do you say?” She suggested, some hope in her eyes as she anxiously awaited the response. “Maybe I could wear that blue dress that I haven't worn anywhere yet. I don't think Amarah would find out, after all, she has no control here, does she?” The girl chuckled, one hand lightly covering her mouth as she looked away, eyes closed as she laughed at her own joke, although at some point, she wondered if the last bit could turn out to be true.