Sunrise basked over the academy and through the windows as Thora rested her head on the table, staring at the door as her starry eyes gazed, waiting to meet with lavender eyes as sharp as fresh cut plight stones. 

I wonder if he’d like to get breakfast with me sometime, start our day with some coffee and a muffin, maybe hold hands on our way back, and- HE’S HERE! Quickly facing her desk she started writing notes as if she was jotting down an idea she had. 

Stepping into the room, and feeling much better rested, he looks over at her, and takes a deep breath, steeling himself as he takes a step closer, then another, then another. Okay, this time for sure! No more beating around the bush! Just come out and say it!

Retrieving a book from his bag, he stepped alongside the table as he held it towards her. “Before I forget, you left this here the other day.”

“Oh! I was looking for that.” Turning her head, she blinked a couple of times, astonished at where it was before shaking her head and taking it. HE SPOKE TO ME FIRST! SAY GOOD MORNING! ASK IF HE WANTS TO SIT NEXT TO ME! 

“Thank you.” She responded as she set the book down beside her notebook. 

Nodding, and setting his own things down on the table, he soon sat across in his usual spot and wordlessly pulled out his notebook. YES! I GAVE HER THE BOOK!!! SHE APPRECIATES IT!! I wonder if she’s gonna bring up asking to get drinks!!! I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it!!!

Writing down notes that became her thoughts, she blushed and quickly smudged the ink to be illegible and sighed, she should turn around, start some small talk, but no, she instead sat there, tapping her pen until the ink pooled beneath the tip soaking through the page. 

“Listen well students, today we will be doing an interactive course, I’m sure you all know that when the great headmaster found this school, she was led here by twigly twist branches, with a partner you will head into the forest and find one, sketch it, and report your findings.” The classroom erupted into whispers and excitement. 

WILL HE BE MY PARTNER?! I WANT TO GO WITH HIM SO BAD! THIS IS MAGICAL! In the forest, alone, IT'S LIKE A DATE! No, calm down! It’s just a school assignment, and he’s a brewer so he’s great with herbs, yeah! That’s a great excuse to ask him! Fidgeting with her hair, her ears tickled pink and wiggled as she spun her silky locks around her finger. 

I wonder if she has a partner in mind, possibly one of her friends, probably Abira- WHAT IF SOME OTHER GUY ASKS HER TO BE PARTNERS?!? I CAN’T LET THAT HAPPEN!! I NEED TO FIND OUT WHO SHE HAS IN MIND BUT HOW?!? Okay, calm down, think calmly, you can’t just ask her who she’s planning on partnering with, let's stay cool! And be casual! 

Adjusting his hair behind his ear, he spoke in an even tone as he never took his eyes up from his notebook. “….Sounds troublesome.”

Maybe he doesn’t like the assignment! I probably shouldn’t ask him! With her ears twitching rapidly a nervous pulse fills her heart, zoning out she didn’t even hear the professor tell the students to find a partner. 

Her thoughts interrupted when a dark oak-haired boy turns around having sat in front of her and slams his hand on the table. “Hey Riddles you’re good at sketching and herb stuff aren’t you?”

With her eyes widening in both a surprised and insecure manner she made sure her book of notes was well out of his reach. Last she checked that was Tilo Brown, a knight in training, all brawn no brain. 

“Well, yes I’m alright at it.” Thora said in a nervous tone. NO NO NO PLEASE I DON'T WANT YOU! Ew don’t smile at me, I’m fine! Just say you have a partner in mind and stand up! 

Glancing up for a moment, Irving’s brow twitched, and he fought to keep his face natural as his mind lurched, and one of his hands started slowly digging in his bag as he stared blankly at his notebook. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THIS CAN HAPPEN!! I WON'T LET SOME OTHER GUY ASK HER TO GO INTO THE FOREST ALONE!! THINK THINK THINK!!! 

Panic flooded his veins as he clenched his jaw, and tried to find something in his bag, but he needed time, so without much thought, his other arm that was pressed against the table pushed forward, knocking the small stack of books on the corner of his table off, and onto the ground.

Hearing the thud, Thora flinches and quickly turns around, looking down to the ground behind her she bends over, her chest touching her knees as she piles each book, and sets it on her lap, before standing up and placing them on his desk. ASK HIM! ASK HIM NOW! HE'S RIGHT THERE!

Turning to Tilo, she says in a rather stern tone. “I’m afraid I already have a partner.”

WAIT NO NOT WHAT I MEANT! WHAT IF HE HAD SOMEONE ELSE HE WANTED TO PARTNER WITH!? Just breathe, turn around, face his beautiful features, and ask! With a slight tilt, Thora looks beneath her hair and to Irving. “If you don’t mind that is……” 

For a moment, his eyes widened, and he had to process her words. AHHHHHHHHHHH SHE WANTS TO BE PARTNERS!!!! THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING DAY OF MY LIFE!!!! OKAY BE COOL BE COOOOL! STAY CALM AND DON’T FREAK OUT!!!

A small grin formed on the corners of his lips, as he tilted his head, bringing his other hand up from his bag, and ran it through his hair as he fought to suppress a prideful chuckle, which came out as a barely audible ‘hmph’ to her. “Naturally……”

Clicking his tongue Tilo turned away and started speaking to another when Thora placed both her hands on the edge of his table as she leaned up, placing her lips near her hands as if peeking over the edge. “Are you sure? I can ask someone else if you want me to.” 

WHY DID I SAY THAT?! STOP BEING INSECURE AND JUST BE HAPPY HE'S NOW STUCK WITH YOU! Her ears twitched, her eyes glimmered red and a sense of shyness and insecurity was painted over her features. 

Without warning, his ears started nervously wiggling, and a soft pink tint set itself onto his cheeks. EVEN WHEN SHE’S BEING SHY SHE’S SO CUTE!!! QUICK! COMPLIMENT HER! TELL HER SHE'S THE REASON YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING AND YOU’D BE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO WITH HER!!!

“No, it’s alright.” Lifting his hand in a somewhat dismissive manner, he then looked back down at his notebook, beginning to write once again.

“Alright then…..” She said with a swift nod, a small smile on her face when Abira called her, looking around Thora turned to her golden-haired friend, her voice chattering in her mind. I HOPE I DIDN'T ANNOY HIM! 

The moment she turned, Irving’s face contorted to a pained cringe as his other hand came up and covered his face out of embarrassment. NOOOOOOOOO!!! I WANTED TO TELL HER HOW AMAZING SHE IS! I FROZE UP! NOW THE CHANCE IS GOOOOOONE!!!

Thora, whose eyes sparkled with an unusual glimmer, looked to Abira who tilted her head. “You have a partner already?”

“Yeah, it sort of fell into place.” She felt like humming, to go into the forest with Irving and find a plant together felt like a date, how she wished it was a date, holding hands and…STOP IT THEY'LL SEE ME BLUSH!!

Shaking her head Thora glimpsed Abira and for a second, could swear she was glaring, or perhaps it was the sun in her eyes, it was an awfully bright day, summer always had this way of causing unnecessary fuss. 

“Then I’ll partner with Harriet, have fun now.” Abira grabbed Harriet’s wrist and walked away, as to what she was thinking was a mystery to Thora, she had never understood what went on in their minds. 

Whatever it was didn’t matter either, because today she was getting to work with Irving! Does my hair look okay!? I should have worn makeup! Do I look nice!? Will he think I’m pretty?! She knew fussing over such things was silly, but she couldn’t help it! Her heart skipped a beat whenever she even thought of him, and she was getting better at talking with him without running away embarrassed! 

Grabbing her bag, Thora walked up to the section where Irving sat, standing near his desk as students started heading out the door. 

Soon, he stood up, neatly putting his things away as he took a deep breath, and tried to calm the heartbeat that thrummed away in his ears, and he turned to her, adjusting his hair somewhat so it wasn’t directly in his face. “Shall we?”

Tilting his head, he felt a rush in his veins as adrenaline started kicking in, and his hands got a bit clammy as he waited for her response. Okay, this is it! You’re going into the forest together! Gotta stay cool! This is our time to shine with everything we know!!!

“Indeed.” Nodding her head, she turned to walk down the stairs, following the students as she could hear the voice in her mind as if it were nails on a chalkboard. SAY SOMETHING! ANYTHING! MENTION HOW THIS FEELS LIKE A DATE AND THEN MAYBE ASK HIM ON ONE! “This is new.” 

“Hmm?” He responded before he could process what she said and he simply followed behind, holding his bag with one hand as the other jammed itself into his pocket. WHAT DOES SHE MEAN BY THAT?!? IS IT GOOD NEW OR BAD NEW?! WOULD SHE HAVE RATHER PICKED SOMEONE ELSE?! IS SHE HAVING REGRETS!? WHAT DOES SHE MEAN!?!?

NEW?! NEW?! AHHHH WHAT DO I SAY?! Following the group through the halls, she slowed her pace to walk side by side with Irving, it felt as if her heart would burst. “The assignment, we’ve never had this type of work.”

“I see……” Nodding, he continued walking beside her as he slowly took a deep breath. Oh pheeeww! She just meant the assignment is all, I guess being a historian wouldn’t really get you out in the field looking fo- WAIT THIS IS TOTALLY MY CHANCE TO MAKE HER THINK I'M COOL!!! I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO FIND THE BRANCHES! Alright! Say something cool to show her you know your stuff!

“Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll find a twigly twist branch quickly.” Taking his hand from his pocket he ran it through his hair, pushing it back slightly as he turned his head slightly to the side.

HE’S SO CONFIDENT AND COOL! NNGGGHHH LOOK AT HIM! MY HEART IS BEATING SO FAST I CAN'T FEEL MY BONES!!! Playing with the strap to her book bag, Thora takes a deep breath before finding the courage to respond. “I know.” 

 And just as quickly she thinks. NO WAIT! I FORGOT TO ADD THE BECAUSE YOU'RE WITH ME! BUT NOW THERE'S BEEN TOO LONG OF A PAUSE AND IT'LL BE AWKWARD!!!! 

Irving’s eyes widened as they walked, and he stared ahead as his ears tinted pink, and started wiggling as he remained dead silent, returning his hand to his pocket. WHY WAS THAT HOT?!? SHE SOUNDED ASSERTIVE AND CONFIDENT AND MMMMMMMMMMMM I WISH SHE’D TELL ME THAT WHILE SHE- WE’RE STILL IN THE HALLWAY CALM DOWN BEFORE SHE LOOKS DOWN!

Walking down the albino-colored staircase that looked made of cracked pearl, and snow, the gathering of students headed out to the forest where dark brown colored roots spread out from the moss and little white flowers fluttered the land. 

“Now students! Gather back when the lunch bell sings! Until then enjoy the hunt!” The professor yelled as he dismissed all the students. 

Among the students Irving and Thora started splitting off from the group, slowly heading down the grassy paths filled with thickets and flowers. 

“It’s cooler than I thought it would be.” Thora said as she looked up at the hot summer sky beneath the cool shade of the many trees. 

“Indeed…..a welcome change from the heat.” With a nod, he took a deep breath as he looked around, clutching tighter onto his bag. 

OH MY GOD ARE WE BANTERING?! IS THIS HOW HAVING FRIENDS FEELS LIKE!? I HOPE SHE’S ENJOYING THIS TOO! Fidgeting with his pocket, he glanced around at all the different plants and herbs that were in the area.

Each herb was common, and seen in the gardens of the academy plenty of times, the little white flowers that resembled translucent buttercups shimmered in the shadow light guiding the path. 

Thora, looking around to see no one, felt a nervous chill run up her spine, they were alone, her ears began to twitch as her cheeks tilted pink, sitting in the grass, she played with the grass between her fingers as she tried to calm her heart in the guise of looking for their assignment. I'M SO NERVOUS, I'VE NEVER BEEN ALONE WITH HIM OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY! Stay calm! Look stable! Look smart! 

Meanwhile, Irving searched around while standing in place, looking for the tree with a burning intensity. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE!! YOU GOTTA IMPRESS HER BY KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE THE BRANCHES ARE!……..If we can find any that is……..I forgot where they grow………

Looking left, then right, the two found themselves scouring for what felt like hours, though it was simply a few minutes of silence. 

Stepping over a particularly large root, Irving found himself wandering around, the tree had to be somewhere, it was more of. Bush though, with spiral branches that looked like hair curls.

Twiggly Twist wasn’t common, yet wasn't exactly hard to find either, walking towards the forest they most commonly grew in, Irving could hear Thora shuffling through the grass behind him. 

Clearing his throat, he softly spoke up as he put a hand on his hip, and pulled out his Grimoire with the other, scrolling through the list of herbs he had studied, trying to remember where they grew. “We’re looking for a small tree, shaped more like a bush, with curly twisted branches.”

With a swift step, Thora stepped in front of him, her cheeks puffed as she clasped his hands. “Looking it up is cheating!”