love from afar (pt 2) — daniela avanzini
summary: daniela is one of the most popular girls at school, and you’ve been painfully in love with her from a distance since the start. what happens when you have a school trip together?
warnings: angst, a little fluff, slowburn, popular! dani x loser!femreader trope.
a/n: this is the second part of the series! (part 1 here). hope you guys like, i’ll try to finish writing the third part quickly :)
tags: @luluvrs @miagamegirl @cleoisbroke @baylara @avanzinimoon @danielasleftpinkytoe0471 @meganswhxre @babyhumanoidpsychicnerd @tehesamueltehe @lovelee4u
when the project ends, you’re sure you and daniela won’t talk anymore.
she has her own life outside of you, her own friend group and other stuff that is more important than you. you know that. people drift apart all the time.
but to your surprise, daniela doesn’t let that happen.
she starts saving you a seat in class. she walks with you across campus. she texts you. she even eats lunch in the cafeteria with you sometimes.
one day, when you’re walking back to campus, your hands brush. neither of you pulls away immediately.
it’s barely anything. just your fingers grazing hers as you walk side by side. but the contact lingers for half a second too long to be accidental.
she doesn’t say anything. neither do you. but when you glance at her, her expression is unreadable. thoughtful, almost. like she’s wondering something too.
you don’t understand it. why does she keep choosing you?
other people start noticing it too.
it’s subtle at first. a glance here, a raised eyebrow there. the way her friends look between the two of you when you walk up together.
one day, you’re standing beside her after class when a girl from her friend group, sophia, smiles knowingly.
“you’ve been stealing her from us.” she teases kindly.
daniela just rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “i’m allowed to have other friends.”
other friends. the word friends lands softly. gently. like something that shouldn’t hurt, but still does.
you nod and smile slightly, pretending it doesn’t settle in your chest.
the weeks pass quickly after that, and it only becomes more and more unbearable to try and hide your feelings from daniela.
if she forgot to take notes one day in class, you immediately send yours.
if she doesn’t understand a reading, you help her with it by explaining.
if she’s cold, you’re quick to give her your sweater.
“you’re actually an angel.” she murmurs thankfully one time while you’re on call, studying for a test together.
you barely get any sleep that night.
when you think it can’t get any worse, your professor announces a class trip.
it’s only for two days, over the weekend, but still it makes your heart beat a little faster.
the first activity starts almost immediately after you arrive.
your professor gathers everyone outside the building, talking about observation, documentation, and engaging critically with the environment.
you try to listen. you really do. but daniela is standing next to you, wearing your hoodie, sleeves pulled over her hands.
you can’t focus on anything else.
luckily for you, your professor doesn’t talk for long and instead gives you tasks you need to work on. pairs, once again.
at one point, you stop near a small outdoor installation: something abstract, layered with text and images.
you start analyzing it out loud without thinking.
daniela watches you instead of the piece.
“you should talk more in class.” she says suddenly.
“like this.” she gestures slightly toward you. “you have so much to say that people should hear.”
you shake your head quickly. “i’m fine.”
“i mean it. you’re smart.” she says, softer now.
as usual, you don’t know what to say to that.
after an hour or so, there’s a group discussion.
everyone gathers in a loose circle, sitting on cold benches, notebooks in their laps.
you stay quiet. you always do.
“what do you think?” he asks. your head snaps up.
the professor is looking at you. your stomach drops.
“um…” you start quietly, suddenly forgetting every thought inside your head.
before you can panic completely, there’s a small nudge against your knee.
you glance at her. she’s already looking at you, expression steady. encouraging.
“you were explaining it earlier.” she says gently. “the thing about layered messaging?”
your heart is pounding as you swallow, slowly starting to speak.
you explain the idea you told her earlier, your voice still soft but clearer now, more certain.
when you finish, there’s a brief pause until the professor nods.
“good. that’s a strong observation.” he praises, a little impressed and surprised.
heat rushes to your face as you look down quickly.
“see? i told you.” daniela whispers eventually, nudging your foot lightly.
the afternoon is lighter. less structured.
you’re given time to wander and have some free time for a while.
you and daniela walk side by side without a clear direction.
close enough that your hands brush every few steps. neither of you pulls away.
“i liked what you said earlier.” she says after a while, breaking the silence.
you shrug slightly, trying to bite back a smile. “it was nothing.”
“you always say that.” daniela mutters, a bit sadly.
you don’t respond. you don’t know how to explain that minimizing yourself feels safer than believing her.
after a few more minutes, you stop near the water close to a park.
it’s quieter, the sounds of the others fading into the background.
she leans against the railing, looking out. you stand beside her.
“can i ask you something?” daniela says.
your heart stutters as you softly nod. she turns slightly toward you.
“why do you act like you’re… less than you are?”
your brows furrow, slightly taken aback by her question. “i don’t—” you start.
“you do.” she interrupts gently. “you brush everything off. like none of it matters.”
you look down at your hands. you don’t know how to answer that.
because it’s easier to be small. because if you expect nothing, you can’t be disappointed. because wanting more, wanting her, feels like too much.
“i guess i just don’t like attention that much.” you sigh out.
she studies you, like she’s trying to see past that answer. like she knows it’s not the whole truth.
but she doesn’t push. not this time.
instead, she reaches out just slightly.
her hand reaches for yours, fingers brushing yours. it feels like everything.
you don’t look at her. you don’t trust yourself to.
“you deserve to take up space, you know.” she says quietly.
you don’t know if she means only in class, or in her life too.
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