Light in the Darkness (1)
Abby Anderson X Fem!Reader, College AU, Multi-Part
Hello, I’m not dead, just twenty years old now. I’m also obsessed with Abby and Ellie from TLOU 2 so, here we are since I can’t stop thinking about them.
This will be a song-fic type thing, as I find it cool.
Pt. 2 can be found here
TW: Anxiety
Don’t come at me for typos, my brain’s confused
Chapter One
Drop Dead Gorgeous, Voila
“You take my breath away
With that face
Because she’s drop dead gorgeous”
Blondes were never your type. You didn’t really know for sure what your type was but one thing was for sure, it was that blondes never caught your eye. Yet this dumb, buff, Chad of a girl who always sat right in front of you, got your attention. She wasn’t dumb, like any meathead jock that snorted creatine like crack, she was quite intelligent. Maybe too smart. Definitely too smart for this pre-req Anatomy class. Yet, here she was, sitting in front of you in lecture, and sitting at a table across from you in lab as well.
During mid-term presentations, she was quite knowledgeable about the topic of cellular respiration. Her partner, rather, not so much. But that's when you knew. Just noticing this girl, Abigail as it read on the discussion boards, was just the beginning. Now, at the class after the midterm exams, you were staring holes in the back of her head. Eight weeks left, you weren’t going to make it without having emotional casualties.
“Of course,” The professor, Dr. Andrews, started talking as she walked to the front of the white board. “I know we just had mid-terms and a midterm presentation, but we have to start working on the final presentation.” She grabbed her clipboard, “I already picked partners for you, so no one is left out to do all the work this time.”
Her comment was directed at you. It had to be, since you were the only one to present alone. But it was okay, you didn’t care. Meeting new people was rough, awkward. Though, you couldn’t get away with doing projects alone forever. A couple students looked at you, then back to Dr. Andrews when she started talking again.
“Projects will be on whole systems this time, and it will correlate to lab, so these partners will also be your designated lab partner,” Dr. Andrews then looked down at her clipboard to seal your fate. “Abigail Anderson,” She called, looking up at the blonde sitting in front of you. Then she called your name, causing you to freeze. Dr. Andrews continued to call out names as Abigail turned to look at you, giving you a small smile. “You may now sit with your partners,” Dr. Andrews concluded.
There was a free spot next to you, so you nodded your head to it. Abigail seemed to understand as she gathered her things and stood up. You didn’t look at her when she pulled the chair out next to you.
You could feel Abigail’s eyes on you after she set up her laptop and notebook. Dr. Andrews gave the class ten minutes to socialize with their picked partner, but you didn’t know what to say.
“You can call me Abby,” The blonde said softly, “Do you have a nickname?”
“For you?” You asked, turning your head to face her.
“What?” Abby looked amused, “I meant for you.” She leaned a muscular arm on the table, propping her head on her hand.
You stared at her, “No,” You answered, looking down at the pencil you were playing with. Your hands were getting clammy, heart rate speeding up. She was actively talking to you, and she didn’t seem annoyed by your weird question. Although, this was your first conversation with her, so it could get worse.
“You had a nickname for me?” Abby asked, her eyes never left you making our anxiety spike. She was wearing a cut off tee with cargo pants, showing off her arm muscles. Her hair was in a Dutch braid, like it usually was.
“No.”
“Mmm, okay,” Abby chuckled, not pushing the topic. “You did the last project alone, right?”
That question caused you to look at her, eyes furrowed as you blinked at her. She seemed genuinely curious, even if her question had an obvious answer. She’s not dumb.
“I mean, yeah,” You answered, looking her in the eyes, then you looked at her face. Her skin was bright, slight acne scars, but nothing too bad. Her nose and cheeks had freckles, forehead and chin just lightly dotted. Abby’s lips were slightly chapped, but they were a pale red.
Abby licked her lips, bringing you out of your analysis of her face. She apparently said something, but you never caught it.
“What?” You ask.
The blonde smirked, her dark blue eyes scanning your face now. She then leaned slightly closer, causing you to stiffen.
“You do well with public speaking,” She relented, “Yet right now, this conversation seems one-sided. Are you nervous around me?”
Your mouth dropped at her question. Who was she to call out your anxieties? Immediately, you almost put up your defenses, almost cut her out of your life. But a rational thought brought you back. She was just being curious, maybe trying to become friends. And she wasn’t wrong about the one-sided conversation, or about you being nervous around her.
Closing your mouth, you turned your attention back to the pencil. “I don’t care what these idiots think about me, or how I talk.”
“But?” She prompted, her voice softening.
“You’re a potential friend,” You turn back to her. Surprised at the proximity she gained towards you, you flinch. Abby didn’t move, waiting for your answer. “Also, we’re stuck together for the next eight weeks.”
Abby stared at you, taking in the information. But she still didn’t move, instead asking, “Do you think I’m an idiot?”
“No,” Your answer was immediate, causing you to flush. “You seem to know what you’re talking about.” You turned your attention to your laptop, opening the projects rubric.
Abby hummed, seemingly satisfied with your answer, she leaned back into her seat.
After Dr. Andrews explained the project, she left the class to work amongst themselves. Abby didn’t push any further during class, instead pulling her own weight. You were thankful, having had partners in the past that forced you to do everything.
A few minutes before class ended, you decided to pack your items away. Abby decided to do the same, but you could feel her eyes watching you rearrange your items. As you zipped your backpack up, you heard Abby sigh.
“I should give you my number.”
You snapped your head to look at her, narrowing your eyes, “Why?”
The blonde didn’t seem phased by your reaction, instead she cocked her head, “So we can talk about the project.”
You thought her actions were cute, noticing how she kind of took on an innocence when she cocked her head at you. She seemed to not care about your hostility to the question, probably putting it together that you had anxiety. The conclusion warmed your heart, maybe friendship was possible. But, these qualities made the blond even more attractive to you.
Picking up your phone, you handed it to her, “You make a compelling argument.” She smiled, grabbing your phone gently. You watched her type her number in, then she placed your phone on your desk in front of you.
Abby grabbed her phone, handing it to you. You typed your number in, hitting save. Handing her phone back, you left your name blank so she could fill it with whatever she wanted.
“Do you want to join my table in lab?” You asked, changing her name in your phone.
Abby was silent for a moment, thinking your question over. You were nervous, having started the conversation this time.
“Sure.”
You nod, standing up, slinging your arms through the straps of your backpack, “See you then.”
The two of you had sent texts to make sure that you both had the right numbers. You smirked at her latest reply as you sat at your lab table.
From Abby (Chad) Chaderson
Hey
To Abby (Chad) Chaderson
Chad
From Abby (Chad) Chaderson
What?
You didn’t respond, rather you got your work for the class out. Thumbing through your lab book, you heard students start filing in. Movement out the corner of your eye caught your attention, causing you to look up. Abby was taking her seat across from you, placing her backpack on the table.
“Chad?” Was all she said. You smirked not looking up from your book, acting as if you were still reading.
“Hm?”
“So you’re secretly a gremlin,” Abby stated as Dr. Andrews walked in. You only shrugged at the blonde with a grin, turning your attention to the professor.
After a brief lecture, Dr. Andrews left the class alone to do the lab exercises. Abby was more talkative, not minding your brief answers as the two of you worked.
“What’s your major?” Abby asked.
“Reading,” You answer, writing down some data from your lab report.
“Funny,” Abby looked up at you from her own course work.
“I hope so, or else I’ll need a new job,” You smile, looking up to meet her eyes. Though, with that action, you froze. Your throat went dry as you took in her smiling face, the crinkles of the corners of her eyes highlighting just how often she smiled.
“So…?” Abby pressed, her smile turning into a sly smirk.
Swallowing thickly, you looked back down at your notes. Heat roast to your cheeks as you said, “Biochem.” Turning to a new page of your notebook you ask, “What about you?”
Abby hummed, “Pre-med.”
Tearing a piece of paper from your notebook, playing with it, “Rough.” You state, focusing on tearing it apart. Silence enveloped the table. God, why did you have to make things so awkward? “Why?” You decide to ask.
“My dad’s a doctor.”
“Makes sense,” You look at your paper pile that was forming in front of you. Humming you answer her curious stare, “You’re not dumb. You know what you’re talking about.” You then looked up at her, “You’re not the only one who noticed something during midterms.”
Abby smirked, “I guess not.”
There it was. The pit-fall in your stomach, your hands getting clammy. The racing of your heart, your eyes not being able to leave the person you’re getting attached to. The evidence was clear, with you not being able to get your mind off this buff, Olympic goddess of a woman.
Maybe Abigail Anderson was the blonde exception.
Posted: April 8, 2023
WC: probably 1,800