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He didn’t.

“You’re going to be late,” I told him.

He glanced at the clock above the hall doors, then back at my locker.

“Get your book.”

I did.

My fingers were clumsy with the combination. Having him beside me should have been something I enjoyed.

I could barely stand it.

He walked me to class. Ruckus was there already, leaning against the doorframe. When he saw us, he moved aside.

“I’ve got this one,” he told Chief.

Chief looked into the classroom.

Only then did he leave.

By lunch, I had found him waiting outside another room he had no reason to be near. He hadn’t come in, hadn’t interrupted. He was just there when the door opened.

I had spent two years noticing where he wasn’t.

This was new.

Megan caught up with him near the cafeteria. She said his name, and he stopped long enough for her to reach him.

I kept walking with Sadie.

For several steps, I managed not to look back.

When I did, he was watching me over Megan’s shoulder.

She followed his gaze.

This time, I knew she noticed.

I turned away.

Sadie stayed beside me without commenting.

We took our food inside.

I wasn’t ready for the courtyard.

Chief sat at the end of our table a few minutes later. Rook moved his bag to give him room. Nobody remarked on it.

I tried to eat normally.

Tried not to look at him every time he looked at me.

After school, Micah met me outside the library. He needed to finish an assignment before he drove us home. I’d told Sunshine where we were.

Apparently somebody had told Chief too.

He appeared with his practice bag, just as we were going inside.