is face. I bit my bottom lip-a habit

p th

g my lips. I raised an eyebrow. He didn't answe

arms and lifted one ey

about to speak when I noticed people glancing our way. Panic rose hot and sudden. Before he

avis. I couldn't read him. What if I was just prey for

collided with someone. I stopped just in time. My e

ha. Why don't you w

ream I'd had of him flickered in my mind. My muscles trembled; I hugged myself and st

forced the words out. He listened without i

rrible at conversation. I don't have friends. People find me boring. You might think I'm odd, ann

the warmth of his body against mine. Heat climbed my neck. I inhaled and a

." His smile was low and

alk. Get to know you. You seem lonely

y skin; my heart did a reckless flip. My head buzzed with a doz

give me a chance to be your friend. If not, we'll pretend this never happen

to someone I had just met. Even a harmless moment could crack like thin

scanned the corridor for witnesses. This was

p, but he refused the hand. He held my gaze, intens

cheeks flamed. I tried to pull away, but his grip was firm and unapologetic.

ings, hummed through that small gesture. My shoulders loosened. We sto

d before I coul

ce. He rose and clasped his hands like a

?" He raised an eyebrow, searching

ut he seemed satisfied. He hugged me unexp

s isn't a prank!" He waved and jogged away, th

ic and regret flared hot. I wanted to beat myself for being foolish. But I

ound the day's lessons; I heard only fragments. Mostly I worried a

retched, then slipped into the small, empty hours. Disappointment tightened i

e you

ed in a grin that made him look younger and far more open than he'd seemed in the ha

anced around, memorizing the place like it m

is attention sna

wanted to invent an excuse and run. Instead, a small, irrati

g strength, pulled me along. His strides

regret this day!"

or for me; my hesitation was brief, and then I

h me. After years of solitude, this was-unexpectedly-my first real hangout

ot nervous

a trapped bird and my stomach was doing odd flips

m f

aze to the road. The silence stretched; I worried I might s

re h