H'S
anyone know a
or draining from my face. I clenched my fists, trying
my mind kept drifting back to Aiden. I knew tha
tice, but my classmate, Jessi
y? You look
elt like a grimace. "I'm f
concern. "Do you nee
even as my stom
unding in my chest, I tried to keep my ex
ing to tear me apart. How did I let myself fall for Aiden? It wa
one foot in front of the other, but it
r me. How did I get myself into this mess? It all started when I first laid eyes on Aiden. I had heard rumors abou
ins?" I said, my voi
r you?" Ms. Collins asked, h
ve school early today," I said,
g alright?" Ms. Collins asked,
. I didn't want to lie, but I also
t to burst. Finally, I said, "Yes, Ms Collins. I just need to take care
but I could tell s
do to help?" she asked, h
the weight of my situat
," I said, hoping I sounded
everything is alright. If you need anything at
say, "Thank you, Ms. Col
of concern. I tried to walk with confidence, e
ding, and I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. I just wanted to go home and
wait. I tried to push away the exhaustion and focus on the ta
walked down the hall as if my feet wer
e jumbled. I tried to focus on the task
to have some time to myself. B
d with the combination, my fin
nd grabbed my books, feeling
I tried to hold my head h
o snap at any moment. I just wanted to get through the day
spite. The problems that awaited me there were
a deep breath, bracing mys
focus on the teacher's words, but
t seem to shake them. The teacher's voice became a blur, an
self back to the present moment. But it was like
oice broke through the
ssment. "Sorry, I was... um... just lost i
ned look. "Are you feeling o
fine, really. Just a li
t convinced. "Well, just take it easy, okay? I
ut I could feel her eyes on me, watching me closely.
of the classroom, desperate to escape th