as still gripping my pen like

was steady, controlled, almost hypnotic as he spoke. He commanded the room without

ted to be so..

the door, but I sat frozen in my seat, my

ictoria," she teased. "I know

, heat creeping up

at's why you haven't mo

my notebook into my bag.

on, let's get lunch. I need to talk about the way his s

standing up and follow

tepped into the

ga

I glanced toward t

ng the students leave with that same unreadable exp

tense. C

fingers tightening

looked away, as if the m

at my sleeve.

ned away, forcing

out of the room, my

that Professor Carter was go

casional clatter of trays against tables. I sat across from Na

professor to look like that? Like, I get it, he's just a substitute, but if he keeps wal

le tugging at my lips despit

ion in that room. He looks at people like he's reading th

y stomach didn't tighten at the

gled her br

ect when she suddenly froze, h

hi

ne sent a chill dow

ward something behind m

se, made me do

's when

ch

dows, laughing-actually laughin

Leaning way to

twisted i

o effortlessly moving on while I was still pick

s softer now, like she knew

d, pushing it around my

e lie. Instead, she reached acro

to be upset,"

lump in my thr

o the sound of his laughter mi

bag with me as I stride o

a day yet and he has another girl " Na

ness in my chest. Natalie was right-it hadn't even been a full day, and h

never m

after me, struggling t

ighter, pushing through the hallwa

ht up. "I mean, I always knew he was trash,

reed-because if I opened my mouth, I w

r hitting my face. I took a deep

atalie asked, her

"Yeah. Just...

de me, arms crossed like she was

d, lifting my g

to cry over h

I knew it was

if I could push away the storm raging inside me. Natalie watc

Not in front of her. N

voice to stay steady. "I just..

frowne

, my chest tight. "I jus

u start spiraling, you call me, okay? I don't care if I'm in class, the middl

y chest, I managed a

ing back. "Alright. But don't go doing anything stupid. No dri

my eyes.

t making sure." Then, after another beat

. "Yeah.

nce before walking off,

t a shaky breath, my hands tighte

now where

I needed t

~

ing on their own, but the moment I spott

d inside, shutting it behind me b

hen I

sank to the floor, my hands tre

of him with another girl could unravel me so completely. I hated that I had

lentless. I wrapped my arms around myself, c

we should see

l, even though he had said it so casually,

nce the memories, trying to breat

d a future with him. A fu

s the only on

arms, the empty classro

anted it

e shattered

this is a classr

ath hi

yes widening as I took in the figure