“You’ll think I’m stupid,” he murmured. “Complaining about problems most people would be thrilled to have.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“I—” He snapped his mouth shut as the door swung open, and a senior girl walked in.
“Oh!” She stepped back in surprise when she saw us sitting there. “Sorry. I was just looking for Nurse Tammy. I guess she’s…” Her gaze landed on Jude’s hand, still resting on my ankle. Her voice went weak as she said, “out.”
“She went to the office to fill out some forms,” I said. “She’ll be back soon.”
The girl nodded and stepped away slowly, still not looking at me. “Right. Um… I’ll come back then.”
She slammed the door closed again and, based on the sound of her footsteps, ran off. I sighed. Between us holding hands last week and now being found here together—alone—I was sure we were feeding the rumor mill greatly.
I looked at Jude again, hoping he would continue on with what he was saying before, but he remained notably silent. As much as I hated it, the moment was lost, and it wasn’t coming back.
“Can I ask you something?” I asked. “Why do you get me to keep showing you around the school?”
Jude frowned and looked up. “What?”
“I mean, you’ve been here for like a month now,” I said. Everything the girls had been saying in the group chat was rattling around in my mind. “Do you still not know the layout of the school?”
“Do you not like showing me around?” Jude asked in a hurt voice.
“No,” I said. I shook my head. “I mean, I don’t not like it. I actually really like doing it. But… I’m just curious if you actually need me to or if…”
“Or if what?” Jude asked. He looked at me intently as if he was daring me to say the words we were both thinking. But I wouldn’t be the one to bring it up. Not now.
“I don’t know,” I said. I forced a laugh and shook my head. “Sorry, I don’t even know what I was thinking. Of course, you don’t know your way around yet.”
If I hadn’t known any better, I would have said he looked disappointed.
Jude
How’s your ankle
Sloane
Throbbing :)
Jude
Oops
Sorry
But did you parents get mad at you for skipping class
Sloane
They did not
That was the one win
Jude
Will you be okay for cheer practice tomorrow?
Sloane
