It's All Over

Christopher

I nodded in agreement. “I know. If I can’t get him to play baseball, I might try to get him involved with fishing or something outside of school. I have to get him involved in something. Right now, he spends his days in his room with the door closed. I don’t want him shutting down.”

“It’s a tough road, but you seem to have a good handle on things. Olin is a lucky kid to have you looking out for him.”

I scoffed. “I don’t know if he feels the same way.”

Our conversation came to a halt when Leila walked into the classroom. I hadn’t said much to her beyond the casual good morning and have a good day as I left the class. She had been right to shut me down. I didn’t need the distraction.

Things were definitely icy between us, but I suspected that was for the better. If she had been nice or smiled at me, I would get my hopes up that there was a chance we could see each other outside the classroom. I didn’t want there to be any chance at all. If there was a sliver of hope I could