50

“I’ll see you in biology, don’t be late.” I remind Elisa as we part ways at the break bell. Walking out of our shared economics class and see Tyler hovering near the hallway as he waits for her. He seems nervous and is shifting from one foot to the other and throws me a half smile as we lock gazes. I frown, give him the ‘you better not fuck this up’ glare, and quickly remove it before Elisa turns to me.

“What should I say to him?” Elisa flashes me a panicked, wide-eyed look. She is already second-guessing agreeing to see him, and I pat her head as though she’s the cutest puppy. She wouldn’t be her if she were not crippled by anxiety at every point in life.

“Nothing. The whole point is he has something to say, and even if you stand and stare like a mute, that’s fine. Don’t cave to him. Listen, nod, and leave… let him suffer. He was the one acting like a moron, not you.” I urge her onwards with a little push to her butt and watch her cautiously walk towards him at a snail's pace. She ke