Her gaze turned sharp. “Of course not. I just—” Her chin trembled, and her fingers scrabbled for her napkin.

A loaded tray landed on the table, and Jim lowered himself into the seat next to hers. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a little packet of tissues. “Need another one?” he asked softly, holding them out to her.

She sniffled and accepted his offering. “Thanks. Did you survive your first lit class without me? Sorry I got pulled out.” She nudged him with her thin shoulder as she dabbed at her eyes.

“I barely made it,” he said, keeping his voice light. “I think Mrs. Peterson’s already decided I’m a lost cause.”

Tegan let out a raspy laugh. “I can help you out there. She loves me. I won’t abandon you again.”

I looked at Jim over her bowed head, and he raised his eyebrows, a silent What else did you expect from me? I gave him a warning glare and turned my attention to my apple as Jim and Tegan talked about the afternoon classes they had together. Laney set her tray down across from mine. She was pale, as usual, but her eyes were bright. She didn’t even say hi—she was too busy scanning the cafeteria. And I knew the moment she spotted her target, too, because her expression changed, becoming all gooey. She grinned and waved as Malachi seated himself at the end of the table. Laney and Tegan both zeroed in on the six feet and several open seats he’d put between us. Amazing how one little gesture gave everything away; how, with one simple decision about where to sit, he’d practically shouted that he was done with me to the entire student body.

Laney wore the tiniest of sly smiles as she slid her tray closer to his and sat down next to him. “Hey you,” she said.

He rewarded her with a killer smile that ripped me open. “I was hoping to see you,” he said to her. “Do you think you could help me with that web design assignment?”

Ian blocked my view of them a second later, thank God. With practiced movements, he pulled his milk and a bottle of juice off his tray, setting them down at ten and two around his plate. On autopilot, he sat down, and then paused for a moment, pulled from the everyday ritual. He looked over at Malachi and then at me, his eyebrows raised. I lowered my head and grabbed my apple, my stomach churning.