Adam is just staring at me with those big eyes, frozen in place. I always thought the expression “deer in the headlights” was a bit of an exaggeration—I mean, who actually looks like that? But taking in Adam now, it feels like running into some strange, unexpected creature in the woods that doesn’t know if you’re going to hunt it or help it. I feel guilty for a second before I remember the “uniformed sociopath” comment and a righteous indignation settles in. Just because I’m on the football team doesn’t mean I’m like Bryce and Justin. Adam assuming that I am is totally unfair. I’ve never done anything to make him suspicious of me—I helped him the other day.

Okay, well, “help” might be a stretch. He actually seemed to have Bryce handled pretty decently, and I think I probably just drew more unnecessary attention to the whole confrontation.

I suddenly realize I’ve said his name and nothing else and I am essentially towering over the guy in what’s probably a pretty intimidating way. He’s still got his hands on the book stuck in his locker and I decide to set aside my bruised ego for a moment and help out. I crouch down next to him and he jolts back a bit. The fluttering in my gut intensifies.

Adam yanks his hands away as I move mine toward the book. I pull at it—a biology textbook that’s seen better days—until it finally comes free. As I hand it over to Adam, we both stand suddenly, staring blankly at one another.

“Uh, thanks,” Adam says in a low voice, looking down at the book that we’re both holding from either side. I let go of the book like it’s scalding hot and shove my hands into my pockets.

“Yeah, no problem,” I say, trying to remember why I came over here in the first place. He won’t meet my eyes, so I’m left looking at his eyelashes. The way they flutter as he blinks draws attention to the unsteadiness in my stomach.

“I liked your presentation on Macbeth,” I say a little too loudly, trying to overcome the not-unpleasant twisting in my gut. “It was really smart. I’m not sure I understood all of it but, yeah, good job and everything.”

Now I’m the one looking away, too afraid to watch him while I fumble through this, but I sneak a glance at him and see an odd expression on his face. He’s staring at me like I’m the strange creature he’s stumbled upon in the wilderness.

“Uh, thanks,” he says again, and there’s the tiniest wince on his face, like he knows he’s repeating himself.

“Do you want to grab lunch later?” I blurt, causing a sharp pinprick of anxiety-fear from Adam.

“What?” he asks flatly.

“Uh, we have the same lunch period, right?”