I spot Waylon as soon as my dad drops me off. I don’t remember saying goodbye, or running through the clusters of students hanging out in the sectioned off lot as they wait for the doors to open.

His ratty red backpack is lifted high on his back, no doubt heavy from all the work he missed last week. A breeze throws his messy black hair around and he seems to burrow down in his oversized sweatshirt.

Without thinking, I jump in front of him, halting him mid-step and grinning maniacally. “You’re back.”

He jumps, stumbling back. His breath punching out of him like he’s had the wind knocked out of him.

My smile dims. “Way?”

He hangs his head, staring down at the ground like he’s trying really hard not to throw up. He looks pale—too pale, almost gray—and I wonder if maybe he came back too soon.

“You don’t look so good, dude,” I say quietly.

His jaw hardens and he seems to curl in on himself, arms crossed protectively over his chest. He mumbles something I can’t make out.

“What did you say?”

He tries to move past me. I go to reach out but he quickly evades, taking a stumbling step away from me. My hand hovers uselessly in the air.

Not once has he looked at me. Uneasiness wiggles its way through my belly, but I tell myself it’s nothing. He’s just sick. He’s not himself.

I open my mouth once more to ask if he’s okay, but I’m interrupted by the bell ringing loudly from the outside intercoms.

I blink and he’s already gone. Shuffling toward the now-open doors.

There’s a group of kids separating us, but not once do I let myself lose sight of him. I watch as he ducks into his homeroom, disappearing behind Mr. K., without a backward glance. Bouncing on my toes, I fight the urge to just rush in there and hug my best friend. For some reason I can’t explain, I just really want to hug him right now.

We’ve never hugged before, but maybe we can now. We kissed after all. Is he even my best friend still, or are we more? Are we boyfriends?

Or...did he change his mind?

Morning is painfully slow to give way to afternoon. I don’t see Waylon at lunch. Mason tells me he went to the library to make up a test. It started raining—hardly anything more than a sprinkle—but they decided recess would be held inside our homerooms today anyway. It’s an even day, though, so at least we’ll have English block today. Other than P.E. and math on odd days, it’s the only class we share.