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I realize I’ I try to calm my nerves “I … I was just worried,” I explain, a touch less frantic “I hope it went okay”

An unbearably long moment passes Vann shuts his notebook “The cup was supposed to hit Hoyt’s face Not yours”

My pulse is in my ears “It’s okay It was tasty for a second,” I assure hih I trade that train of thought for a more honest one “I … knoas meant for Hoyt”

He turns his head halfway towards me, but keeps his eyes on his own hands “And the principal was alright I’ for you to worry about”

“Oh That’s … That’s really good I orried he’d—”

But Vann barely hears the words before he’s off his stool and heading toward the sunlight, vanishing I sit there at the table until I’ stepped outside to chat with a teacher across the wooden pathway froe covered in a bunch of unintelligible gibberish—before shutting it

The air outside is thick and stifling as I head back to the id, and by the tiy I can’t tell if it’s on account of my nerves or the temperature when I walk the narrow aisles in the locker roo the saht next to ed when I arrive, now sitting on the bench and tying his shoes I peelThe locker roo from its other end and so—while I pull on ym shorts

Then, feeling a presence, I turn my face

For one split second, I catch Vann looking athis shoe

Wait Did I just iine that?

Suddenly, Vann’s off the bench and down the aisle, heading to the gys carrying hi there in wonder