Monday brought awkwardness. Zoey didn't sit next to him in homeroom. During lunch, she seemed distracted, laughing a little too loudly with her other friends. Jeremiah's stomach turned.
Did he do something wrong?
That evening, a text popped up: Sorry if I seemed weird today. Just had a lot on my mind.
He exhaled, replying: It's okay. Want to talk about it?
She didn't, not that day. But her message the next morning read: Thanks for being patient.