***
The next day was hellish. Minutes dragged like hours. I ended up taking my watch off and hiding it in my pocket so I couldn’t keep checking the time.
Nicole and I sat together at lunchtime. I picked my sandwich apart while she picked me apart. No detail went unanalysed and no detail was too minor for her. Every time I passed something off as unimportant, she forced me to tell her more. It was a relief to hear the bell signalling the end of lunch. I threw my uneaten sandwich on the table, clapping my hands together loudly as I brushed off invisible crumbs.
“Say hi to Lily for me,” teased Nicole, as I made my way to the last class of the day, English. Lily Tate waved at me as I walked in, silently calling me over to sit with her. If I didn’t look at her, she’d give in eventually – at least, that was the plan. She picked up her bag, preparing to shift seats – foolishly I’d sat next to a spare desk. Mr Porter walked in, ordered her to sit back down, and saved me.