The Collision

e's

on my hoodie twice before shoving them deep into my pockets. The weight in my chest pressed harder with every step. Rows of tables

My throat worked as I swallowed. This felt wrong, but Dad's voice from yesterday, t

ened for a split second, then nar

s under the table where she couldn't see them clenching. My kne

ce lower than norm

d, her fingers tigh

red my throat. "Ab

her notebook. Her sh

y fingers. "It's everywhere...people assuming stu

she turned the pen ov

ht myself and leaned back again. My fingers lac

his. You know... fake it, just public stuff. We can take pictures, show up at a

moving then sh

ed bouncing under the table, I d

ld help. Get you team interviews, access most people do

of her notebook, her knuckles

my own breathing; it was too loud. Part of me wanted her to tell me to leave, another part needed her to say yes

date you... because of one

ight now it fixes shit for both of us. I get people off my back

cover. I watched her swallow, and wa

space. My hands went back into my pockets. "Think about

silent, e

heart hammered against my ribs the whole way to the door. Outside,

there now and ther

s inside my pockets, the weight of e