“So close, you’re going to wonder if we’re attached.”
I snorted, but the promise helped.
It helped through government when the kids seemed to spend more time staring at me than the teacher. It helped when the bell rang, and he had to keep people from stopping me. More kids than I knew said hi to me or called my name.
Being that noticed had never been on my bucket list. In calculus, the teacher made a big point of welcoming me back, which just drew more attention to me. Ian had already arranged to help me with notes, and he snagged my desk right up against his, only he put himself between me and the class.
In French, I had to see Mathieu, and the depth of concern on his face just kind of hammered it home. Madame hugged me and pulled me out of the class after getting them started to make sure I was all right. And seriously, I should have seen it coming. Not fifteen minutes into French, and Diane showed up.
When she pulled me out into the hallway, I met her steady stare and said, “I really don’t want to talk right now.”
“I can understand that, and I’m sure this has been an overwhelming day already.”
I neither agreed nor denied, instead, I just said, “I’m just trying to get caught up. I missed a lot.”
“I’m sure, but I want you to come see me. For any reason. Even if it’s just that you want to get away from the noise and need some place quiet to be. Okay?”
“Sure,” I said. It seemed the fastest way to get rid of her. I told Coop I needed to call one of those therapists, and I did. I got that. It was not going to be Diane. It was not going to be the student advocate, no matter what her degree was.
It just couldn’t be.
“Okay, go on back into class. I’m not going to keep you out here.”
“Thanks.”
“And Frankie?”
Dammit.
“It’s good to see you.”
I nodded.
The rest of class was kind of a blur. There weren’t notes per se, and it was mostly vocalization, but Madame didn’t call on me. Or maybe she did, and I didn’t notice. Coop was at the door when the bell rang, and he came in and grabbed my bag.
I didn’t even ask him how he got there before the bell. Knowing the guys, they arranged all of this ahead of time. Exhaustion nibbled at me, but I sucked it up. Lit was moderately better. The kids must be getting over the novelty of staring at me, because other than a few side-eyes, they didn’t say anything.
Lunch was off-campus, thankfully. Jake and Ian were stuck with their anger management session, so Coop and Archie took me to get sushi, which was hands down one of the easiest things to eat with only one hand.
Back at school, study hall with Jake was probably the most peace I’d gotten all day.
“You look like hell.”
“You just know how to sweet talk a girl.” We weren’t even pretending to study. Jake took over a couple of the bigger chairs in the corner by the windows and dragged them closer so I could lean back in one and put my feet in his lap.
“My girl, anyway.”
I smiled.
“Take a nap?”
Fuck, that was tempting. But I didn’t know if it would help. My arm ached, my back ached, my head hurt, and honestly, I was so tired I thought if I went to sleep, I’d have a hard time getting back up.
“Thirty minutes,” Jake pushed. “I’ll be right here, and I’ll make sure to wake you up.”
He’d be right there and nothing would happen. This was also why I hadn’t taken my pain meds at lunch. I didn’t want them to make me too loopy. As it was, I had a feeling I’d pass out as soon as school was over.
“Thirty minutes,” I agreed. While I didn’t think it’d be easy, I dropped right off.