avorite subject, a refuge from the chaos of the world around me. My name is Joey, Joey Reynolds, and if the

ompson. Rumors swirled about her, painting her as a troublemaker, but I reserved judgment. Afte

e end of class. I gathered my things and prepared to leave, my min

paths were meant to cross, that there was something significant about our connecti

self sitting alone at my usual table, lost in thought as I picked at my food. But as I gl

in my chest. I didn't know what possessed me to approach her,

ing to keep my voice casual despit

cross her face before she schooled her

muttered, her tone br

her carefully. She seemed lost in thought, her brow

ng the silence that hung b

my gaze with a mixture o

" she replied, h

eating into myself as I would have done in the past, I found myself reaching

, trying to sound casual despit

n eyebrow, eye

with a shrug. "Just your typical lo

ng the truth be

ted with a small smile. "Life's been

slightly, a hint of unders

d quietly, hoping she would see past my awkward attempts

but beneath the bravado,

he light she needed to chase aw