37

"We broke up," Karen announces the next day at lunch.

Sarah and Suzy don't say anything. Instead, they look at me, probably hoping for a reaction.

"I'm sorry, Karen," I say.

"Eh, it's for the best. It wasn't meant to be," Karen says. "Besides, he likes someone else," she says before glancing at me.

I look at the floor, my I'm internally smiling. Maybe I'll get Tom back for real.

The whole table is silent until Suzy starts talking about K-Pop. She really likes this group called BTS. Maybe you've heard of them.

Anyway, she starts to fangirl over their hair for some reason, so I tune out of the conversation and think about what to do. With Tom, I mean.

I could just keep talking to him like normal, but that'll probably take a lot of time. Although, Karen said that he's still hung up on me but I have no proof to say it's true. His behavior doesn't seem to change around me, so I can't vouch for that theory.

God, why can't I just skip to the end like in a movie? Or rewind to fix my mistakes? I just hate the fact that I have to live through all this shit, even if all that counts is the end.

Then I scold myself. This is life. It's meant to be like this: boring, short with just a little bit of wellness in between. I'm sorry if I'm bringing down your optimism, but I honestly think this is what life is all about.

Wait, let's rewind (ha-ha. Like in a movie).

I want to get back with Tom, but I guess I don't really have the power here. I just have to wait until Tom gets over Karen, and then just hope that he focuses on me. Huh, I guess my mother's advice really was good.

"Hello, Tom," I say in English class. Karen told me she still couldn't deal with being with Tom in the same room, so she asked me to tell Mrs. Keeve that she got a little food poisoning at lunch. I tell the teacher before going to sit next to Tom. "How's it going?"

"You tell me," he says. "How would you be doing after your girlfriends dumped you?"

I think of a decent answer. In the end, I pick the humorous approach. "Well, I've only been in one relationship, so I can't really say."

Okay, that wasn't funny at all, I think.

But Tom chuckles. "Right."

"I'm sorry," I say. "Is there any way I can help? Or is there anything I can do to cheer you up?"

"Nah, I don't think so," Tom says. Then he smiles. "Unless you want to take notes for me."

"Gladly," I say. I actually do want to help him, and taking notes comes pretty easily to me, so it's no biggie.

"Thanks, Emma. You're a really good friend," he says, then stares at me. I blush and look away.

"You know, a lot of people have told me that lately," I say, and Tom chuckles.

"'Cause it's true."

I blush even harder. "Thanks. Now shush: I have to take notes for two."

Tom smiles, but out of the corner of my eyes, I can see that his gaze stays on me.

For a few weeks, my life is actually calm. I spend time with my friends, with Tom, I still read, and I'm just completely relaxed, without worrying about drama.

Until one day I notice that Karen isn't on the bus. I think she's just skipping, but it's weird that she hasn't told me. And when I arrive at school I don't see Tom anywhere. He even isn't on our usual bench in the courtyard. I feel a little lonely, but I can't really just not go to my lessons because my friends aren't here, can I?

I go to the Social Studies classroom and have my lesson. Karen is definitely skipping, so I decide to send her my notes after the lesson is finished.

Then I go to P.E. Nothing special happens. Playing dodge ball. Catching balls. Hitting people in the face. The usual.

I spend lunch with Sarah and Suzy, and I ask them if they heard from Karen.

"Nope," Sarah says. "Nothing."

"Maybe she's sick," Suzy offers. "I don't know."

"Maybe," I say. "But she would have told me, wouldn't she?"

"Does she really have to announce everything that happens in her life?" Sarah steps in, a little rudely if I might add. "Maybe she just got sick. Or she died."

"Excuse me?" I ask.

"What I think Sarah meant," Suzy intercedes. "That maybe Karen is just still a little sad about dumping Tom."

"It's been almost three weeks!" I exclaim.

"Emma, I don't know what Karen is going through, but I think you should leave her alone for now."

I think over Suzy's words, and I guess she's right. It's a little weird that she's still hung up on Tom, but maybe she's got something else to worry about. "Yeah, okay," I say. "Well, since I'm done eating, I guess I'll go to English class."

Suzy glances at Sarah before saying, "Sure, but don't you want to leave your gym stuff in the locker? At least you don't have to drag them around all afternoon."

"I have two hours," I say. "It's not a problem."

"C'mon!" Suzy insists. "Besides, I have to bring my… uh… Social Studies book. Don't you want to come with me?"

I raise an eyebrow at Suzy, then shrug. "Okay, fine."

"Thanks," Suzy says, then glances at Sarah again, who's been suspiciously silent.

"Are you coming too, Sarah?" I ask, and she jumps up with big eyes.

"Yes! I am!" she says loudly.

We all start walking towards our lockers, and I stop at mine to drop off my gym stuff. I'll have to remember to pick it up later.

"All done," I say to the girls. "Did you leave your book?"

"Yep," Suzy answers. "All done."

"Great. Bye," Sarah says before grabbing Suzy by the shoulder and dragging her away. I know Sarah and Suzy are strange, but this is a whole new level of weird.

I head to my English class, and I'm very surprised to see Tom sitting on the bench outside the classroom.

"Tom?" I ask. "Where have you been all morning? I didn't see you anywhere."

Tom looks up from his phone, and I think I see a glint in his eyes when his gaze lands on me, but I can't be sure. "Sorry, I had to do something this morning."

"Oh," I say. "Okay."

We don't add anything else, and we surprisingly stay silent for those whole two hours of English. We're sitting next to each other, but Tom doesn't start up a conversation, even though I sometimes catch him glancing at me.

When the last bell rings, I start putting my stuff away, when I feel a hand tapping me on the shoulder.

"Remember your gym stuff," Tom says. He doesn't add anything else but leaves in a hurry.

I stay still for a moment, trying to figure out what that meant. How did he know I had put my stuff in my locker? And why was he running? Whatever the case, he did a good thing by reminding me of my gym clothes. I would surely have forgotten.

I walk calmly towards my locker. When I arrive, I pull out my key and open the door, when I hear a small flutter. I look down to see a small folded piece of paper. I look around me, trying to see if someone is looking, but everyone seems to be minding his or her own business. I kneel down to pick up the paper and read the message.

Go to the gym