Lily spent the entire afternoon trying not to think about Noah catching her.
Unfortunately—
her brain had officially stopped cooperating with basic survival instincts.
Because every time she remembered his hand around her arm—
warm, careful, automatic—
her heartbeat immediately forgot how to behave.
Which felt medically concerning at this point.
“You’re staring into space again,” Emily informed her during last period.
“I’m thinking.”
“You’re emotionally buffering.”
Lily narrowed her eyes.
“I need better friends.”
Emily looked thoughtful.
“No, you need a boyfriend.”
Lily nearly dropped her pencil.
“That sentence was illegal.”
Emily grinned unapologetically.
“You know I’m right.”
The bell rang before Lily could argue properly.
Students immediately flooded into the hallways
