Between the surges of laughter and the constant stir of movement in the cafeteria, a pair of deep brown eyes found mine. He'd washed most of the morning's terror from his face, but the fear still lingered in his gaze. He seemed to be the only one who sat still in a sea of movement, the only one not smiling, the only one who noticed me. The rip in his t-shirt skimmed over his collar bone when he leaned his forearms on the table. He gave me a nod.
I didn't know what it meant, but it felt like more than an acknowledgement. An 'everything will be okay' kind of nod? Or maybe even an 'I believe in you' kind. Whatever it meant, it shocked a flurry through my heart. I looked away as heat crept into my cheeks.
The lunch ladies must've saved up their cooking skills for today because one handed m
