FRIENDS INDEED

CHAPTER TEN

The bell rang sharply through the second floor corridor, and students filtered into History class with the low hum of morning chatter.

Evelyn took her usual seat near the window.

Becca hesitated at the doorway before entering, scanning the room as if deciding where to sit.

For a moment. Evelyn thought she might choose the empty chair beside her.

she didn't .

Becca past and sat two rows ahead, placing her bag carefully under her desk, her movement precise and controlled. it wasn't dramatic. it wasn't rude. it was different

Evelyn's chest tightened.

Cyrus entered last, posture calm, expression neutral, the quiet authority he carried drawing brief glances from other students. He took his seat without looking at anyone in particular- until his eyes lifted, once, and found Becca's back.

He looked away just as quickly.

"settle down," Mr. Hale said, clapping his hands once. "Today, we'll be starting a short group exercise. it's about co-operation."

The word landed wrongly.

He began calling out names, assigning groups at random.Or so it seemed.

"Evelyn Allen.Cyrus Vale.Becca Sullivan."

A soft ripple of reaction moved through the room.

Becca stiffened.

Evelyn's head snapped up.

Cyrus's jaw tightened,almost imperceptibly.

Mr.Hale continued reading names, oblivious to the tension he'd just rearranged into existence.

Evelyn turned halfway in her seat."Becca -"

"I'll come over later," Becca said quietly,already opening her notebook.

The distance between them felt louder than any argument.

When the group work officially started,Becca moved her chair forward, stopping just short of Evelyn's desk.She kept her eyes on the worksheet,not on Evelyn.

Cyrus leaned back slightly."we should divide the sections."

"I can take the first one," Becca said quickly.

"I'll do the second," Evelyn replied, matching her tone.

Cyrus nodded."I'll compile."

It was efficient.Civil.Cold.

They worked in silence broken only by the scratch of pen and the rustle of paper.Every so often, Evelyn glanced at Becca, wanting to say something -anything- but the words were struck in her throat.

Becca didn't look up .

Across the class,whispers started.

"Are they fighting?"

"They're never quiet like this."

"Did something happen with Cyrus?"

Evelyn heard every word.

So did Becca.

Cyrus's pen paused mid sentence.He didn't look up but the tensions in his shoulders deepened.

When the bell rang,Becca tore her page from her Notebook and placed it on Evelyn's desk.

"Here," she said quietly.

"it's my part."

she didn't wait for a response.

Evelyn watched her go,hands clenched on her lap.

Cyrus closed his notebook slowly."she's not angry," he said quietly,"she's hurt".

Evelyn looked at him startled."You don't know that."

"I know what distance looks like." he replied.

Then he stood and walked out, leaving Evelyn alone with the realization she had been avoiding since morning:

Silence wasn't neutral anymore.

it was a choice.