Page 125 of Fall Fake-Out

Maybe I should offer her a blanket.

No.

Already did that.

Maybe I should move my chair closer.

There’s really no more room.

Maybe—

Ari suddenly drops her phone. It bounces off her chair and disappears somewhere behind us.

“Whoops.” She immediately crouches to look for it.

There goes whatever smooth plan I didn’t have.

I help her search until we finally find it beneath one of the blankets. When we sit back down, I rest my hand on the armrest between us. Not touching her. Just there.

Ari looks down.

Then she slowly places her hand beside mine.

Close.

Not touching.

My pulse ticks and ticks.

A second passes.

Then another.

Then I lift my hand, scratching my face, but this time, when I bring it down, I place it on top of hers.

Classic move.

I am good at this.

She shifts her fingers so they fit better into mine.

I know I’m walking a fine line with Ari, especially when I don’t fully understand what I’m feeling.

I don’t want to be another guy she shouldn’t trust, someone she regrets.

Another Andy.

I want to be better than that for her.

I just hope she knows I can be.

Ari

The teachers-versus-students football game is worse than I imagined.

We’re losing. Badly.

The students are younger, faster, and significantly more motivated to embarrass us—which they do repeatedly.