The shower makes me feel a little better. I still want to ditch class, but since he isn’t, I won’t, either. We catch the bus onto campus and he holds my hand as we sit together near the back. He keeps hold of me as we walk, his hand tight in mine, and even though his class is in the opposite direction, he walks with me to the lecture hall. Outside, he tugs on my hand and pulls me to him to claim a kiss.
“Love you,” he murmurs against my lips. Because it’s so rare to hear him say the words, especially when we’re out in public, I know they must be true.
We agree to meet outside the cafeteria after class. I sit in the back of the lecture hall, my hand pressed against the side of my head as if trying to keep my headache at bay. It works, but barely. I take notes without really listening. Whe
