All of her weight is being cried out in tears on my shoulder. God, what’s wrong, I want to ask again, but I know she just needs me here.

Then, she lifts her head off from me. She opens her mouth to speak.

RING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Her head sinks back down, looking at the floor.

“Hey, we’ll talk tonight”, I say, “We’re having a sleep over, remember? Just a change in pace tonight, is all.”

Rainey’s eyes are glowing from the salty water, she nods.

“Come on, let’s get to class.”