I tried to pay attention in my morning classes. But I also kept daydreaming of meeting Justin at lunch. Our eyes would meet across the vast cafeteria.. he would walk to my table, carrying his tray in one hand, skillfully avoiding graceless cheerleaders, clumsy quarterbacks, and nervous freshmen to reach me.. casually seating himself and volunteering to help me open my stubborn tupperware..

“Autumn?” I snapped to my teacher’s voice, face getting instantly hot. “Your answer?”

“I’m sorry. I was somewhere else. Could you repeat the question?” My peers tittered.
“Pay attention. Would you share your answer to number 3 on last night’s homework?”
“I got…-54.”
“Correct.”

It pays to be honest with teachers. I narrowly avoided detention there. My math teacher is the least tolerant in the whole school! If I weren’t normally a “good” student, I bet she wouldn’t have let this go.

The bell rang. Alicia caught up with me in the hall. “What was that? Who were you thinking about?”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Yes! Now spill!”