I sighed for the fourth time. “Brit, you aren’t concentrating,” I reproved her.
“I know, I know,” she said. She sounded like she was close to tears, “I’m sorry. I’m just… worrying.”
“Worrying? About what?” I kept my tone polite and friendly. But I couldn’t help automatically thinking of Cooper. I was sure it was his fault. Not exactly fair, but I couldn’t help blaming him.
She blushed deep red, “It’s nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like it’s nothing,” I muttered.
“I… I,” she looked like she was choking on something. She shook her head, finally speaking, but it was more to herself than me now, “I don’t know anything yet.”
I didn’t try to understand. Obviously, it wasn’t something she wanted to talk about with me. All the same, I still couldn’t help offering, “Well, if you ever want to talk about it, you have my number.”
She laughed slightly, “Yeah, I do.”

Never in a million years did I expect her to take me up on that, but later after school my phone rang. Incredulous, I picked up. She was sobbing.