As he stood in line for food, Gabriel felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He turned around, startled, and came face to face with a smiling pair of emerald eyes. 

“Hey Gabi!”

“Oh uhh, Hi?” Gabriel’s voice quivered slightly, as he became suddenly aware of the boy’s proximity. 

“What’s up? How’s your leg?” 

Gabriel’s cheeks got uncomfortably warm as the memory of last Monday’s incident came flooding into his mind. “It’s- it’s good, thanks. It was just a scratch anyways. Sorry about that, by the way. I didn’t mean to run away. Well, I did, but it’s nothing personal, don’t worry. I’m just uhh- I’m just bad with people. I didn’t know what to say and I- ahh I’m making things awkward. I’ll just- I’ll stop talking now.” Gabriel stopped rambling, scratching his neck and avoiding Aaron’s gaze.

Aaron laughed, and Gabriel snuck a glance at him. His eyes seemed to be smiling. “Don’t sweat yourself over that, Gabi! I’m not mad at you or anything. It’s not like you owe me anything, okay? We’re still friends though, right?” 

“Yes! Of course! I mean, if you still want to?” Maybe Gabriel had answered a bit too quickly. He probably sounded desperate now, but he didn’t really care. He didn’t want to miss the opportunity to finally have a new friend. Like, for real this time. 

“Great!” Aaron exclaimed, and punched him lightly in the arm. Ouch. That kinda hurt. Then, he changed the subject completely, as he took a plate from the counter in front of him and set it on his tray. Rice and spinach. “what is it with this school and spinach? I swear we get these like, three times a week. That’s three times too many, if you ask me.” 

Gabriel grabbed a plate of his own, and laughed, relieved by the conversation change. “I actually enjoy Spinach.” 

“What?” Aaron set a hand over his heart, feigning shock and disgust. “I might just have to revoke your friendship card, now. Who in their right mind enjoys spinach?” 

The two boys laughed, both lifting their trays off the counter, and Aaron confidently walked into the cafeteria. Uhh...Am I supposed to follow him? Is this it? He didn’t even say goodbye... Gabriel inwardly panicked, not knowing what to do with himself. Should I just walk off to my usual table? Aaron was getting further away, and in the end, Gabriel decided to just sit down in his usual corner, where he and Sofia used to eat. Her spot was empty now. 

Just as Gabriel set his tray down, he felt a presence. Aaron had come back, and was looking at him with a confused and yet amused expression. “What are you doing, dude? Our table’s all over at the front” Aaron pointed his chin towards the end of the canteen hall, where a crowded table sat. The boy in front of him was looking him in the eyes again, and smiling. “Come on!”