“You’re gonna melt if you keep staring at him like that.”

Ryan again.

Always with the useless commentary.

I gave him my blank look. The one I reserve for people who just don’t get it.

“You don’t understand,” I muttered.

He raised his hands like he was surrendering. He does that a lot. Plays the whole I-don’t-care act, but still sticks around like he’s afraid I might fall apart.

I’m not falling apart.

I’m standing. Like always.

I was made for this: watching, analyzing, predicting.

He’s just here, existing, unaware of everything around him.

Like most people, honestly.

They talk too much.

Laugh too loud.

Look at the wrong things.

And they’re always touching what doesn’t belong to them.

“Hey, did you hear?” some girl behind me whispered. “Liam helped Zoé carry her books earlier!”

“For real? He’s so sweet!”

Liam.

My Liam.

Well... not really. Not yet. But it’s just a matter of time.

He is sweet. Too sweet. He doesn’t know how to say no. He thinks everyone deserves a smile.

He’s gonna get hurt.

I turned to see who was talking. It was Inès, from the class next door.

I filed her face away, mentally.

Not for anything bad. Just to know.

You have to know your potential threats.

It’s logical. Rational.

The rest of the day dragged. Teachers talked. I took notes, automatically.

At lunch, I ate with Ryan on our usual bench near the lockers. He shared his chips. I said thanks.

Then I saw him.

Liam.

With Zoé.

They were laughing. She stuck something on his shoulder—some dumb sticker or whatever.

He laughed.

Something cracked a little in my chest.

It’s nothing.

Just... the air.

Too dry. Too humid. A pressure change.

I went home earlier than usual.

Did my homework. Checked my emails.

Watched a video of him from last year’s school party.

He was smiling.

He looked happy.

Without me.

I closed my laptop. Calmly.

Tomorrow, I’ll come in earlier.

And I’ll make sure Zoé forgets all about making him laugh.

Things need to go back to order.