Class Dismissed (One-on-One)

"You punched him!" she said, putting her hands to her head. "Twice!"

 

"No, Francis," she said, resting her hands on the sides on his arms. "Please don't apologize. I..." She paused, and her face fell. "I heard what he said."

 

"Of course he is," she said quietly. "But it still sucks. Francis, you have to know..." She hesitated and then sighed. Her shoulders fell, and she just looked terribly tired.

"Listen. My father and I loved my mother so much. We would have never hurt her. She just... she wasn't able to..." She sighed and stepped away, wrapping her arms around herself. In that moment, she looked half her normal size.

 

She tensed, surprised before hesitantly hugging him back, her arms encircling his torso and her head burrowing into his shoulder.

"Okay," she said in a small voice. "Okay. Thank you."

 

She was quiet for a while, but eventually pulled away, clearing her throat.

"Anyway," she said quietly. "Thank you. I'm sorry."

 

She laughed, pushing her hair off her face.

"I kinda do," she said. "He is my ex."

 

She laughed.

"Punching a football player for a girl you barely know?"

 

She grinned, her head cocked slightly.

"Really, Francis. Thank you."

 

"It's not," she insisted. "No one else has ever done something like this for me."

 

She was quiet for a moment before cocking her head.

"You care about me?"