7

Nicole leaned against her locker at the end of the day, entirely zoned out. She blankly watched the students filled in the hallway; loud chatter, lockers slamming, bustling feet scurrying out of the place. It was like she could see a bunch of mouths moving but not a sound was making its way through her ears. She was tired. Mentally.

A hand on her shoulder jerked her back into reality as she spun abruptly.

"What do you want?" Her eyebrows knitted together when she looked at Parker, the last person she expected to approach her.

"I just—uh—saw you here and thought I'd say hey." The boy rubbed the side of his neck, evidently unsure of himself. He wasn't quite sure what he was doing here.

Nicole's eyes narrowed; suddenly everything seemed suspicious, with this truce she had going on with Seth. She could never be too sure what any of them whatever. "Right. Of course. That makes absolute sense," she muttered, sarcasm between her words.

Parker slightly leaned against the neighbouring loc