Cole rambled on about everyday things, his voice soft and meandering. By the time he reached hisst sentence, his smile had grown a little strained, and he let out a quiet sigh. Tugging his hoodie tighter around his face, he tried to hide the redness in his eyes and the prickling at the tip of his nose.


    Alessia didn’t say a word. She simply let Cole hook his pinky around hers as he went on with his boyish chatter. Only in moments like this could he let down the stern mask of Mr. Whitley.


    As they talked, a few delicate snowkes drifted down from the sky. Karen had thought of everything–she’d left an umbre inside, just in case.


    “Come on, let’s go. Your mom’s waiting for us toe back for dinner,” Cole said, getting to his feet.


    “Alright.” Alessia stood up, and Cole bent down to gather their things.


    “Wait, I think I left something up there.” Halfway down, Alessia rummaged through her small bag.


    “I thought we packed up everything?” Cole stopped, angling the umbre over her.


    “Maybe it fell when I stood up.”


    “Let’s go back and check, then.” Without a hint ofint, Cole made up his mind immediately.


    “I’ll go by myself. The snow’s getting heavier–why don’t you bring the car around? I’ll be right down.” Alessia pressed a hand to his arm, stopping him.


    “But-”


    “I’ll be quick.<i>” </i>She waved him off, cutting him short, and jogged back up the steps before he could argue.


    “Hey! Take the umbre! Don’t run–watch your step!” Cole hurried after her, handed her the umbre, and fussed over her like a worried parent.


    <i>“</i>Okay,” Alessia promised./


    Still uneasy, Cole kept ncing back every few steps. Alessia stayed where she was, waving until he disappeared below, then turned and climbed back up the path. By now, the snow had settled into a thin, softyer. Alessia brushed it aside gently.


    12:40


    “Dad… Mom…” she whispered, her ears turning red–whether from the cold or from embarrassment, she couldn’t tell.


    “Ms. June told me that if I called you this next time, it would make <i>you </i>happy, so… I hope you don’t mind.”


    A breeze picked up, but it wasn’t as biting as usual.


    Alessia paused, a small smile ying at her lips even as her nose stung unexpectedly.


    “I’ll take that as your answer, then.”


    She steadied herself, exhaled twice, watching her breath swirl up into the falling


    snow.


    “Cole and I will be just fine. Please watch over him–let him be safe, healthy, and happy, always.”


    She bowed three times, then made her way back down.


    Cole spotted her and immediately got out of the car to meet her.


    “Did you find it?”


    “Yeah, I did.” Alessia’s eyes sparkled with relief.


    “Come on your nose is bright red from the cold.”


    “Alright.” Alessia nodded, reaching out to rub his cheek.


    Cole froze for a second, surprised, but didn’t pull away.


    After that day, the new semester finally began. Alessia kept her spot at the top of the ss rankings, while Cole–who only showed up at school once or twice a term–still managed <i>to </i>stay in the top ten, thanks to Alessia’s crash–course tutoring


    sessions.


    Most students nced at the leaderboard and moved on,ughing and chatting as usual. Even though it was their final semester, no one seemed too anxious.


    It was a different story at Crestview High, though. Determined to get everyone in gear right away, the school had kicked off the term with a surprise assessment


    test.


    The two schools stood just across the street from each other, but it was like they existed inpletely different worlds–one rxed and cheerful, the other tense andpetitive.


    <i>212 </i>