Chapter 9: Lines Crossed

Monday, the start of a new week. The pair of childhood friends still walked into the classroom together.

Mallory’s eyes sparkled; she looked thrilled.

Until Noah walked straight over to me and set a packed breakfast on my desk.

Mallory’s smile froze instantly.

"Noah, isn’t that the breakfast you bought for me?"

He frowned. "I never said that."

Little girls always have expectations. Mallory naturally thought that everything she did for Noah would be returned.

So, he was just telling the truth.

Mallory looked from him to me, then shouted angrily, "So even if your stomach hurts so much you’re almost late, you still go buy her breakfast in the morning?"

She didn’t wait for his reply and stormed back to her seat.

Noah frowned. "I didn’t do anything to upset her…"

He looked at me, a little lost, as if he genuinely couldn't figure out what he had done wrong.