When I walked into my father and brother’s funeral, all eyes were on me.

They stared, and whispered, some with pity in their eyes, but most of them with judgement.

I remember that feeling. The twist of my stomach, the taste of bile in my throat and the pounding of my heart.

As I walk into that first classroom, with Aiden beside me and his arm still around my shoulder, I feel exactly like I did then.

Everyone takes their eyes from the board where Mr. Admas is teaching and they stare right at me like I have elephant ears on the sides of my head. I hear a loud whistle, as if someone is shocked at the sight of us at the door.

I swallow and turn to Mr. Admas, who raises an eyebrow.

He looks us up and down, “Aiden. You’re late.”

Aiden clicks his tongue and winks, “I have a pass from the office.”

Mr. Admas takes the slip from his fingers, reading it quickly and places it on his desk. “Take your seat.”

Aiden lowers his arm from my shoulder, letting his fingertips drag down my skin and he squeezes my waist. “I’ll save a seat for you.”

“Where’s your pass?”

I feel my cheeks heat. “I-I don’t have one.”

He crosses his arms on his chest. “You’re late.”

“I know, but-” I swallow, ignoring the whispers that echo around the room. “I’m new?”

Mr. Admas narrows his eyes. “I know. That doesn’t excuse your tardiness.”

I wrap my arms around my waist, grimacing as some of the kids laugh from their seats.

“I’ll write you down for detention.”

My cheeks heat and my stomach twists.

“Take a seat so you do not delay our class anymore than you already have.”

I look down, avoiding his dark gaze and stare at my feet as I walk down to the back of the class. I try to look for an empty seat, but before I can scan the whole classroom, a strong arm bands around my waist and pulls me down.

Aiden looks down at me, smiling wide. “I told you I’d save you a seat.”

He pulls my chair until it smacks against his and he wraps his arm around my shoulder. It’s enough to make everyone turn around and focus back on Mr. Admas.

I exhale. “Thank you.”

Aiden pulls back, lowering his hand to my thigh and squeezes it just like how he did with my waist. It’s becomes clear it’s his way of comforting me.

He smirks down at me. “They can eat you alive here, but if you stick with me, I can soften the blow.”

I smile at that, falling into myself as I hunker down and pay attention to Mr. Admas and his teaching.

Aiden doesn’t move his hand from my thigh once, and I school my expression when his fingers clench. I ignore the heat that travels from the pit of my stomach to the tips of my toes, not wanting him to move his hand either.

I pretend to not notice the way his thumb rubs circles on my thigh. The way the veins in his hands strain against his skin.

He wears a silver ring on his thumb, and a chain around his wrist. Callouses on his fingers give truth to his claim on athlete, on apparently being the basketball star of Melview High School.

“Where you from?”