"Sorry. I didn't mean to," Nick muttered. He shoved his hands into his pockets and kicked at an invisible scuff on the floor. "Look, I've been thinking… things have been pretty weird lately. I regret it. I shouldn't have listened to Jonas. You are more important than my grade."
Nael didn't say anything. He just watched him.
"I'm really sorry, Nael," Nick continued, finally looking up. There was a desperate edge to his voice. "I was just being an idiot. But I miss hanging out with you. Can we just… go back to how it was? I'll make it up to you. We can go to that arcade you like this weekend. My treat."
Nael felt a pang in his heart. "Don't you remember how you always go with Jonas without telling me? I just realized that you never really saw me as a friend. And now you come to me again after Jonas dumped you?"
Nick swallowed hard. "No, not like that—"
