Ximena's POV
The corridor felt eerily quiet compared to the bustling cafeteria we'd just left behind, though my heartbeat hammered so loudly I wondered if Ezekiel could hear it too.
He walked alongside me, maintaining careful distance so our arms wouldn't accidentally touch, and we both stayed silent.
Gone was his typical swagger, that easy smile and natural confidence he wore like armor around everyone else. Instead, he looked completely drained.
We came to a stop by the doors leading to the area behind the gymnasium. Condensation clouded the glass from the winter chill outside, and the steady hum of overhead lights became the only sound between us.
Ezekiel dragged his palm across the back of his neck. "So... you said we needed to talk?"
I folded my arms defensively. "I said we should talk. That's not the same thing."
He dipped his chin slightly, gaze falling to the scuffed linoleum. "Yeah. You're right."
