Good Enough

Mia - Concern & More Than Friends

I wait in the morning with Julian's group of friends, which I guess I could call my friends now. I like them all, their humor, their conversations, but it doesn't feel right to call them my friends either.

'Drea is telling Foster about something her little brother said, cracking up laughing every few minutes. I find myself zoning out, and then thinking about Julian.

When I asked about him yesterday, Foster told me that he misses school often and that it's probably no big deal. Which I guess makes sense. But I was looking forward to talking to him again. So hopefully, he'll come today.

As if on cue, the next thing I hear is a "Hey" from my right side. I turn to see Julian, and a small smile automatically forms on my lips. "Hey."

Andrea and Foster share a look I can't read, and they quickly decide that they have to go to class, leaving me and Julian alone.

Julian turns to me with a smile, but I can't help but notice that it looks a bit more forced than his smile usually is.

"Welcome back."

"It's nice to be back."

"Was your one day vacation good?" I ask while looking at him carefully. Something isn't right...

Julian laughs a little, but like his smile, it seems forced. "Not much of vacation, but sure. It was great."

"No? How come you were absent then?"

Julian shrugs and shifts his weight uncomfortably. I've only seen him this uncomfortable the day he was giving me the tour.

"Family stuff. Last minute things came up and I needed to help my dad do something."

"Oh," I can tell he wants to move on. "Okay."

He clears his throat before straightening up and cracking a more genuine grin. "So did you miss me yesterday?"

I let out a short laugh. "Haha, yeah of course I missed you. I didn't have a tour guide to help me around."

"Oh no!" Julian says dramatically. "Did you get lost?"

"No. But maybe you could prevent that from happening." I say, an idea forming in my head before I have time to even fully consider how he'll interpret it. I want his number, and now seems like the only good time.

"How?"

"Your number? That way I always have my instant friend and personal guide at my service."

"I don't think I've ever heard you be this straightforward." Julian says with a realer, less forced smile.

"To be fair, you've only known me for less than a month."

"True. Okay. Hand me your phone?"

I fish it out of my backpack and unlock it, making sure that it's not open to anything weird before handing it to him. He puts in his number and sends himself a message before handing it back.

"There you go. Instant friend is now even more helpful than before."

"Great." The first bell rings and I put my phone in my back jeans pocket before looking at Julian. He's glancing at the school worriedly, concern etched all over his face.

What is up with him today?

"Hey, you okay?"

Julian blinks and looks down at me. He's not that much taller, but enough that he has to look down to meet my eyes. "Sorry. I just hate having to make up work. Especially science."

"Foster said you're absent a lot though...?"

Julian shrugs. "I mean, I guess. I don't know. Enough about me. How have you been? You like the school and everything?"