A Thousand Little Things

He sat up suddenly, ripping the earbuds from his ears and opening his mouth in surprise. He whipped his head around to the boy sitting next to him - Brian, or Ryan, or something - he couldn't remember the kid's name to save his life. Mystery-name-kid was staring at him, annoyed. The whole class was staring at him, annoyed. Mrs. Reynolds, who was inexplicably standing right in front of his desk, was staring at him, annoyed. Neil's stomach dropped as he realized, mortified, that the entire class had heard the tinny clatter blasting from his earbuds, which were now hanging limply from his sweaty hand.