84. Happy Accidents

“Oli—dude—”

“Look, it’s fine.”

“What just happened in there?”

We’re walking down the hall, and I keep looking around, hoping to see Kelsey.

“It’s about doing what’s right,” he says.

“Okay. But—”

I spot Kelsey waiting for me.

“I’ll explain another time. Go talk to her.”

“You can come with me.”

“She doesn’t want to talk to me.”

I nod and am about to say thanks, but he’s gone.

I reach Kelsey, and she starts crying. All I can do is hug her. For a few moments, it feels like we’re the only two people here. And that feels fine with me.

It’s amazing how accidents seem to happen at the strangest times.

Kelsey and I are walking to our next classes after the few moments I’ve spent trying to calm her down. We’re already late, but that’s okay. It’s not a big deal to be late to history class with Mr. Meiners. And I’m sure Kelsey is such a good student she could take a couple days off without getting in trouble.

I stand in front of the closed door to her class and look down at her to make sure she’s okay.

“Why’d he do that?” she asks. The big, blue eyes behind the glasses are looking at me with confusion and relief.

“I have no idea.”

“What’d he say to you?”

“That he’ll explain later.”

“It’s good to know you have people looking out for you.”

I laugh. “Yeah. I guess that is good. I can use it.”

“I’d better go in.”

Before she does, I lean closer to her and slip my hands over hers.

“Listen, Kelsey. I’m sorry, okay. I don’t want—I don’t want any stuff like that to come back and hurt you.”

“It won’t.”

Even though she’s shaken, she still somehow looks strong.

“It almost did.”

“It’s worth it.” She squeezes my hands, then opens her door to her classroom and goes inside.

I’m standing there for a minute, once again surprised, not just at this girl but at my feelings for her and at how quickly they’re developing when I strictly said they couldn’t.

I turn to go toward Mr. Meiners’ room when I face that happy accident.

Poe is standing at the side of the hallway, watching me.

“Hey,” I say, actually glad to see her.

But she turns and heads the other way.

She’s like a Halloween trick-or-treater in all black.

I call out her name, but she’s gone.