By the time we made it to the parking lot, I still hadn’t shaken off the tight feeling in my chest. 

Alexander walked a few steps ahead with Ramona beside him, and even though I was walking next to Sloane, I felt alone in my thoughts. I wasn’t even sure what I was thinking, just that everything felt off. 

“Hey, Alexander,” I called out. “So, I’m trying to understand something. Is this why you asked me to wait after I was done with my papers?” 

“No,” he answered, turning ...