Mathew.

I slid out the wooden chair with a low scrape and slumped down right across from Viola, letting out a sigh loud enough for her to hear.

I stared at her with such intensity, hoping she would look up, but she just kept eating, pretending not to notice me.

She dipped her spoon into the creamy dessert, licking it slowly and making this show of dragging her tongue along the metal like she was in a commercial. Every now and then, she'd flick her eyes to meet mine, her mouth curving up ...