Caroline took her books she needed for the next few classes and closed her locker. Elena leaned against the lockers and looked at her. She saw the red underneath Caroline’s eyes. “Hey, have you been crying?”
Caroline shook her head. “No” she said with a small voice. She swallowed and forced a smile. She sighed and looked at her friend. “No” she repeated a little steadier. “I saw Tyler at the Grill today”
“Oh” Elena blinked. “And how was he? Did he tell you what happened?”
Caroline shook her head again. “Not exactly. He…said it’s none of my business what he does or where he goes” she said trying to sound casual. Then she burst into tears. “I’m sorry, it’s just…He was so mean. It wasn’t like him. I know he can be a jerk, but he’s never like that with me. And after the summer I thought we’d grown closer” she sobbed.
Elena threw her arm around Caroline’s shoulder and pulled her closer. “Hey, hey, hey, you have nothing to be sorry about. Tyler does” she tried to comfort her friend.
“What did Tyler do?” Matt asked, attracted by Caroline’s sadness. Elena shot him a ‘not now, Matt’ glance and Matt nodded in understanding.
“Let’s get to our class” Elena suggested and she pulled Caroline along, Matt following them.