I grabbed a textbook off one of the shelves and got started on my studying. Although I still had many worries moving around in my mind after my conversation with Drew, which in all honesty felt more like a confrontation or investigation, I managed to get some studying done. I worked for a couple of hours, until Theo approached me.

"Hey, are you alright, Zoe? I really didn't mean to make you storm off," he said, in reference to our previous conversation in the music room. Theo was dressed in bright colours again. It was as though he was born to stand out.

"I'm okay, Theo. Are you okay?" I asked him, with genuine care. Despite everything that had passed in the music room, I knew that Theo hadn't meant anything by it. Besides, he was friends with Heather. At least, I thought he was. So I wanted to be there for him, too. "I might go and get some cookies from the school's cafe. Want one?" I offered.

They were the special Christmas cookies! They were the most incredible treats that I had ever laid my eyes upon. The icing was always adorable, too, particularly on the gingerbread people. I was going to miss this school, once I had to move on. I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life but how could anyone blame me for that? I was only eighteen. The whole system in which we had to figure out what we wanted to do from a very young age had simply never worked out for me.

"I'm good thank you, Zoe. I was mostly just checking on you," Theo said.

Well, I could respect that.

"I could be barking up the wrong tree here but...there's not anything going on between you and Heather, is there?" he inquired. I should have expected as much, in all honest, Theo was always kind of bold, when it came to his questions. He wasn't quite as demanding as Drew but he didn't appear to be afraid to ask the things that I wasn't comfortable answering. Of course, I didn't mind people knowing about me. I just didn't want Heather's secret getting out there, when I knew she wouldn't be comfortable with that.

I gave a shrug of my shoulders.

"If there was, that would sort of be between Heather and I, don't you think?" I asked him.

I felt my emotions well up inside my chest again and I hated the fact that I could be so sensitive when it came to people talking about Heather and I.

"I'm bisexual but Heather isn't, just leave it at that," I said, as I walked past him.

If I had to sacrifice my own secrets to stop Heather's from getting out there, then so be it.

I felt a great temptation to go home after leaving that library and so that was what I did. I usually wasn't one to bunk off school but I didn't feel well. I left a note with the office and walked on out.

I eventually got to Drew's car and sighed. It wasn't as though I could catch a lift with him under our present circumstances.

I settled on the bus, even though the engine of the bus stank and the people stank and everyone was far too careless when it came to providing sufficient personal space for the people around them. Alright, so maybe I hadn't had the best experiences with buses in the past and now I had some bus-journey-induced anxiety. That was besides the point. I didn't feel well and my head hurt.

I stepped on board the bus and was thankful when it only took three stops to get back to my house.

Once I was there, I rushed inside and up the stairs before my parents could ask me a single question.

I soon found that Riley appeared to be busily working on some homework and although I didn't wish to disturb him, I really wanted to speak to him.

"What's up, Zoe? You look kind of...meh. Not in a bad way, just in a sad way. Are you okay? Who do I need to punch? I may be small but I'm not afraid," he said.

I released a soft laugh at his words. Talking to my brother had definitely been a good decision. I was relieved that the two of us could have some carefree time together.

"I just know intuitively that Drew is mad at me," I stated.

"Why would he be mad at you?" he asked me.

"'Cause...he kept asking me questions about Heather and I and-"

"It's none of his damn business," Riley said.

I felt my eyes widen.

"Riles!" I said.

"What? It's not as if I used a big swear word. Now, listen, Drew is just going to have to wait until you're ready to talk to him. It's as simple as that."

"You know, considering you're so young, you actually make some very intelligent comments at times," I told him.

Riley's lips twitched up at one of the corners. He was probably feeling gleeful given that I was being so nice to him. Well, I already knew that Drew and I weren't exactly on speaking terms. I needed all of the friends that I could get.

This whole situation made me feel so small.

I smoothed down my shirt and sighed.

"I know, I'm a genius sometimes. You need to focus on what makes you happy now, Zoe. What makes you happy?" he asked me.

"Heather does," I said quietly.

"Exactly! So, don't worry about Drew. Just focus on Heather and how she makes you feel. Don't let Drew turn this into a bad thing," he told me.

I was so glad that I had talked to Riley. I knew that I could always rely on him to make me feel better. However, he soon needed to continue with his homework after that. I swear, they were giving fourth graders far too much work. Either way, I walked down the hall towards my room feeling considerably lighter, even though I knew that I still needed to talk to Drew some time soon.