Orion froze, as well as every other student in the class.

Then he smiled.

Here she was, embarrassing herself in front of her classmates, for him. You had to admire Ari's spirit.

It was massively endearing.

Strangely, he could see a bit of Shadowbird in Ari. Perhaps that was why he liked Ari so much.

He twisted his lip. "I know a girl." he began.

"I've known her for a very long time, now." The amused smile gave way to a troubled expression. "She's really smart, and funny, and cool, and I like her. A lot."

He put his head on his hand. "But she doesn't like me back." He had all but accepted it, now. And after what had happened on Friday, he didn't think it was possible for her to like him back anymore.

He sighed. "I think I'm being way too hung up on this."

Orion looked back at Ari. "And there's nothing you can do about it, Shadowbird, no matter how much you try."

If Shadowbird didn't love him, then there was nothing anyone could do about it.