By the time Lucas got to their shared class Alice was already at the front by their teacher’s desk, profusely apologizing for missing the first day and asking if any work was given. As usual it had only been a boring day going over the syllabus, something he handed to her while pointing out a few things on the papers. He was great about it, and she wondered if it was just because she looked like a wet puppy standing there in her rain boots and soaked jacket.

“Thanks again,” she muttered, wanting to get a seat before the room got too crowded. The worst past was everyone probably already picked her seat, and Alice was paranoid about taking one someone had already “claimed”. Some students could get so weird and possessive about things like that. “Hey, where should I…?”

“Oh. We did things in alphabetical order, but we skipped you since you weren’t here. Just sit in the back, Ms. Conway,” the teacher said with a wave of his hand, leaving her looking for the last seat.

“Hey, uh…” Alice shrugged the messenger bag strap off her shoulder as she walked to the back of the class, passing row after row of seats quickly filling up. What was this kid’s name? They’d had class together before, she should remember… “Reed, right? Are you the last in class? By name, I mean. Last name. For seating arrangement,” she rambled, letting out a weak laugh at herself. “I’m just trying to figure out where to sit. I’m behind everyone else, which looks like it might be beside you.”