The rest of the class passed without incident, the kind that just fades into memory like the blur between dreams and waking up.
As we filed out, Professor Draken caught up to me near the doorway.
"Here," she said, tossing a small candy in my direction.
I caught it instinctively.
"You dropped this."
I looked at it, confused. "I didn't—"
"I gave it to you," she said, already smiling. "You should know that, you sly fox."
I tried to hand it back, but she pushed my hand away, her eyes softening for just a moment.
"I don't know what's going on with you today," she said, lowering her voice, "but whatever it is... talk to someone. You cadets like to act like you've got it all figured out. But no one expects you to. Not really. You're still learning how to stand."
I didn't say anything at first. Just pocketed the candy, unsure what to do with it.
"Guess my expression really is off today, huh?" I murmured.
