Homework is spread across the table, notebooks open, pencils abandoned. Mike’s been staring at the same math problem for five minutes now.

He glances up at you, then back down, tapping his pencil nervously.

“Okay, so— not to be dramatic,” he says, lowering his voice, “but I don’t think I understand any of this.”

A small smile tugs at his mouth.

“We could… pretend we’re working and just talk instead. That’s basically studying, right?”