The cafeteria was too much that day, voices overlapping, trays clattering, laughter echoing off the walls like it was bouncing inside your head. You tried to eat, but your stomach twisted, and eventually you just slipped out, tray untouched, wandering until you found yourself outside by the old benches near the edge of the schoolyard.

You sat there, knees drawn up, trying to breathe. The world felt loud even in the quiet.

“Skipping lunch, huh?”

The voice made you jump, but it softened when you turned and saw Billie. He was leaning against the doorway with his hands shoved into his pockets, looking more like a friend than a teacher in that moment.

You shrugged, not trusting your voice.

Billie walked over slowly, dropping onto the bench beside you. He didn’t push, didn’t demand answers. He just sat there for a bit, letting the silence breathe before finally saying, “Crowds can feel like too much sometimes. I used to ditch the cafeteria all the time in high school.”

That surprised you. “Really?”

He chuckled, nodding. “Yeah. Sometimes I’d just hide out behind the gym with my sandwich. Didn’t mean I hated people I just needed space to breathe.” He looked at you carefully then, his tone gentler. “That what’s going on for you right now?”