Today was ass.

Emmanuel could have contracted the Black Plague and his mother would still stick up her nose and say, "You're acting infantile. Go to school."

So he wasn't surprised when no amount of whining or pleading about how his stomach really hurt got him anywhere. He spent his entire first period trying not to spew all over his math homework, and nearly fell asleep second period.

Emmanuel wasn't dumb, he knew other kids could hear his upset stomach. That's why they were giggling as they passed him. But he was far too focused on finding his partner. You were always in the same spot at lunch. Emmanuel didn't bother grab a tray an get in line, the school food wouldn't stay down anyway. No, he made a beeline for you.