Nolan opens his mouth to respond, pausing to comprehend what Logan said, before snapping it shut ferociously. “What’s it t’ you?”
Logan raises his hands in mock surrender. “Dude, you almost just fell on your face. I’d say that’s pretty concerning, yeah? Just wanna know if you’re okay.”
“But what’s it to you?” Nolan asks again, more insistently. His eye darts to Alexander, stubbornly looking everywhere but Nolan. “I’m fine.”
The light sparkle that had been present in Logan’s eyes the whole conversation fades away as Nolan turns to leave. “Dude,” he starts out with a small frown, reaching out to grab Nolan’s arm, “can’t I be worried for a classmate?”
“Not for me,” Nolan says, his entire frame drooping. “Fine. What do you want?” he asks as he turns back to the pair, just barely avoiding tripping over his own shoes. The stumble evidently doesn’t escape Alexander’s notice as he glances down to the shoes in question.
Logan drops his hand. “Nolan, dude, we don’t want anything. We’re just worried.”
“You’re just worried,” Alexander corrects.
Logan’s head whips around and he pouts at Alexander. “Nu-uh, Mr. I’m-too-busy-staring-at-Nolan-to-pay-attention. You’re like, twice as worried as me.”
Alexander scowls at Logan. “I was not staring at him so much I couldn’t pay attention.”
“But you were staring at him.”
“Because he’s acting weird!”
Nolan watches the exchange with a morbid curiosity. “I’m fine,” he restates slowly, energy having been sucked away. Both of them turn to look at his retreating back.
Nolan starts walking again, ignoring Logan’s call of “Dude, wait,” and makes it as far as the door. Suddenly, the floor seems much shakier than it did before, and it sways beneath his feet. The air swirls like he’s looking through a heat cloud, and the hallway is a haze. Nolan takes another uncertain step, his foot moving considerably faster than he had intended. He falls.