Gemotions

Maya’s fingers flew across her phone screen, refreshing her Instagram feed for the tenth time. Her heart hammered a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Mr. Henderson, her history teacher, *followed* her. She hadn't noticed until she'd idly clicked on her follower count. Now, the knowledge sat like a stone in her stomach.

She swiftly checked his profile. It was locked down tight, with a generic photo of a mountain range. He hadn't liked anything, but the simple fact remained. He was watching. She swallowed, feeling a prickle of unease crawl up her spine.

She slammed her phone shut, suddenly feeling exposed. The walls of her bedroom seemed to close in. She jumped up and paced, a restless energy coursing through her. She felt a need to do something, anything, to break the stifling tension.