Gemotions

He stared at the email, the words blurring. Accusation. Plagiarism. It was a blur. He found himself wondering if he could talk his way out of this, thinking about how his parents would react. But all he could focus on was the fact that the girl who was sitting next to him in class, the one with the bright red hair, had given him a look of sympathy and a smile. He felt a jolt of warmth.

The professor was going on, detailing the similarities between the paper and a published article. He had spent hours trying to write something that would impress her, and now he was being accused of cheating. The irony was almost unbearable. He wanted her to be proud. He wanted her to notice him. The thought brought warmth to his face.

The professor asked, “Do you have anything to say?” He didn't know what to say. His gaze drifted to her. She looked concerned. He wanted to defend himself, to make it all go away, to be worthy of that look of care.