Gemotions

The silence stretched, punctuated only by the nervous clicking of Jessica's pen. Michael, with his carefully tailored suit, seemed entirely unconcerned. She recalled his gentle ribbing regarding her 'eccentric' spreadsheet format. Her cheeks burned.

She pulled her phone out of her bag, the action deliberately slow and deliberate. She had to text someone. Anyone.

"So," Michael said, his tone casual, "Are you going to try and call someone?" His comment hung in the air, a quiet judgment.

Jessica took a deep breath. She pretended to be preoccupied with the phone. The air was getting thick. The implication of his judgement weighed her down.