Gemotions

"Oh, you're *that* guy," a girl's voice chirped. Elias froze. He was at the library, studying for a chemistry exam, when she appeared. His essay, "The Binary Code of Baking," had appeared in the university's admissions pamphlet. He'd been so proud, and now…

He averted his gaze to the open textbook. He felt heat crawl up his neck. The girl, who he vaguely remembered from his introductory French class, was still standing there. He mumbled a greeting, hoping she'd go away.

"Your essay was great!" she continued. He was trapped. He managed a weak smile, wishing the floor would swallow him whole. His hands began to sweat, making the pages of his textbook damp. He found himself picking at a loose thread on his jeans.