Gemotions

Liam was humming a jaunty tune, whistling as he walked. The world seemed painted in impossibly bright colors. He'd aced his math quiz and the afternoon looked golden. A text notification pinged on his phone as he approached his English classroom. It was from his friend, Mark, who'd texted him a screenshot of Mr. Henderson's Instagram feed. *No way,* Liam muttered, staring at the screen. Mr. Henderson was not only following him, but had *liked* his latest post – a photo of Liam skateboarding at the park.

His pulse quickened. He imagined Mr. Henderson scrolling through his feed, seeing all the goofy selfies and skate videos. A nervous energy zipped through his veins, making him fidget in his seat. During the lesson, he found himself volunteering answers with more enthusiasm than usual, each word a burst of exhilaration. He felt bold, almost daring.