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Jack stared down at the problem, his fingers tapping nervously against the edge of the table. The group around him was chattering, throwing out ideas too quickly, and his mind raced faster than he could speak.
Don't say anything. Just… breathe. Stay invisible, he told himself, heart hammering.
One of the boys suggested a complicated method. Another argued with him, louder this time, slamming a pencil against the desk. Jack felt a bead of sweat form at his temple. His brain knew the answer already, but his mouth refused to cooperate.
Just wait. Don't speak. They'll figure it out… maybe, he thought, chewing on the inside of his cheek.
Minutes passed. The group's ideas kept missing the mark. Jack's chest tightened. He wanted to shout the solution, to fix it instantly, but that would make him visible. Panic rose.
Finally, one of the boys muttered, frustrated, "Ugh… I give up."
Jack froze. His chance to help, and yet… his hands shook slightly as he grabbed a pencil. "W-well… maybe we could try… starting from here?" His voice came out quieter than he intended, almost a squeak.
The group blinked at him. "Wait—what?"
He pointed at the first step, trying not to panic as his mind raced through the solution. "If we adjust this and… uh, follow this part…" His words stumbled, but the logic was correct. Slowly, the group began to follow his suggestion, nodding as the pieces fell into place.
Jack exhaled quietly, hands gripping his pencil like a lifeline. He had helped without being too obvious, though his heart still pounded.
From across the room, Tyla's group had noticed the new boy whispering instructions. Her eyes flicked toward him for a moment, curious, though she said nothing. Jack caught the glance for a split second, and his stomach lurched.
Focus. Invisible. Don't panic, he reminded himself, even as his face burned red.
By the end of the session, the problem was solved. The group congratulated each other, and Jack sank back in his chair, trying to appear casual—though inside, he felt like his head might explode.
Good. No one knows how fast I saw it. That's how it stays.
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