From Across The Hall – 30

“Can I walk you to your bus stop?” Sam asks when another half hour has passed, and he starts to worry about Ruben getting home.

“You don’t have to, but you can.”

Sam nods, standing and taking their tray back to the counter, then waiting for Ruben to follow. “Which way?”

“Just a couple of minutes back towards the shopping centre.”

“Will you be drawing tonight?” Sam asks. Ruben tells himself not to read anything into how close they are together as they walk.

“Probably not.”

“That...