"Fair enough," Diego says. "Just let me know if you ever need a wingman. I think I'd be pretty good at it." He makes finger guns at you and winks. "Too much?"
"Maybe a little."
"I'll practice at being casual and charming before the times comes, then."
Regardless of any crush business, there are friendships in your life that are important to you.
Friendships and your social life serve an important purpose, but they're no replacement for some dedicated introvert time. You need to get used to being back home, and the best way to do that is to set a routine and follow it. It might be a while until you can manage that, what with your friends being excited to see you, but it's on the horizon. Once things calm down and school gets going, you're sure to find more time to yourself—time you can do whatever you want with, even if that means doing nothing at all.
"Look," Diego says as he straightens his posture. "High school is almost over. A year might feel like a long time, but it's not. Friendships, relationships, all of it's gonna change soon. There are things I know I ought to say to people before everyone's off racing into their respective sunsets. You probably have some stuff you've been holding back too. I know I'm no expert on…well, anything, but I don't want to have any regrets when we graduate. Maybe we should make a pact or something."
"A pact?" you ask.
"Yeah," he says. "Like, that we'll at least try."
"Try what?"
"I don't know. To not be fake, not be phonies."
"Ugh, please don't use that word," you tell him. "It makes you sound like Holden Caulfield."
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