“So, have you decided which one to date?” Mar asked in a hushed tone, looping fabric around Riley’s ankle. Riley sat on one of the benches that had been brought out into the courtyard for their First Aid course. First Aid was one of two classes that was taught to all first years at the same time. Half of the class was sitting on benches, their feet outstretched so that the other half of the class could practice wrapping ankles. Nurse Felicity and Professor Yama wandered throughout the crowd, supervising and offering guidance as the students practiced.

  “Huh?” Riley responded, confused and caught of guard. As far as Riley knew, dating had nothing to do with sprained ankles.

  “Bruno or Elliot, dummy. You’re friends with the hottest guys in our class. You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about which one you’d want to date. I mean, Cappy is attractive too, but he’s probably some secret evil super spy. Plus he's sort of…” Mar trailed off, twirling her finger by her head to indicate ‘crazy’.

  Riley squirmed, feeling embarrassed. Elliot had been heavily featured in many of her daydreams, but she wasn’t about to admit that out loud.

  “Mar, my toes feel tingly, I think you’re cutting off circulation,” Riley said.

  “Or,” Mar countered, her eyebrow raised, “Are they tingly because you’re thinking of someone special?”

  “Nope, pretty sure I’m about to lose sensation,” Riley said, wiggling her foot to test out Mar’s theory. Mar stuck her tongue out at Riley and undid the fabric, starting the wrap over from the beginning.

  “See if I were you, I would definitely go for Bruno,” Mar said. “He’s got that whole mysterious and brooding thing going on. So moody, it just makes you want to crack him open like a nut, don’t you think?”

  “What are you talking about?” Riley said, completely lost. The last word she would use to describe Bruno would be brooding. Sure, he could be quiet at times. Intimidating, maybe. But brooding? He was constantly smiling and joking around with her and Elliot.

  “On the other hand,” Mar continued, ignoring Riley’s question. “Elliot is so gentlemanly. And super smart. He’s got that hot nerd vibe going and those gold rimmed glasses? He’s got taste for sure.”

  This time Riley couldn’t help but blush. It was as if Mar was plucking her thoughts right out of her head. Mar looked up from Riley’s ankle, a devilish grin spreading on her face.

  “Oh, Riley dear, no need to say a word,” Mar said. “I think I’ve got my answer already. Don’t worry, I will not tell a soul! I am the best at keeping secrets. Like one time my sister told me about how she… well, I can’t tell you because it’s a secret. But you get my point.”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Riley cursed her treacherous face for giving away her feelings about Elliot. For how chatty Mar was, she did not feel reassured that Mar would keep her mouth shut. She enjoyed Mar’s warm and bubbly presence, but she barely knew her. The only time they’d spent together outside of class was at the tea shop. Whether Mar was trustworthy enough to share feelings with was still up for debate.

  “There!” Mar said, proudly tucking in the end of the cloth into the lumpy bundle that now surrounded Riley’s ankle.

  “Um, I don’t think I can put my boot back on,” Riley remarked at Mar’s handiwork. It didn’t look anything like the sleek wrapping that Nurse Felicity had demonstrated at the beginning of class.

  Mar frowned, saying, “No, I guess you can’t. But how’s your circulation?”

  Riley rotated her foot, the wrapped fabric sagging and coming undone as she moved.

  “She made it look so easy…” Mar grumbled under her breath, shaking her head and unwinding the cloth again.

  “Why don’t we switch,” Riley suggested, sensing that Mar’s frustration was building.

  Mar agreed and the two of them switched places. Riley put her boot back on and slid down to the ground while Mar took off her shoe and sat on the bench. Riley took the fabric and looped it around the center of Mar’s foot, overtop her magenta sock.

  “I think you’re supposed to start it the other way,” Mar commented. Given Mar’s own failed attempt, Riley was dubious of her advice. She didn’t want to seem rude though, and started undoing the wrap.

  “No, she’s got it,” Nurse Felicity said, coming up behind Riley. “Yes, now do you remember what comes next?”

  “The figure eight?” Riley guessed. She was fairly certain she remembered it correctly, but her confidence felt flimsy in front of an expert.

  “Exactly,” Nurse Felicity said, nodding in approval. She watched while Riley finished the wrap. The end result was not as smooth as the demonstration had been, but still passable in comparison to Mar’s distorted attempt. Nurse Felicity stayed while Mar tried again, patiently guiding and correcting her through the exercise.

  “Good thing there’s no ankle wrapping test,” Mar joked when she finished.

  Nurse Felicity responded, “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you will actually be tested on this, as well as the other basics you are learning here. I suggest you take some time to study outside of class.”

  “Welp,” Mar said cheerily as Nurse Felicity moved on. “This might be the class that ruins me.”

  “Very funny,” Riley said. “You just need to practice.”

  “True. And you are going to help me,” Mar declared.

  Riley felt uncertain, saying, “Oh, I don’t know if I’m the best person… I think Professor Yama has office hours…”

  “Sure, but it’d be way more fun to hang out with you,” Mar replied. “We can practice after class today.”

  “Um, actually,” Riley said, “I was planning on heading over to the library after class. I kind of have some research I need to do.”

  “Well, lucky for both of us,” Mar said. “All I need is your foot.”