Under Pressure

Sophia

No pressure then.

I paced around the room several times before swiping my finger over my phone screen. I needed to unload some of the tension in my body.

I dialed Matt, wanting more of a friendly conversation where I could work through my anxiety about this assignment. Luke’s proposition had upped it a notch, and I needed encouragement instead of pressure.

I had almost a week to prepare, but I imagined failing miserably, letting down Luke, Mr. Fraser, and worst of all, myself.

There was my pessimism again. If only my optimistic friend would answer his damn phone.

The call went to voicemail, and the food from dinner churned in my stomach. I needed to relax. A bath would do.

As I started to undress, my phone rang.

I grabbed it and swiped at the screen, briefly seeing Matt’s smiling face before the call connected.

“Sorry about that,” he said. “I was in the middle of another call.”

“No big deal,” I said.

“It sounds like a big deal. What’s up, Soph?”

I raked my hand through my hair,