A FACE

GINGER: "What?" I ask in a low voice, staring into his eyes. "Show me," he shrugs, his arms still folded and brows furrowed. "We could sit if you want," he adds, and I nod, running a hand down the back of my neck. I close the space between us, staring into his notebook. "I don't think we need to because it's just a minor mistake, and..." I pause as I realize how that sounds. "I don't mean that you do..." I try to find a word that doesn't insinuate that he isn't bright. "Never mind, I'll just show you." I trace my hand over the notebook to where he used a negative sign instead of a positive one. "So, you misplaced the signs. When negatives multiply, they become positive. It's a simple rule, but we tend to forget it sometimes," I say, then look up to catch his gaze on me. He shifts it immediately back to his notebook, his brows furrowing even more. He stares into the book for a moment, then takes a step back, walking to the bench and looking into it while I stand there, unsure of what to