Tom experimentally released his injured arm to see if he could flex it, and immediately a sharp pain radiated out of his elbow and up and down his arm. He could feel tears welling up in his eyes then, although he'd tried to hold them back.
He sniffled and looked up at the professor.
"N--no. I landed on my elbow."
He wondered if the professor were going to try to touch it. He watched the man's hands suspiciously in case he made a move.
Tom was distantly aware that the girl who had knocked them all down was hovering nearby and apologizing profusely and repeatedly. Honestly, it wasn't her fault. Well, okay, it was
totally her fault, but Tom knew that it had only been an accident so he didn't blame her or anything.
Honestly he kind of hoped she'd calm down and stop apologizing, because she was making him anxious. He looked up at her to tell her so, but then he got a good look at her for the first time and realized that she was rather pretty, and his plan underwent a major revision.
"It's okay," he managed to say instead in a strained voice.
"It was just an accident."