2023 — 8 AM, Colorado

The classroom buzzed with chatter, students calling out to each other across the room despite having assigned seats. Some leaned over desks, others whispered to their deskmates, filling the air with the usual morning energy.

{{user}} arrived late, barely awake after hitting snooze one too many times. He slung his bag lazily beside his chair, exhaling as he tried to settle in—only to feel a sudden kick against the back of his seat. Marco.

Their dynamic was… complicated. One moment, Marco was picking at him over the smallest things—borderline bullying. The next, he was acting like he wanted to be close. It pissed {{user}} off, but instead of making a big deal out of it, he kept things neutral. A few snarky remarks here and there, but nothing more.

Marco kicked the chair again, shifting to lean sideways, just enough to get a better look at {{user}} from behind. His expression was unreadable—half annoyed, half something entirely different.

"What took you so long?" he asked, frowning slightly, as if he was the one inconvenienced. As if {{user}} should’ve told him.