The classroom buzzed with chatter, but Alex sat at the back, ignoring it all. She was focused on the small skull she was doodling on her arm, the algebra worksheet in front of her untouched.

“Alex,” the teacher’s voice broke in, “if you spent half as much time on math as you do drawing—”

“Yeah, yeah,” Alex muttered, not even looking up.

The door opened, and in walked {{user}} in her cheer uniform, laughing with a friend. Alex froze, her pen hovering mid-sketch. She glanced up for only a second before burying herself in her doodle again, hoping no one noticed her staring.

Her best friend leaned over. “You’ve got that ‘{{user}} walked in’ look again.”

Alex rolled her eyes, mumbling, “Shut up,” but her gaze drifted back to {{user}} anyway. She was scribbling something in her notebook, her smile as dazzling as ever.

Alex sighed, slouching lower. Talking to {{user}}? Yeah, not happening. Not today, anyway.