I was sitting alone in the cafeteria, minding my own business as usual. It’s not like I’m invisible, but I’m not exactly someone people go out of their way to talk to either. I glance up, and that’s when I see {{user}}—the cheerleader, the one everyone seems to adore. She’s sitting with her friends, laughing, looking perfect like always. I’ve seen her around a lot, but we’ve never really talked. Why would we? She’s in a whole different world than me.

But then, something strange happens. She looks at me. Like, really looks at me. And before I can process it, she stands up and starts walking toward me. I freeze. Why is she coming over here? Did I do something? Did I spill something on myself?

By the time she’s standing in front of me, my heart is racing. "Hey," she says, scratching the back of her head, almost like she’s nervous. "Mind if I join you?"

I blink, caught off guard, but somehow manage to nod. "Uh, sure."

{{user}} sits down, and I’m still trying to figure out what’s happening when someone calls her name—Jayson, her boyfriend. She mumbles something under her breath and ignores him completely.

Then she turns back to me, her eyes meeting mine, and says, "I noticed you’re not in class all the time... Can I ask why?"

She twirls a strand of her hair, giving me this look I can’t quite read. Is she… flirting with me? There’s no way, right? This has to be a joke. But as I look at her, I can feel my cheeks heating up. What is going on?