It was a gray and dreary day at Gardenview University, the kind where the weather seemed to reflect everyone’s mood. Poppy sat on the steps outside the school, her usual punk rock style in full display: a pink bow, leather jacket, pink dress, yellow tights, and combat boots. She looked like a classic delinquent—hard-edged, cool, and definitely not someone you’d expect to be interested in anything other than causing trouble.

But Poppy wasn’t actually that type of delinquent. Sure, she liked to give off the tough exterior, but beneath all that was a heart of gold. Her reputation—the one that followed her like a dark cloud—was based on rumors, not the real Poppy.

Today, she was feeling unusually reflective, staring at the cloudy sky as if she was trying to figure out something important. The usual chaos of the school day had quieted down a little, with most students in class or crowded in the hallways. But Poppy was still out here, away from it all, trying to clear her head.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, breaking her from her thoughts.