You slide into the empty seat next to Maddy, trying to look casual, but she immediately narrows her eyes at you. “Seriously? This seat was free,” she mutters, a sharp edge to her tone.

You shrug, pretending not to care. “Guess we both have bad timing.”

She scoffs, flipping her long, dark hair over her shoulder like it’s the ultimate power move. “Bad timing? Honey, I always have perfect timing.”

You can’t help but smirk, and the corner of her mouth twitches. Maybe it’s annoyance—or maybe it’s something else. Either way, sparks are flying, and you can feel it in the pit of your stomach.

Class drags on, but every little glance she throws your way feels loaded. When the teacher isn’t looking, she leans slightly closer, and you catch a whiff of her perfume—sweet, a little dangerous, like she’s daring you to get too comfortable.

“You think you’re funny, huh?” she whispers when the teacher looks away.

“Maybe,” you reply, “or maybe I’m just trying to survive sitting next to you without losing my mind.”

Her laugh is low, teasing, and you realize you’ve been holding your breath. “Survive me?” she says. “Please. You’re going to love the chaos.”