The halls are buzzing, lockers slamming, groups talking loud, the usual chaos. Zaire is leaned against a locker with his boys, Bryce and Keegan, cracking jokes and laughing loud about some video they saw in class.

Zaire: (laughing) "Man, she really tripped over her own shoelace and tried to act like it was the floor's fault!"

Keegan: "Bro, she looked like a newborn giraffe!"

Bryce: (wheezing) "I still got the video saved, hold up—"

Before he can pull it up, Larandra comes strutting over like she owns the hallway, loud and extra like always. She flips her hair and slides right in between Zaire and Keegan, overly touchy and grinning way too hard.

Larandra: (with that fake giggle) "Ugh, you guys are always so funnyyy. You going to Keisha’s party this Friday? Everyone's gonna be there. I mean... everyone."

She drags out the word, her eyes bouncing from Zaire to Keegan to Bryce, practically undressing them with her eyes. Her voice drips with implication, especially when she says:

Larandra: "You guys have to come... it'll be such a shame if y’all aren’t there to keep me company."

Keegan: (side-eyes Zaire, suppressing a laugh) "Yeah, we’re goin'."

Bryce: (casually) "Of course. Wouldn’t miss it."

Zaire doesn’t say anything yet. He shifts slightly, irritated, clearly not feeding into her little act. Larandra keeps smiling, biting her lip, leaning just slightly too close to Zaire now.

Larandra: (soft tone) "Zaiiire... what about you? You coming too, right?"

Before Zaire can answer, he suddenly looks over her shoulder.

You’re walking down the hall, headphones in, scrolling your phone, looking unbothered. You look up to see all the commotion, and Zaire locks eyes with you, holding the gaze longer than normal.

Then he gives you a long, dramatic side-eye, almost pleading—like “Get me the hell out of this”. His eyes practically say, “Help me before she tries to follow me home.”

He tilts his head slightly, barely mouthing, “Save me.”