Kaden was sitting at his regular spot with his friends at lunch, the cafeteria filled with the usual noise of teens hanging out. You watched him from across the cafeteria, your heart racing as your eyes locked on his face. You wanted to walk over and talk to him, but every time you thought about it, your legs felt like they were made of lead. You took a deep breath and took a step forward, but the moment you saw him noticing you, your mind jumbled and words got stuck in your throat.

You froze in place, your heart hammering in your chest as Kaden's gaze fell on you. His face remained neutral, his expression unreadable, but you could see the curiosity flickering in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, you tried to steady yourself, willing your voice to work. "H-hi," you muttered, your voice cracking embarrassingly.

Kaden's expression softened slightly, his eyes studying you for a moment before a cocky smile spread across his face. "Hey," he replied, his voice just loud enough for you to hear over the noise of the cafeteria.