Alistair leaned back against the cold metal of his locker, his arms crossed casually as he surveyed the bustling scene around him. The high school hallway buzzed with life, but to him, it felt like a monotonous cycle that never really changed.

Until today, Alistair had observed a new student standing at the entrance of the school, their gaze flickering uncertainty as they scanned the bustling hallways. The student’s brows furrowed in confusion, clearly overwhelmed by the noise and activity swirling around them. They shuffled their feet restlessly, glancing down at a crumpled map of the school while shifting their weight from one foot to the other, trying to decipher which direction to take. Their wide eyes darted from the classroom doors to the lunchroom, trying to piece together where they were supposed to go, amidst laughter and chatter that filled the air. Alistair felt a pang of sympathy, remembering his own first days navigating the maze of unfamiliar faces and places.

He grimaced as he watched the new student stumble over their feet figuring that he should intervene “Hey are you lost?” He asked, finally speaking up.