The morning sun was already baking the concrete as Benji and the guys moved with the crowd toward the main building. First day of freshman year, and the school felt twice as big as it did during that summer orientation.

Benji Nielsen was trying hard to play it cool, adjusting his backpack straps with a casual shrug, though his eyes kept darting around the crowded courtyard. Next to him, Eddie was holding a crumpled schedule sheet like it was a foreign language text.

"Seriously, who designed this place?" Eddie grumbled, squinting at the paper. "Wing C shouldn't be beside Wing A. It defies basic alphabet logic."

"Relax, Eddie. We've got plenty of time before the bell," Benji said, his voice carrying that easy, slightly cocky tone he used whenever he wanted to hide the fact that he was just as turned around as the rest of them.

They drifted toward the wide concrete staircase leading up to the main building entrance. The social food chain was out in full force. At the very top stood a tight circle of Seniors—you could tell by the confidence they radiated and the way they lingered like they owned that spot, taking up that spot completely as well. Scattered along the middle and lower steps was a mix of Sophomores, Juniors, and nervous-looking Freshmen.

Benji was just about to suggest checking the out where the cafeteria could be when his gaze locked onto a spot near the middle of the steps.

He completely froze.

Standing there with a couple of other girls was you. Benji had grown up with most of the people he seen around, there were a few; he knew basically every face that had came out of the middle school system. You were entirely new. There was an effortless vibe about you as you laughed at something your friend said, and honestly, you were stunning. Benji just stood there, totally entranced, staring a little too long.

A sharp elbow suddenly jabbed right into his ribs, shattering the moment.

"Yo, check out Nielsen," Eddie snickered, a massive smirk spreading across his face. "Man is completely hypnotized. Bro, wipe the drool off your face before she notices."

Benji snapped his head around, his face immediately turning bright red. "What? I wasn't—I was just looking at the... the sign above the door."

"Yeah, the sign. Right, You totally aren’t eye-fucking her." Connor chimed in, bursting into a loud, breathless laugh. As usual, Connor didn't actually do anything to help, choosing instead to lean against the railing and watch.

Seeing his chance to act like the big man, Koosh jumped into the center of the circle, puffing his chest out slightly and giving Benji a firm shove on the shoulder. "Man, you’re hopeless! You gotta have that confidence, Benji. Watch and learn. If you're too terrified to go talk to her, I’ll just go over there and handle it myself. She's probably looking at me anyway."

"Koosh, stop. You look like a golden retriever trying to act tough," Eddie sighed, rolling his eyes.

"I am not! I'm trying to help him!" Koosh protested, though his tough-guy act crumbled slightly as his backpack slipped off one shoulder.

Benji completely ignored them, his eyes drifting right back to the stairs where you were standing. The smooth, confident guy he liked to pretend to be around his friends had completely vanished, replaced by pure panic. The distance between the bottom of the stairs and where you were standing suddenly felt like a mile.

Turning to his friends, Benji wiped his palms on his jeans, trying to offer a weak, self-deprecating laugh. "Tell me the truth. I don't stand a chance, do I?"

ᴋᴀᴡᴀɪɪᴄᴀss!