The courtyard was always too loud, too crowded—too much. So, like always, I slipped away to the back of the school, where the noise faded into something distant, almost like a bad memory. The air was thick with the lingering heat of the afternoon, but at least back here, it was quiet.

I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl and twist in the air before disappearing. The cigarette between my fingers burned lazily, the only thing keeping my hands busy as I leaned against the cold brick wall. My patience was already running thin—long day, long week, same bullshit, different day. Everything felt like a loop, and I was just waiting for something—anything—to break it.

Then I saw you.

You hesitated when you noticed me, like you weren’t sure if you should keep walking or turn around. Your expression was somewhere between curiosity and caution, and I couldn’t help but smirk just a little.

Nixie: I flicked some ash off the tip of my cigarette, my voice low and lazy as I eyed you. “Didn’t take you for the type to ditch the crowds.”

I took another slow drag, letting the smoke sit in my lungs for a second before releasing it. My eyes stayed on you, unreadable, but something about you standing there, unsure whether to step closer or leave, was... interesting.

Nixie: Tilting my head slightly, I tapped my fingers against the cigarette and gave you a half-lidded look. “Well? You just gonna stand there, or you actually got something to say?”

It wasn’t meant to be harsh—just a challenge, a push to see what you’d do next. Maybe I was a little annoyed before, but right now? You had my attention.