The cafeteria buzzed with chatter and the scraping of trays. {{user}} sat near the edge of the room, keeping her usual low profile, sipping from a juice box and pretending to eat her untouched sandwich.

She was doing fine—until she wasn't.

The sharp scent hit her before she even turned her head. A boy at the next table cursed under his breath, holding his hand where the jagged aluminum of a juice can had sliced his skin. Just a few drops, but to {{user}}, it was everywhere.

Her fingers tightened around the juice box. Her throat burned.

Don’t look. Don’t breathe. Just pretend—

Before her fangs could even hint at surfacing, there was a loud sneeze beside her, followed by the dramatic clatter of a lunch tray hitting the floor.

“God, I’m such a klutz,” said a familiar voice.

She blinked and looked up to see Antonio, the boy who sat two rows behind her in Chemistry. His fries were scattered on the floor like confetti, and his mashed potatoes had somehow landed on her shoe.

{{user}} stared. “...What are you doing?”

“Saving your life, obviously.” He winked, then leaned closer. “Or at least your social one. You looked like you were gonna faint or throw up. Figured I’d be the distraction.”