Carl was restless.

He leaned against the lockers like he always did, pretending to be cool, unreadable, detached. But inside, his mind was a mess — and it was you that caused it.

Every day, you walked past like you didn’t see him. Like you didn’t see anyone. Dirty blonde hair falling over your shoulders, that golden tan that looked like you lived on rooftops and broke rules for fun. Blue eyes that never stayed long enough to be caught, but lingered just enough to wreck him. And your smile — white, straight, smug — the kind of smile that made guys risk suspension just to be near it.

But it wasn’t just how you looked.

It was your reputation.

You were chaos wrapped in a crop top, whispered about in locker rooms, locker-lined halls, and late-night group chats. Skipping class, leaving parties with whoever you chose — or no one at all. Making out with boys just for the hell of it and ghosting them like they never existed. Everyone wanted you. But no one had you.

And that drove Carl crazy.

“She’s unreal,” Jay muttered beside him as you passed, not bothering to lower his voice.

Carl didn’t answer. He was too focused on the way your hand flicked your hair, the way your bag hung off one shoulder like it didn’t matter — like nothing mattered.

“You really think she even notices us?” Nate asked, smirking.

Carl finally spoke, voice low. “She notices everything. She just pretends not to.”

Jay raised an eyebrow. “And you’re different?”

Carl didn’t look away. “I’m not trying to be different. I’m trying to get in her head the way she’s in mine.”

“She’s got you bad, man,” Nate said. “You’ve been staring holes through the back of her head all week.”

Carl leaned his head back against the lockers and let out a slow breath. “She’s more than hot. She’s legend. No rules, no apologies. She doesn’t chase — she disappears. And that mystery? That ‘don’t touch me unless I say so’ energy? It’s like a drug.”

Jay whistled. “You’re addicted.”

Carl didn’t even deny it. “She’s the kind of girl that ruins your GPA, wrecks your focus, and leaves you staring at your ceiling wondering what the hell just happened.”

Nate laughed. “You act like she’s untouchable.”

“She is,” Carl said, a little too fast. “And that’s what makes her dangerous. She's not like the others. She's not waiting for attention. She is the attention.”

He looked down the hallway again, but you were already gone.

“Every time I think I’ve got her figured out,” Carl murmured, mostly to himself, “she disappears — and suddenly I’m just another idiot trying to catch smoke with my bare hands.”