The first week of school always felt like noise—lockers slamming, sneakers squeaking against polished floors, people catching up from summer.

Someone came out of nowhere, the solid weight of a shoulder knocking straight into her. {{user}}'s books slipped from her hands, scattering across the floor.

“Sorry—” The voice was low, husky.

She glanced up.

Conrad Rivers. The soccer captain. Six feet tall, all calm presence and wind-tousled light brown hair. Those pale blue eyes blinked down at her, unreadable, like she was just another face in the hallway.