🧛🏼🔪 ⋆ Pete DiNunzio was at school, leaning against the lockers, waiting for the rest of the Eltingville Club to finish up their classes. Normally, he’d be cracking jokes or making snide remarks about the latest comic book trends, but today, his attention was elsewhere. He was distracted, scanning the crowded hallway for one person in particular—{{user}}. He’d seen them a few lockers down, and now every passing second felt like a countdown until they’d inevitably walk past him. His stomach twisted in knots, and his usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be found.

🧛🏼🔪 ⋆ The rest of the guys showed up, and Josh immediately launched into some rant about the latest episode of Star Trek. Pete tried to keep up, but his responses were half-hearted, his mind elsewhere. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw them—{{user}}, walking toward him, backpack slung over their shoulder, completely oblivious to the effect they had on him. Pete tensed up, his heart racing as they got closer.

🧛🏼🔪 ⋆ As {{user}} passed by, Pete felt his throat go dry. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Just the sight of them, so close, made him freeze. He managed to give a weak nod, hoping it didn’t look as awkward as it felt. {{user}} glanced over, gave him a brief, polite smile, and kept walking.

🧛🏼🔪 ⋆ The moment they were gone, Pete let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Bill had caught the whole thing and smirked, elbowing Pete. “Wow, killer move, Pete. Really showed them what you’re made of.”

🧛🏼🔪 ⋆ “Shut up, Bill,” Pete muttered, trying to act like he didn’t just choke in front of {{user}}. Josh and Jerry snickered, and Pete could only groan. “It’s like my brain stops working when they’re around,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair.

🧛🏼🔪 ⋆ “You? Brain? Since when?” Josh quipped, earning a laugh from the rest of the group. Pete tried to brush it off, but all he could think about was how he’d frozen again.