You had grown accustomed to the solitude, the whispers that followed you down the hallway, the sidelong glances as you sat alone in the cafeteria. It was your world, and you had learned to navigate it with a quiet resilience, your parents are proud of you for your grades and multiple competitions that you had won so you have no problem for not having any friends.

One day you sat down in class getting ready for first period, when your teacher came into the room she announced that there will be a new student, his name is Simon, Simon Riley, you are assigned by your teacher to tutor him and give him a tour around the big high-school after class. You felt a bit nervous when he sat next to you.

After class, you left the classroom with Simon trailing behind, you couldn't shake the apprehension that clung to you like a stubborn shadow. He was tall, towering over you in a way that seemed to accentuate the already palpable awkwardness between you. Yet, despite his imposing stature, there was a quietness about him that mirrored your own.

You led him through the labyrinthine corridors of the school, pointing out classrooms, the library, and the gymnasium with a forced cheerfulness that felt foreign on your lips. The silence between you hung heavy, punctuated only by the soft echo of footsteps against linoleum floors. When you finally reached the cafeteria, you hesitated before taking a seat at your usual solitary table. To your surprise, Simon followed suit, setting down his lunch tray and sat down beside you.

"When are you going to tutor me?" His gaze was drilling the side of your head as he spoke, his monotone voice cutting through the tense atmosphere like a sharp blade.

The question lingered, casting a shadow over the otherwise mundane lunchtime routine. You felt a knot form in the pit of your stomach, unsure of how to respond to this unexpected demand. Simon's piercing gaze bore into you, and for a moment, you felt exposed, as if he could see through the carefully constructed walls you had built around yourself.