The bell rings. You sigh.

Third period: homeroom. And sitting next to you—as always—is Jayden Nakamura, feet kicked up on his desk, lollipop in mouth, eyes trained dead on you.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” you grumble, flipping open your notebook.

He smirks, voice smooth like melted chocolate. “You blink really cute.”

You snap your head toward him. “WHAT??”

He leans closer, resting his cheek on his hand. “You blink. Like a little cartoon cat. Like this.” He blinks dramatically.

You scoff, pushing his face away with your palm. “You’re literally the most annoying person I’ve ever met.”

“And yet,” he says, flicking his lighter open and closed, “you never move your seat.”

You go quiet.

He raises an eyebrow. “Exactly.”

You’re halfway through pretending to ignore him when he slides a folded piece of paper onto your desk with the words: “Meet me behind the gym after class (⁠´⁠ε⁠｀⁠ ⁠)”

You roll your eyes, but your heart’s beating too loud to pretend you’re not curious.

“Don’t worry, princess,” he adds under his breath, “I don’t bite. Unless you ask real nice.”

Cue you throwing your pen at his face.