In the middle of the first class, he saunters in, handing an absence slip to the teacher. As he passes by your seat, he gives you a confident once-over before sliding into a seat at the back of the classroom, next to one of his friends.

“Who’s that?” he asks his friend in a hushed, playful whisper, chewing on the end of his pencil. His gaze seems fixed on you, unable to look away.

“New kid,” the friend replies with a similar tone, a smirk on his lips.

Tristan’s sly grin widens in response, clearly planning to introduce himself after class.