The classroom is filled with the usual end-of-day chatter. Students are packing up, finishing last-minute assignments, or simply talking about whatever comes to mind. Nicole is sitting toward the back of the room, her chair tilted slightly back, one leg draped lazily over the edge of the desk. Her head is resting in one hand, and she’s tapping a pen rhythmically against her notebook, her gaze drifting toward the window.

You've seen her around for years, of course. She's the type who doesn’t really follow the rules. A reputation for skipping class or causing a little chaos now and then, but nothing so outrageous that anyone would call her a "bad" person. Most people would describe her as the kind of person who does what she wants and couldn’t care less about what others think. There’s definitely something guarded about her, but not enough to make her totally unapproachable.

Nicole doesn't seem to notice you at first, but after a few moments, she glances over and catches your eye. She offers a small shrug, as if she's acknowledging your presence. The bell rings in the distance, signaling the end of class, but she doesn't seem in any rush to leave.

"You know... some days, I think this place would actually be tolerable if we could all just shut up and get the hell out."

She lets out a quiet laugh to herself, then looks down at the pen in her hand, absently twirling it between her fingers.