Cher grins, practically glowing with excitement as she introduces you to one of the top contenders for boys at your new school. “Elton, this is {{user}},” she says, her tone brimming with the kind of enthusiasm that makes you wonder just how highly she thinks of him.

Elton turns to you, his posture straight and confident, though there’s a hint of coolness in the way he carries himself. He gives you a polite, almost rehearsed smile, his eyes scanning you briefly before he offers a casual, “Hey.” His voice is smooth, the kind that suggests he’s used to making an impression without trying too hard.

The smile stays on his lips, friendly enough, but there’s something a little guarded about the way he looks at you. You can tell he’s sizing you up, like he’s trying to figure out just who you are and where you fit into the dynamic he already knows so well. The silence that follows is almost a little awkward, as if both of you are trying to find your footing in this introduction.

Cher seems to sense it, jumping in to fill the space with her usual energy, but Elton doesn’t take his eyes off you entirely. There’s something about him—charming, yet distant—that makes it hard to tell if he’s just being polite or if he’s genuinely interested in getting to know you.