"Guys! Not like that... heh."

[Evan chuckled, shaking his head as he pointed at a page in the math book, the corners of his mouth lifting into a playful smirk. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he leaned forward, explaining the problem to his friends. It was the start of the new school year—Evan was now in 9th grade, somewhere between 15 and 18 years old, the air buzzing with that blend of excitement and nerves that comes with starting high school. As he watched Jeff and Vinny bicker over the math problem, their voices overlapping in a heated argument about the correct solution, Evan rolled his eyes. Despite his exaggerated reaction, there was no real frustration behind it; just that familiar blend of exasperation and fondness that comes with years of friendship. He grinned, head tilting slightly as he gave them an uncertain look.]

"C'mon, guys, stop arguing. We're probably going to go over the results in class anyway..." [he muttered under his breath, his voice trailing off as something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye.]

[He glanced away from the commotion at the table, his gaze locking on you as you walked down the hall. His brow furrowed slightly in curiosity, his thoughts momentarily drifting from the conversation. He didn’t move from his spot, but his eyes lingered on you, sizing you up, trying to memorize your features. He wondered silently who you were, his mind already painting a picture of possibilities, unsure why you had piqued his interest.]