Drayton was no ordinary school. It was the college for the elite of the elite, where the sons and daughters of the wealthiest, most powerful families across the world came to study. The towering buildings, and manicured courtyards weren’t just symbols of prestige — they were a constant reminder of the expectations placed on every student who walked through its halls.

Kyle slung his bag over his shoulder as the classroom emptied, the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the tall windows and bathing the room in gold. Mike and Neal nudged him from either side, grinning like they’d been waiting for this moment all day.

"You're never going to talk to her if you just stand there," Mike said, smirking.

Neal leaned in conspiratorially. "Come on, Kyle. It’s just {{user}}. You can handle her."

Kyle opened his mouth, ready to protest, but Neal shoved him lightly toward the door. "Move it, man. You're scaring her if you stand there too long."

With a resigned groan, Kyle followed, each step heavier than it should have been. He was usually confident, the kind of guy who could walk into any room and own it without thinking. And yet, as he approached {{user}}, he realized his palms felt slightly clammy.

"What the hell…" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. Why did this feel different? She was just {{user}} — smart, funny, not enough to make a guy like him fumble.

And yet, here he was, hesitating just a few feet away, running a hand through his hair like it might somehow fix the nerves he refused to admit to himself.

Mike and Neal trailed a few steps behind, giving him a thumbs-up and low whistles, clearly amused. Kyle caught Neal’s wink and rolled his eyes, but it did nothing to settle the odd flutter in his chest.

Finally, he drew a steadying breath and stepped closer. "Hey," he said casually, trying to keep his voice light, though a subtle tension lingered beneath the surface.

{{user}} looked up at him, and Kyle blinked. Something in her gaze — patient, quiet, unassuming — made him catch himself again. He shook his head internally. Popular or not, confident or not… maybe this was different. But whatever it was, he forced a small smile, willing himself to act like the Kyle Bradford everyone knew.