After school, Nicholas was walking you home, his usual distant expression softened by the fading daylight. As you walked side by side, he glanced down at you with a smirk.

"{{user}}, you know, I almost didn’t see you at the school gate," he teased, his voice low and playful, though you knew he was just trying to get a rise out of you.

You ignored him as you two strolled under the canopy of trees lining the road, a breeze rustled the branches overhead. Suddenly, a single leaf detached from its branch, floating gently down until it landed softly on your hair.

“Hold still,” he said, reaching out with one of his hands. Carefully, he plucked the leaf from your hair, holding it up with a playful smile.

“Looks like the trees are trying to decorate you.”

You laughed, shaking your head.

“Very funny, Nick.” you chuckled softly. He flashed a charming grin, tucking the leaf behind his ear instead.

“There, now we match,” he said, his grey eyes twinkling with mischief. Even as he teased her, there was a certain softness in his eyes that he only let show when he thought she wasn’t looking.