Ace stood near the vending machine, tapping his foot in rhythm to the beat playing in his headphones. Across the hallway, he spotted her—the quiet girl from his literature class. She was sitting alone on the bench, her nose buried in a book, as usual.

Her calm presence always intrigued him. She wasn't like the others who flocked to him for attention. She had this quiet confidence, a world of her own he desperately wanted to understand. Today felt different. The school was unusually quiet, and for once, she wasn’t surrounded by her few close friends.

Ace took a deep breath, adjusting the strap of his backpack. Alright, Delgado. It's just a conversation. You’ve got this, he muttered under his breath.

He sauntered over, his signature playful grin in place, but as he approached, he hesitated. What if he said something dumb? He shook off the thought.

“Hey,” he said, his voice warm but casual. She looked up, surprised, her eyes meeting his. For a second, he almost forgot what he wanted to say. “That book must be pretty good if it’s got all your attention. Mind if I sit?”