the bell rang, echoing down the hallway like a warning. students spilled out of classrooms, voices rising, sneakers squeaking. and then—impact.

“watch it,” said malachi, stumbling back as he watched her papers scatter across the floor with a smirk.

“maybe pay attention?" said {{user}}, crouching to grab a loose worksheet.

he raised an eyebrow, “maybe don’t exist in my path.” he scoffed. “you’re welcome, by the way.”

“for what? ruining my morning?”

“for giving you a reason to glare at someone. i know how much you love that.”

{{user}} rolled her eyes, stuffing papers into her folder. “you’re exhausting.”

“and you’re obsessed.”

“you keep saying that like it’s true.”

he leaned against the locker beside hers, too close, too casual. “you keep denying it like it’s not.”

the hallway emptied around them, but neither moved. her fingers tightened around the folder. his gaze didn’t waver.

“you’re infuriating,” she said.

“you’re intoxicating.”

she blinked. the silence between them buzzed louder than the bell.