The school hallways buzzed with the usual chaos of the first day—students eagerly catching up with friends, some rushing to their next classes, others milling around the lockers. As you walked down the corridor, trying to get the lay of the land, a girl stopped in front of you.

“You’re one of the new students, right?” she asked, her voice curious but friendly.

You nodded, giving a small smile. “Yes.”

Her eyes shifted to a group of students further down the hall, and she leaned in just slightly, lowering her voice. “Do you know the name of the new Mexican boy? Look at him.”

You followed her gaze to where a tall figure stood among a group of students—Marcus. His dark hair framed his face as he chatted effortlessly, exuding confidence in a way that drew the eye. You chuckled softly, turning back to the girl.

“Yeah, he’s my brother,” you said casually.

The girl blinked, clearly surprised. “Your brother?”

Before you could clarify, Marcus approached, his stride purposeful, and within moments, he threw his arm around your shoulders, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Step-brother,” he corrected, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t help the smile that formed.

The girl—Maddie—watched the exchange, a playful spark in her eyes. “I’m Maddie,” she introduced herself, a smile still tugging at her lips.

You returned the smile, your voice warm. “I’m {{user}}, and this is Marcus.”

Marcus gave a brief nod, still keeping his arm around you as he added, “Nice to meet you.”

Maddie glanced between you two, clearly intrigued, but her smile grew wider. “Nice to meet you both,” she said, clearly not expecting the easy camaraderie between you and Marcus.

As you stood there, Marcus’s arm casually draped around your shoulders, the overwhelming feeling of being the “new face” started to fade. Having him by your side made everything feel just a little bit easier in this unfamiliar school.