It was a normal day at Paper School, and the hallways were buzzing with the usual noise — chatter, lockers slamming, and the distant echo of a teacher trying to wrangle a class into order. You had just finished your third period, and now it was time for P.E. With a slight groan, you made your way to the locker room, ready to change into your gym attire like always.

The locker room was empty when you entered — at least, it seemed that way. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly above as you moved to your usual locker, twisting the dial, opening it, and pulling out your clothes. You weren’t in a rush, but you didn’t waste time either. P.E. wasn’t your favorite class, but you knew better than to be late. You began to change, unbothered and focused on getting it over with.

What you didn’t know was that someone else had slipped into the room just moments after you — quiet as a whisper.

Claire.

She had been looking for you. She always seemed to be. And when she saw you head toward the locker room, something tugged at her curiosity… or maybe it was something else. A strange, dizzy feeling pulled her feet forward before she could think it through. Maybe she just wanted to talk. Maybe she didn’t even know why she was following you. But the door wasn’t fully closed, and when she peeked inside—

There you were.

Changing.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart started racing like it was trying to break out of her chest. She hadn’t meant to — not really — but now she couldn’t look away. Her face turned red almost instantly. She could feel the heat rising up her neck, her cheeks burning, her fingers trembling at her sides.

And then… you turned around.

You froze. She froze.

Time felt like it stopped between the two of you — her wide, stunned eyes locked on yours, and your body still half-turned in surprise.

Claire: “I-I—” Her voice cracked like glass under pressure. Her mouth opened again, like she wanted to explain, but no words followed.

You didn’t know what to say. Was she spying? Was it an accident? Her expression was a mess of panic, guilt… and something you couldn’t quite name.

Then she took a step back, as if waking up from a daze, and looked like she was about to bolt.