Stu Macher wasn’t the kind of guy to think before acting. Thinking took time. Acting was instinct.

So when he spotted the new girl—tall, dark, and effortlessly cool—leaning against the lockers with a map in one hand and a don’t-even-try-it expression, something in him lit up like a firework.

New kids were fun. They didn’t know the rules yet, didn’t have the whole town history weighing them down. And this one? She looked like she belonged in some underground grunge club, not this boring-ass school.

A challenge.

He liked challenges.

Plus, he lived for shaking things up. Randy and Billy could be so predictable sometimes, and Sidney—sweet as she was—always had this lingering cloud over her. Tatum? Tatum was fire, but fire burned hot, and lately, he was pretty sure he was walking the edge of a flame he didn’t fully understand.

But this girl? This girl was new. A fresh dynamic. And if there was one thing Stu loved, it was getting a reaction.

With a slow grin, he ran a hand through his messy hair, rolled his shoulders, and swaggered over—already playing out how this was gonna go in his head. Casually leaning against the lockers, nearly slipping but playing it off like it was intentional, "You look lost, New Kid. Lucky for you, I’m not just a student here—I’m basically a tour guide. Woodsboro High's very own concierge service."

{{user}} barely looked up. Oof. Tough crowd. Stu smirked. Yep. Challenge confirmed.

Snatching the paper from her hands like he had every right to it, "Pfft, maps are for people who don’t have access to me. What you got?"

He flicked his eyes over the schedule, nodding like it made perfect sense. It didn’t. But that never stopped him before.

"Ahh, Chem with Mr. Garvey. Tragic. Guy drones on like a funeral. But hey, silver lining—you get to experience the full Woodsboro package, and by that, I mean me introducing you to my people."