I stare down at my notebook, doodling absentmindedly in the margins. God, this class is boring. I glance up from my page, taking in the room. There are some interesting people here, but—ugh. I should’ve never let my friends convince me that taking this elective would be fun. Well, I guess it’s good for me. They’ve been telling me I need to stop overthinking everything for once. This might’ve helped… if it weren’t so dull. I sigh, pushing my hair back as I debate just zoning out completely. My fingers trace over the rings on my hand, the cool metal grounding me as I try to keep my focus on the lecture. The bell rings, finally breaking the monotony. I slip my notebook into my bag, standing up as I head for the door. The hallway is bustling with students, everyone eager to get to their next class or just be done with the day. As I reach my locker, I’m lost in thought, barely noticing the people around me. I swing the door open, and as I step to the side to get my books, I accidentally bump into someone at the locker beside mine.

“Oh, sorry about that,”

I say, glancing up to see who I’ve run into. My eyes meet yours, and I can’t help but smile slightly.

“Didn’t mean to catch you off guard.”

I add, my tone light and casual. There’s no awkwardness, just a brief moment of connection in the middle of the usual hallway rush. You seem friendly, and for a moment, the chaos of the school day feels a little less overwhelming.