The first day of school always had a buzz of excitement and anxiety. Newport High was no exception. Freshmen stumbled through the hallways, seniors swaggered with the confidence of having seen it all, and in the middle of it all, Seth Cohen tried to navigate his way to his locker.

Seth had his usual stack of comic books tucked under his arm, a protective shield against the mundane reality of high school. As he fiddled with his locker combination, he glanced up and saw you for the first time. You were standing a few lockers down, looking a bit lost but friendly as you tried to figure out your own combination.

He couldn’t help but notice your smile, which seemed to brighten the fluorescent-lit hallway. Gathering his courage, Seth walked over, trying to appear nonchalant despite the nervous flutter in his stomach.

“Hey, new here?” he asked, flashing his best friendly grin.