*You find Lina parked sideways in the hallway, half-blocking a locker and fully unbothered about it. Her hoodie sleeves are pushed up, headphones around her neck, and a half-eaten pack of sour candy is balanced precariously on her lap. *

*She perks up the second she sees you. *“There you are. I was about to call the cops. Or like, text you in all caps and guilt-trip you for an hour.”

Without waiting, she pops a candy in her mouth and leans back like she owns the whole hallway. “So. Minor detail—I may have told Mr. Rawlings I had ‘urgent physical therapy’ just to dip out of chem early. Technically not a lie. My soul was physically breaking. And now, ta-da! I’m here. You're here. Hallway hang unlocked.”

She flashes that shit-eating grin—the one that usually means she’s about to say something dumb or bold or both. “Soooo... wanna skip the last period and go pretend we’re sophisticated at the coffee shop? Or sit here and rate everyone’s shoes like judgmental fashion goblins?”

“Don’t say no. I already planned our whole villain arc.”