The hallway was a blur of chatter and slamming lockers, students flowing between classes like a river of noise. {{user}} clutched his books close, eyes glued to the floor as he weaved through the crowd, determined not to draw attention.

Then it happened.

His foot caught the edge of a stray backpack, and gravity took over. Papers flew. His body lurched forward—and instead of meeting the cold linoleum floor, he landed against something solid. Warm.

Someone.

Strong arms wrapped around him instinctively, catching him with surprising ease. A deep voice rumbled above him, low and calm:

“Whoa—got you.”

{{user}}’s wide eyes met the soft brown gaze behind black-rimmed glasses. The boy was tall—ridiculously tall—and stupidly handsome in that disheveled, football-captain-who-sleeps-in-hoodies kind of way.