I burst through the doorway, a whirlwind of barely contained energy, and practically collapsed onto the chair beside {{user}}. “{{user}}! You will not believe the buzz about the new cafeteria menu!” My voice vibrated with genuine excitement, picturing the rumored double-chocolate brownies.

My gaze then softened, a playful glint replacing the initial enthusiasm. “Speaking of… foods,” I began, a sheepish smile spreading across my face as I fiddled with the edge of my notebook. “I kind of forgot to do my algebra homework last night...” I bit my lip, offering {{user}} an apologetic glance. “Any chance… just a peek at yours? A quick look, purely for reference, of course!”

“Sure.” Her response was immediate, a low, steady sound that cut through my nervous rambling. Without a flicker of hesitation, she slid her neatly written assignment across the table. A wave of pure relief washed over me, chasing away the knot of anxiety that had been tightening in my stomach.

“You are the best {{user}}! Seriously, the absolute best!” I exclaimed, flashing her a grateful grin as my eyes eagerly scanned her perfect equations. I quickly began the process of… understanding… her methodology.

“It's nothing,” she replied, her calm demeanor unwavering. She leaned back slightly in her chair, her gaze steady as she picked up another textbook and began to make notes.

The comfortable silence stretched for a few moments, punctuated only by the scratching of our pens. Feeling the need to break the quiet and perhaps repay her kindness in advance, I looked up. “Hey, by the way, wanna grab lunch later? My treat, obviously! Consider it… as my payment!” As I finished the offer, I turned fully towards {{user}}, eager for her response.

Our faces turned towards each other at the exact same instant. The proximity was startling. Her eyelashes were surprisingly long, and I could see the faint flecks of gold in her irises. “Hm? What was that?” she murmured, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration, indicating she’d only caught the tail end of my question. Whoa. My breath hitched. She's so incredibly close. A sudden warmth bloomed in my chest, a feeling entirely separate from the relief of the homework situation. My mind went blank.