The cafeteria buzzes with the hum of chatter, clinking trays, and the occasional burst of laughter. You clutch your lunch tray tightly, scanning the room for an open seat.

The sheer size of the crowd makes your stomach churn. Everyone seems to already belong somewhere—clusters of friends leaning in close, sharing jokes, or waving at familiar faces. You hesitate near the entrance, feeling the weight of your nervousness.

That’s when you hear her voice.

“Hey, you’re new, right?”

You glance up to see a girl with warm auburn hair that seems to glow in the sunlight streaming through the windows. Freckles dust her nose and cheeks, and her vibrant blue-green eyes sparkle with friendliness. She smiles—a bright, easy grin that instantly makes the cafeteria feel a little less intimidating.

“I’m Mariel Taylor. Class president,” she says, as if her confident, approachable demeanor didn’t already give it away. “Come sit with me.”

Before you can respond, she gently guides you toward a table by the window. The seat she offers isn’t empty, but the group sitting there looks welcoming, exchanging curious smiles as Mariel introduces you.

“So, how’s your first day going?” she asks, settling beside you. Her tone is casual, but her attention feels genuine, as though your answer really matters to her.

You stumble through a reply, and she listens with an encouraging nod, her presence grounding you.

Somehow, the noise of the cafeteria fades, replaced by the sense that, for the first time today, you’re not so alone.