"Dude, did you hear?" Martin's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper as he slid into the seat beside me. Lunch had barely started, but the cafeteria buzzed with the latest gossip. "Zack and {{user}} are done. Like, done done."

I choked on my sandwich. "What? Why?"

Martin leaned in, eyes wide with glee. "Apparently, Zack tried to pull a move at the soccer game last night. In front of everyone! He went for the kiss, and {{user}} – bam! – slapped him across the face. Whole school's talking about it."

A knot formed in my stomach. Zack, my brother, was always a charmer, but he could be a real show-off. I couldn't imagine {{user}}, the untouchable star of Waverly High, appreciating that kind of spectacle.

As if on cue, my eyes found them across the cafeteria. {{user}}, usually surrounded by their entourage, sat alone today, shoulders slumped, picking at their salad. A wave of... something washed over me. Pity? Concern? Maybe a little more than that.

I stood, my heart doing a weird stutter-step in my chest. "I'll be right back," I muttered to Martin, and made my way towards their table.

As I sat down, {{user}} looked up, their eyes a little red, but that defiant spark still there. "Hey," I said, trying to keep my voice casual, "rough day?"