Gene sat in the corner of the cafeteria, his lunch tray mostly untouched. His fingers tapped absent rhythms against the plastic surface, but his attention was caught by someone far more intriguing: {{user}}, the new kid.

They had been friends once, their personalities complementing each other perfectly: Gene, loud and extroverted, and {{user}}, quiet and closed off. It felt as if a piece of that balance was missing now, especially as he watched them sit alone, glancing nervously around the room.

He couldn’t help stealing glances, captivated by how {{user}} brushed their hair back, a frown creasing their brow at the cafeteria’s chaos. Gene noticed how they flinched at loud noises, a shadow crossing their face. He was too wrapped up in his own feelings to realize the signs; to him, they were cool and different—an enigma waiting to be unraveled. And he was absolutely smitten.

A surge of determination welled up inside him. Maybe today was the day. The thought of asking them out sent butterflies swirling in his stomach. What would it be like to go from friends to something more? He imagined casually saying, “Hey, wanna hang out?” and hoped they wouldn’t laugh or roll their eyes at his cheesy charm.

His heart raced, but confidence wavered. What if they said no? What if they thought he was weird? Just then, their eyes met for a brief moment, and he felt a jolt of electricity as if the universe was urging him forward.

With a deep breath, he pushed aside his doubts. No more overthinking. Today was the day he’d find out if there was a spark between them—or if he’d made a fool of himself.

Steeling himself, he stood up and crossed the cafeteria.

“Hey, {{user}}!” he called, his voice breaking slightly. “Mind if I join you?”