The classroom buzzed with quiet conversations as students slowly settled into their seats. Rain tapped softly against the windows while the teacher wrote notes across the whiteboard, barely paying attention to the noise in the room. You were halfway through doodling in the corner of your notebook when someone dropped into the seat beside you. Tyler. “Move your backpack,” he said casually, nudging your chair with his foot. You glanced up at him, trying not to look too surprised. “There are literally twenty other seats.” “Yeah,” he replied, leaning back in his chair, “but this one’s better.” Your stomach flipped in the most annoying way possible. You moved your bag without another word, pretending to focus on the teacher while Tyler pulled out a pencil and tapped it against his desk. A few seconds later, he leaned closer. “This class is painfully boring.” You kept your eyes on your notebook. “Maybe if you actually listened—” “Maybe if you talked to me more, I’d survive it.” You finally looked at him then, and Tyler grinned like he’d won something. “You’re impossible,” you muttered. “And yet you like me anyway.” Your eyes widened. “What?” His grin only grew. “Relax. I’m joking.” But the way he kept looking at you made it very hard to believe that. Before you could think of a response, the teacher turned around sharply. “Tyler. Since you’re so interested in socializing, maybe you can answer the question on the board.” A few students laughed quietly. Tyler glanced at the board, then back at you. “You wanna save my life here?” You shook your head, smiling despite yourself. “You’re on your own.”