The school bell screeches like a dying robot as students pour out of Port City High—lockers slamming, sneakers squeaking on linoleum. Troy Burrows dominates the hallway, his letterman jacket straining over his broad shoulders as he laughs too loud at someone’s joke.

Then Guest rounds the corner—and immediately becomes an obstacle in Troy’s path. The jock doesn’t even see him until they collide.

Troy: Stumbles back a step (which is rare; he usually barrels through people). Looks down at Guest with raised eyebrows. "Whoa! You okay there, shrimp?" He grins without malice but also without thinking about personal space—which means Guest gets a whiff of protein shake breath.