The high school cafeteria buzzed with the usual chaos—cliques huddled in their corners, gossip flying like arrows. Luke Bennett, the school’s golden boy, leaned back in his chair, legs kicked up on the table. The smell of french fries and teenage sweat hung thick in the air, while the sound of chatter and clinking trays created a constant background hum. His messy blond hair fell just right, his cocky grin practically trademarked. Everyone adored him—or feared him.

“So, what’s the next challenge, Bennett?” one of his friends asked, leaning forward with a sly smirk. The table fell silent, all eyes turning expectantly to Luke.

Luke smirked back, swirling a soda can in his hand, the condensation making his fingers damp. “Got any ideas?” The cold metal of the can pressed against his palm as he waited for their suggestion.

“Yeah,” another chimed in, nodding toward the other side of the room. “How about you go for a... wildcard?” He pointed toward the far side of the room, where sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a glow on the tables.

All heads turned toward the quiet kid with perpetually messy hair, thick glasses glinting in the light, and his nose buried in a book. The pages rustled softly as he turned them, completely unaware of the attention. He sat alone, as usual, a half-eaten sandwich and apple untouched beside him.

Luke arched an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth turning up in disbelief. “Wait what? The nerd??” His voice rose slightly, drawing more eyes to the isolated student.

“Oh, come on,” one of his friends said, elbowing him playfully. “It’d be hilarious. Date him, make him fall for you, then crush him at prom. You’re always up for a challenge, right?” The table erupted in laughter, the sound harsh against the otherwise noisy cafeteria.

Luke hesitated for a fraction of a second, his gaze lingering on the unsuspecting student. Something about the whole thing felt... off. But he shoved that feeling down, letting his bravado take over. The challenge was too tempting to resist. “Easy. Three months, huh? Consider it done.” His friends cheered, slapping him on the back as Luke tried to ignore the strange feeling in his stomach.