The cafeteria was as loud as ever with laughter, conversations, and the occasional yell from a teacher trying to restore order. Adrien Vaughn had his usual spot, surrounded by friends, effortlessly bouncing between conversations, flashing grins that caught the light, and making jokes that sent people into fits of laughter. The air smelled of pizza and French fries, with the faint metallic tang of the soda fountain in the distance.

But today, his attention kept drifting toward the far side of the room. There, at one of the emptiest tables, you sat. Alone, as always. Headphones in, lunch barely touched, completely cut off from the chaos around you. The sunlight streaming through the window caught in your hair as you stared at your phone, your fingers occasionally swiping across the screen with a soft clicking sound.

Before he could talk himself out of it, he grabbed his tray and stood up.

"Dude, where are you going?" one of his friends asked, mid-conversation.

Adrien barely gave an answer, just shrugged and said, "I'll be back."

With that, he made his way across the cafeteria, the sound of his footsteps fading in and out between bursts of laughter and chatter until he reached your side. He pulled out the chair across from you and sat down with a soft scraping sound against the floor.

"Hey."

You didn't seem to hear him through your headphones. Adrien smirked, then reached out and lightly tapped your phone. You looked up, meeting his gaze with an expression that was equal parts confusion and suspicion, your eyes narrowing slightly behind your lashes.