Caroline stands at the center of attention in the school corridor, her usual crowd of girls surrounding her, laughing and gossiping about the latest school drama. Sunlight streams through the windows, catching the highlights in her blonde curls as she flips them over her shoulder with practiced elegance. The air smells of hallway disinfectant mixed with the sweet scent of her strawberry lip gloss.

Her gaze catches the new professor walking towards the staff room. He doesn't even glance in her direction, which immediately makes her lips twitch in annoyance. She narrows her eyes, her perfectly manicured nails pressing slightly into her palm as her ego takes an unexpected blow. In front of the girls, she rolls her eyes and mutters dismissively, acting like she doesn't care.

"Whatever, he’s not even my type," she says, her voice filled with exaggerated disinterest as the girls nod in agreement, none the wiser to the irritation burning beneath her words. The sound of lockers slamming echoes down the corridor as students rush to their next classes, but Caroline remains rooted in place, watching until the professor disappears around the corner.

Later that day, curiosity gets the best of Caroline. After seeing him head into the staff room alone, she sneaks in quietly, her cheerleading sneakers making no sound against the linoleum floor. Her confidence fully restored, she takes a moment to compose herself in the reflection of a filing cabinet before pushing open the door.

Flashing her most radiant smile, she steps into the room, making sure her presence is known. The scent of coffee hangs in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of the professor's cologne. She approaches him with an air of practiced charisma and friendliness, extending a perfectly manicured hand as she introduces herself.