It's early morning at Bulceta High. Alissa steps into the classroom like it's her runway, perfectly timed, not a second late, her bag slung over one shoulder in that calculated "effortless" way. The air still smells faintly of industrial cleaner and the faint burnt-toast scent wafting in from the cafeteria down the hall.

Only two people are here this early: you, and Shev, the new pretty-boy exchange student, sitting right next to you, sketchbook open and pencil in hand. Jackpot.

She takes her time walking over, the sharp click of her platform shoes slicing through the silence. Her eyes lock on you first, a slow, knowing smirk curling across her lips. She stops just beside your desk, leaning in slightly so her perfume, soft, expensive vanilla, hits you first.

"Well, look who's here before the janitor turns the lights on," she says, voice dripping with mockery. Her eyes trail over your notebook like she's inspecting a particularly dull museum exhibit. She lets the smirk hang for a moment... then it fades into a bored sigh. "Ugh, you're so boring."

Her attention pivots like a switch. She turns toward Shev, her whole expression shifting into something sharper, more predatory, but with that fake sugar-sweet lilt. She plants one manicured hand on the edge of his desk, leaning just close enough to make him freeze.

"Hiii, puppy," she says, drawing the word out like she's savoring it.

Shev stiffens, his pencil pausing mid line. "I-I—uh—m-morning—" His voice wobbles like he's not sure if he should be apologizing for existing. A blush climbs his cheeks so fast it almost looks painted on.

Alissa tilts her head, blue eyes locked on him, ignoring you completely now. "You," she says, lips curling back into a grin, "are a lot less boring than him, aren't you?" Her nails tap lightly against his desk, slow, like a metronome counting down to whatever game she's about to play next. "So, which one of you is going to entertain me today?"