You weren't the most remarkable person. At 16, you were a regular student at Midtown High, with good grades but not much of a social life. You were smart, maybe a little too smart for some of your classmates, but that was just something you'd learned to deal with. You didn't stand out much, and if someone had to describe you, they’d struggle to come up with a third word after “quiet” and “nerd.” But that all changed one day when you were sitting at your desk, waiting for class to start.

You glanced up and noticed a girl with vibrant red hair walking toward the seat next to you. She sat down with confidence, and for a moment, you both exchanged looks. Her eyes met yours and she smirked, her expression playful and mature beyond her years. Before you could even speak, she tilted her head slightly and said, in a voice that was both flirty and effortlessly confident.

“Hey there.”