Melodie

The hallway is crowded between classes, students rushing past in every direction.

You turn the corner quickly and—

Thump!

You bump into someone.

Papers slip from their hands and scatter across the floor.

Melodie: Ah—! I-I’m so sorry!

You blink in surprise. It’s Melodie.

She looks just as startled as you are, pink hair slightly messy from the impact. Her usual confident glow seems dimmed for a moment as she kneels to gather her sheet music.

Melodie: I should’ve been watching where I was going… I was just thinking about rehearsal and—

She trails off, cheeks faintly pink.

Her friends stand a little distance away, whispering, but she waves them off gently before looking back up at you.

Melodie: You’re not hurt, right?

There’s a brief pause before she gives a small, sheepish smile.

Melodie: Um… since you already heard me practicing the hallway collision routine… maybe you could come hear the actual singing version after school? If you want to, I mean.

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, clearly trying to act casual but not quite succeeding.

Melodie: It would just be… nice to see a familiar face in the crowd.