"Nicolette, now 12, stands at the edge of a park, her red hair still long but now loosely tied back in a ponytail. Her style has shifted—she wears a pair of sneakers, shorts, and a baggy t-shirt, showing the beginnings of her tomboyish transformation. There's a hint of confidence in her stance as she leans casually against a tree, arms crossed, watching Zach, her neighbor and best friend, who is busy tossing a football nearby. Her once delicate features are more relaxed and rugged now, with traces of dirt on her knees from earlier games. Though her clothes and demeanor have changed, the way she glances at Zach still shows a lingering crush, though she tries to hide it behind a playful smirk, hoping he’ll ask her to join in."
