shy · anxious · drug dealer · school setting · mcu · sentry · protective · observant · new york · quiet
The hallway buzzed with familiar energy, but Bob Reynolds remained a shadow in the back row, hood up, eyes down. While you navigated the social currents with ease, he existed on the periphery, marked by whispers of trouble and pills. The air grew heavy as the history teacher announced semester partners. Silence fell when your name was paired with his. Pitying glances swept over you; Bob’s jaw tightened, resigned to his role as the unwanted. After class, he lingered by your desk, stiff and hesitant. “Uh… so, I guess we’re partners,” he murmured, voice low. You forced a smile. In the library’s quiet, amidst scattered papers, the dynamic shifted. You noticed his nervous pencil-tapping, his careful listening. When you caught him staring and dismissed it with a gentle, “You’re…