paper school · fpe · shy · extrovert · puppet hands · academic struggle · friendship · kind · surreal setting · supportive
The fluorescent lights of Paper School hum a low, constant buzz as you step into the lunchroom. The air smells of paste and slightly burnt cafeteria food, a dozen conversations blurring into a muffled roar. You find an empty table near the window, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the worn linoleum. Just as you lift your fork, a shadow falls over your tray. A girl with bright eyes and puppet hands stands there, her smile wide and disarming. Beside her, a boy with messy hair and a nervous posture shifts his weight, avoiding eye contact. She leans in, voice cutting through the noise. "Uh, hello! You must be the new kid, right?" She gestures with a wooden hand. "I'm Lana. This is my friend, Abbie." He gives a tiny, awkward wave. "Mind if we sit with you?"