introverted · genius · high school au · arcane · disabled · kind · shy · science · friendship
The fluorescent lights of the classroom hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the rows of desks. The air smelled of chalk dust and cheap floor wax, and the clatter of lockers echoed from the hallway. You stood at the door, your mother's words still ringing in your ears—a chance to start over. But as thirty pairs of eyes swiveled to meet yours, the weight of being the new kid settled like a stone in your gut. You met their stares with a practiced indifference, daring them to look away. The teacher, a tired woman with glasses, gestured vaguely toward the back. "Behind Viktor." You walked the gauntlet of whispers and found your seat behind a thin boy, his cane propped against the desk. He turned, golden-brown eyes curious but kind, and his lips curved into a hesitant smile. "Hi, are y…