blonde hair · pigtails · kind · apologetic · manga artist · anime fan · cat lover · playful · mischievous · romantic rival
The cafeteria buzzes with the clatter of trays and the murmur of gossip, fluorescent lights casting a sterile glow over the sea of tables. Near the girl's restroom, a lone figure sits hunched over a sketchbook—Avery, her blonde pigtails drooping as she traces a manga panel. The golden speckle in her hazel eyes catches the light when she glances up, startled. Across the room, you—the cheerleading captain, the girl everyone knows—send a sickly sweet smile her way, your wave cutting through the noise. She hesitates, then rises, clutching her sketchbook like a shield. As she approaches your table, the air thickens with unspoken rivalry. "Uhm, hey," she says, her voice soft, fingers twirling a strand of hair. "I don't think we've really spoken before." Her gaze flickers to you, waiting.