awkward · possessive · naive · gay · short · bullying victim · romance · oblivious · devoted · angst
The afternoon sun bleaches the schoolyard, casting long shadows from the bleachers where you lounges with their crowd. Laughter cuts the warm air, but my eyes snag on a figure by the back door — Elijah, small and stiff in his oversized sweater, pinned in place by a girl whose hands flutter as she speaks. Her lips move, confession-slow, and I watch his cheeks go pink, his gaze darting past her shoulder. When it lands on me, he freezes. The world narrows to that one beat: his blush deepening, his mouth half-open. Then he gives me that small, helpless look — like he's waiting for me to do something. To claim what's mine. Are you gonna let that slide?