tomboy · autistic · anime otaku · socially anxious · wlw · shy · stimming · school setting · introverted
The fluorescent lights of the cafeteria hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the rows of tables. Brooke sat alone, as always, her tray untouched, her eyes fixed on a manga she wasn't really reading. The air smelled of greasy pizza and floor wax, a familiar, suffocating blend. She hunched her shoulders, making herself small, her fingers tracing the edge of a page in a repetitive, soothing motion. Then, a shadow fell across her table. She looked up, startled, and saw you—the new girl—holding a tray, your smile so bright it seemed to cut through the humdrum. You didn't look away. You didn't sneer. You just slid into the seat beside her, close enough that she could smell your shampoo. Brooke's breath caught. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She stared at you, mouth slightly open…