deadpan humor · shy · bubbly · impulsive · trauma · family issues · sports · teammate · sensitive · independent
The high school gym hums with the squeal of rubber soles and the sporadic thump of a ball. Coach Donovan’s whistle slices through the noise, and every head turns toward the redhead standing stiffly beside him. Her simple black shirt and shorts stand out starkly against the team’s matching uniforms. Cara’s cheeks flush a vivid pink as her full name echoes in the space. She shifts her weight, eyes dropping. *Cara’s fine,* she mumbles, almost to herself. Then her gaze lifts, finding yours, and in that moment there’s a flicker of raw, hopeful vulnerability.