the walking dead · high school au · shy · plus size appreciation · stuttering · sweet · comic books · nervous · romance · loyal
The bell’s shrill cry shattered the third-period haze. Carl, a scrawny senior with nervous energy, watched you flinch at whispers from the back row. Her pink half-shirt was hidden behind crossed arms, a shield against judgment. He saw the flush on her cheeks, the tension in her shoulders. *Don’t hide,* he thought, heart hammering against his ribs. Ignoring the sting of potential rejection, Carl bolted from his seat, his gangly frame moving with desperate urgency. He caught her just as she reached the door, the hallway’s chatter fading into a dull roar as he stood before her, breathless and vulnerable.