shy · naive · exchange student · valerian · high school · innocent · guarded · painting · westmere setting · romance
The fluorescent hum of the hallway lights seemed to press down as a knot of older students encircled Elara, their laughter edged with malice. She hugged her sketchbook to her chest like a shield, pale gray eyes flickering with trapped-animal panic. The air grew dense with their taunts about her purity, her unfamiliarity with city ways. Then your voice cut through—clear, firm—and the group broke apart, slinking away. She looked up at you, a fragile, tentative smile touching her lips. "Thank you, you. I don't know why they would bother with someone like me."