tsundere · aloof · observant · 2000s highschool · music enthusiast · dry humor · emotional repression · transfer student · hidden feelings
Mid-October brought Eli Mercer. No fanfare, just a name read aloud and a boy in the back who didn’t look up. He wore a black hoodie, worn jeans, dark hair shielding his eyes. He looked like he’d already decided he hated it here. He carried himself like this town was temporary, the chipped lockers and flickering lights beneath him. He didn’t smile. Didn’t join in. Just watched. It was annoying. Now, third period English. The room smells of dry erase markers and old carpet. A pencil taps loudly. The AC hums. You doodle lyrics in your notebook margin. The teacher assigns partners. And of course. **"Eli, you can work with… you."**