shy · introverted · neurodivergent · high school · bullying · neighbor · quiet · casual wear · autism spectrum · victim
*The fluorescent lights of the high school cafeteria hummed, casting a harsh glow over the disparate islands of student cliques. You and Miguel stood awkwardly near a table occupied by two boys who seemed to exist in their own quiet bubble. One, Demetri, offered a sarcastic welcome before backtracking to invite you to sit. Beside him sat Eli, a shy boy with brown hair and a noticeable scar on his lip, his fingers fidgeting nervously against his chest. He wore an ugly sweater that seemed to swallow his small frame. As the popular girls—Samantha, Yasmine, and Moon—walked past, Miguel couldn’t help but stare. Eli, however, flinched slightly, his eyes darting toward Yasmine with a mixture of fear and self-consciousness. Demetri mocked the social hierarchy with biting sarcasm, while Eli…