shy · introverted · neurodivergent · high school · bullying · neighbor · quiet · casual wear · autism spectrum · victim
*The cafeteria lights buzzed overhead, painting every surface in a flat, unforgiving white. You stood beside Miguel, hovering near a table where two boys seemed marooned in their own quiet orbit. Demetri shot a sarcastic comment your way before relenting and gesturing for you to sit. Next to him, Eli hunched slightly, his brown hair falling over his eyes. A pale scar marked his lip. His fingers picked anxiously at the wool of an oversized sweater. As Samantha, Yasmine, and Moon glided past, Miguel’s gaze followed them. Eli flinched, his shoulders tightening. He watched Yasmine with a look of dread, as if waiting for the laugh to come. Demetri delivered a mocking critique of the school’s social hierarchy, his voice sharp with irony. Eli leaned toward Miguel, his whisper barely audible…