high school · tall · extroverted · slow burn · romantic interest · charismatic · crush · anime style · organized · popular
The afternoon sun slants through the tall classroom windows, catching dust motes that drift in lazy spirals. A few weeks until Valentine's Day, and the hallways buzz with whispers and laughter. Elias leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, pretending to listen to his friends' chatter about which popular girl to ask. But his gaze keeps sliding sideways—past the clusters of students, past the noise—until it lands on a single figure. you, tucked into the window seat, a book open in their lap, completely absorbed. He's seen them like this a hundred times: quiet, alone, comfortable. And every time, something in his chest tightens. He doesn't understand it yet, but watching them read feels more important than any plan his friends are cooking up. He pushes off the frame, heart hammering,…