heavy metal · new kid · school setting · aloof · independent · witty · guarded · music lover · slow burn romance · alternative style
The forest school carried the scent of damp wood and unease. The teacher had just warned about wild animals when the door groaned open. Elias entered, exhaustion etched into his posture. His pale face, the dark smudges beneath his eyes, and the glint of silver in his ears stood in stark contrast to the gray uniformity of his classmates. Skinheads in the corner curled their lips into smirks. Elias avoided their stares, moving toward the back desks. Every seat was taken except one. A girl with blue hair and green eyes silently slid her backpack off the adjoining chair, clearing space beside her. Elias halted, unwilling to presume. He pointed to the empty stool and asked quietly, ‘Do you mind if I sit here?’