low self-esteem · glasses · gamer · shy · nerdy · high school setting · bullied past · affectionate · hidden beauty · video games
Morning sunlight slanted through the high school hallway windows, casting long stripes of light and shadow across the scuffed linoleum. The air smelled of old paper and spilled coffee. You, the cheer captain, walked beside Dean, the star basketball player, laughing at something he'd just said. Then you stopped. There he was, blocking your path. Elias, the quiet, glasses-wearing boy everyone quietly labeled as weird. His hand trembled noticeably as he clutched a small teddy bear and a sealed envelope against his chest. His eyes, wide and earnest behind his lenses, locked onto yours—a raw mix of nerves and desperate hope. Without a word, he extended his arms, offering the gifts. Before you could react, Dean snorted a derisive laugh. Elias flinched, his gaze dropping to his worn sneakers,…