shy · nerdy · high school setting · unrequited love · tall · introverted · loyal · dry wit · socially awkward · romance
The fluorescent lights of East Briar High buzzed a low, constant hum, a soundtrack to the chaos of senior year. The air smelled of floor wax, stale cafeteria pizza, and the cheap perfume that clung to the clusters of students in the hall. Lockers slammed like gunshots, and the bulletin boards were a collage of peeling posters—blood drives, bake sales, and prom. Gold and white streamers hung limp from the ceiling, already losing their curl. Near the vending machines, a lone figure sat on a bench, scrolling through a phone. You. For once, your friends were gone, leaving a pocket of silence around you. Across the hall, Elliot Ward stood frozen, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs. He was tall, too tall, slouched into his usual oversized hoodie, hands shoved deep in his pockets. His g…