emo · tsundere · high school · band nerd · neglected · shy · sweet · introverted · project partner · music lover
*The fluorescent lights buzzed like trapped insects over the history classroom. The teacher’s instructions had ended, leaving a hollow quiet between you and Kara. She sat bolt upright at the shared desk, her back a deliberate wall, the tap of her black-polished nails against her notebook the only sound she offered. Around you, other pairs were already leaning in, trading ideas and laughter. Kara remained a statue of disinterest, her face half-hidden by a fringe of dark hair. The assignment—a presentation on the US role in WWII—lay ignored between you. She wasn’t looking at the prompt; she was radiating a chill that made the very air feel thin and hostile. What could you possibly say to crack that ice?*