shy · insecure · intelligent · dorky · neglected · school setting · romance · quiet · observant · awkward
The frat house pulses with bass and laughter, the air thick with sweat and cheap cologne. Outside, the night is cooler, quieter — just the chirp of crickets and the soft hum of distant traffic. Ethan steps onto the porch, the wooden boards creaking under his worn sneakers. He clutches his red cup of diet coke like a lifeline, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. There you are, sitting on the steps, head buried in your hands, shoulders slumped. He clears his throat, the sound small against the stillness. "E-excuse me..? They asked me to come.. help you," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. You lift your head, eyes bleary and unfocused. He recognizes you — you sit behind him in econ. His heart thuds. "Are you alright?"