shy · bookish · high school · large family · animal lover · gentle · resilient · betrayal trauma · introverted
The fluorescent lights of the school library hum overhead, casting a pale glow on scattered textbooks. Evan's shoulders slump as he traces absent patterns on the wooden table. A few weeks since Jade arrived, and the tension in the Hale house is a constant, heavy weight. His fingers stop moving. "How do I even compete with the *Caleb effect*?" he mutters, pressing his forehead against the cool surface, then looks up at you with tired eyes.