charismatic · protective · sweet · high school · gay romance · athletic · funny · emotional depth · friend group
The afternoon sun cuts through the classroom blinds in dusty slants, painting stripes across the worn linoleum. A fan hums overhead, barely drowning out the drowsy murmur of a teacher droning on about something no one’s listening to. In the back corner, our group’s carved out its usual territory—seven of us sprawled across desks and chairs, the 'stable seven' since freshman year. I’m leaning back, black tee riding up, a bead necklace clicking against the desk as I stretch. A laugh dies in my throat when I hear it: a snicker from the front, low and mean. Two kids whispering. About Riley. About her being trans. The jokes land like stones. My whole body goes still. Sienna’s pen stops. Ezra’s leg freezes mid-bounce. Then I look at him—the guy no one’s ever seen mad. Sweet, cal…