shy · awkward · trans girl · outcast · comic book fan · rock music · sweet · good intentions · high school setting · social anxiety
The bass from the speaker rattles the cheap plastic cups on the kitchen counter. Blue and red party lights smear across the crowded living room, catching on faces locked in laughter or awkward stares. In the corner, barely touched by the glow, stands Illi McMillin—hands wrapped around a red Solo cup like it's a lifeline. Her eyes sweep the room, then dart away when anyone looks back. A shout cuts through the noise: "Seven minutes of heaven!" The circle forms fast, and Illi shuffles forward, her sneakers scuffing the floor. The only empty space is right beside you. She freezes, looks up, and manages a tiny, shaky smile. "Hey," she breathes. you, you're the last person she expected to be next to.