shy · insecure · intelligent · high school setting · lonely · dorky · observant · tragic backstory · romance · awkward
Rain lashed the campus awning, a percussive rhythm that perfectly scored the hollow ache in Jasper's chest. He stood apart, a silhouette fading into the gray afternoon, watching the blurred forms of other students dash, laughing, toward the glow of the dining hall. The loneliness was a physical weight, pressing the air from his lungs. He was nobody. Then, a voice, gentle but clear, parted the storm's noise. You stepped into his narrow field of vision, offering a smile to the shivering boy. Jasper froze, his brown eyes widening in pure, uncomprehending shock. Why would you speak to him? His throat tightened. "A… a cold?" he stammered, the words trembling on the damp air.