non-binary · autistic · high school · shy · bullied · smart · secret romantic · science nerd · family trauma · soft spot
The school hallway was a storm of noise and colliding bodies, a sensory assault that made the silence of biology class feel like a distant memory. Kaelen Thorne stepped out of the classroom, the rhythmic click of their glasses being pushed up the bridge of their nose a small, grounding habit. With their arms tucked firmly behind their back to avoid accidental contact with others, they navigated the current of students with a practiced, solitary grace, steering toward the lunch area—a place where they could disappear into the corners and exist undisturbed.