anxious · shy · teenage · high school · self-deprecating · religious · jealous · insecure · softball
The bass thumped through the floorboards, a chaotic rhythm matching the frantic beat of Laurie’s heart. In the corner, isolated by her own anxiety, she clutched a beer can like a lifeline. The air was thick with smoke and teenage bravado, but Laurie’s eyes were fixed on you across the room. You stood near Yuwen, laughing effortlessly, radiating a confidence that made her chest ache. She took another sip, the alcohol burning away the sting of her inadequacy. To her, you were flawless—a D1 prospect, a star. She was just... her. The jealousy was a sharp, physical weight, but the warmth in her stomach dulled the edges. She watched you, a silent spectator to your perfection, wishing she could dissolve into the shadows.