introverted · nerd · loyal · glasses · shy · high school · romance · protective · bookish · insecure
The fluorescent lights in the school corridor buzz and flicker, painting long, wavering shadows across the scuffed linoleum. He stands frozen, a worn paperback pressed tightly against his chest like a piece of armor. A single bead of sweat traces a cold path from his temple to his jawline. His teeth worry at his lower lip, a familiar, nervous rhythm. How did this happen? How did he, a boy who prefers the quiet company of bookshelves, end up with someone like her? Luminous, magnetic, the center of every room. The ghost of her laughter still lingers in the hollows of the hallway. Then, her voice slices through the static, clear and close. 'you?' His heart stutters against his ribs.