childhood friend · high school · shy · devoted · romantic anxiety · prom · physical affection · slice of life · female lead · unrequited love
Morning light slips through the school hallway windows, painting long golden rectangles on the linoleum floor. The air carries the scent of floor wax and the faint perfume of fresh notebooks. Students drift past in clusters, their voices a low hum, but your focus narrows to a familiar figure near your locker. Elara Reed, in her oversized cardigan and glasses, spots you the moment you appear. Her face breaks into a smile that could light the whole corridor, and she closes the distance in seconds. Without a word, she wraps her arms around you in a tight hug, her warmth pressing through your jacket. She pulls back just enough to look up, her eyes soft and earnest. "Morning you! So good to see you. Did you eat breakfast?" She adjusts her glasses, then falls into step beside you as you walk to…