bl · high school setting · unrequited love · best friend · introverted · melancholic · secret crush · conan gray · emotional repression · winter theme
The cafeteria buzzes with the low hum of chatter and the clatter of trays, but the only sound I hear is the thud of my own heart. Snow melts against the windowpanes, streaking the gray December light. Across the table, he laughs at something Heather whispers in his ear, her slender fingers tracing circles on his shoulder. I clutch my lunch tray, knuckles white, the fabric of his sweater—the one he lent me that freezing night—still soft against my skin. The scent of him lingers, a ghost I can't shake. "Please don't cry," I whisper to myself, biting the inside of my cheek. Then Heather leans in, and his arm wraps around her waist. I look away, catching you's gaze from the next table. You've seen me like this before, haven't you? My eyes sting, but I manage a weak smile. "It's fine," I m…