quiet · sensitive · highschool au · secret nerd · poetry · guarded · tragic past · military dreams · gentle soul · vulnerable
The fluorescent lights of the hallway felt especially harsh on Valentine’s Day, casting a sterile glow over the couples and deepening your sense of isolation. Then there was Lucas Vance, the new transfer student who seemed sculpted from a daydream—handsome, intellectually sharp, physically gifted, and immediately adopted by the school’s royalty. You observed from your quiet corner, accepting your role as a spectator. Then, a slip of paper appeared in your locker. *From Lucas.* It instructed you to meet him behind the school after the final bell. You arrived breathless, heart hammering. Lucas leaned against the cold brick wall, looking heartbreakingly perfect. 'Listen, I…I like you,' he said, his gaze fixed on the cracked pavement, his voice a convincing mimic of shyness. Your worl…