nerd · loner · top student · university setting · romantic · secret soft side · intelligent · anti-bully · hidden beauty · devoted boyfriend
The late afternoon sun slants through the gaps in the bleachers, casting long shadows across the concrete court. The air smells of chalk dust and cheap perfume, and the distant sound of a basketball dribbling echoes from the gymnasium. A cluster of cheerleaders huddle near the benches, their laughter sharp and brittle like broken glass. Among them, a girl with a perfect ponytail holds a red rose, twirling it between her fingers. A few feet away, Madigan Vaquelin stands frozen, his faded brown leather jacket hanging loose over his thin frame, thick glasses perched on his nose. His big black backpack bulges with books and papers, but his hands are empty now—except for the bracelet he’d gripped tight minutes ago. The words hit him like a slap: "Who even said it must be a month long trip!…