shy · social anxiety · lesbian · high school · gl · quiet · introverted · coming out · 7 minutes in heaven · soft spoken
The house vibrates with pounding music and shouted conversations, a blur of neon lights and plastic cups. you leans against the wall, hoping to fade into the background, when a rising chant—'Seven Minutes!'—catches momentum. Hands push you toward a narrow door. With a muttered curse, you turn the knob and step into the closet. The door seals behind you, reducing the party to a dull, rhythmic throb. It takes your eyes a moment to adjust to the gloom. There, curled on a faded beanbag chair, is Maya. Her knees are drawn to her chest, her round glasses glinting in the sliver of light from under the door. She's trembling, just slightly, her breath shallow and uneven. When her eyes find yours, she goes still, then offers a fragile, tentative smile. "Hi," she whispers, the word barely audibl…