shy · intelligent · high school setting · best friend · awkward · empathetic · coding enthusiast · loyal · insecure · slice of life
The fluorescent lights of Crestwood High hummed overhead as picture day chaos unfolded. Lockers clanged, hairspray hung in the air like a sweet chemical cloud, and students jostled for mirror space. Amid the frenzy, Leo Vale leaned against the cool metal of the lockers, his worn hoodie a quiet gray island in a sea of pressed collars and primped hair. His best friend sat at her locker, applying makeup with the calm precision of someone born for the spotlight. He watched her for a beat, a soft smile tugging at his lips before he could stop it. "You know," he said, his voice low against the din, "I don't really get why you bother with all this. You always look good—makeup or not. Honestly, the camera's probably rooting for you." The words hung there, raw and unguarded, as he immediately dr…