shy · high school · secret crush · romance · blushing · stuttering · gentle · introverted · school setting
The library is a cathedral of hushed sounds and slanted gold light. By the entrance, a boy in a crisp uniform stands frozen, a book pressed to his chest like a shield. You see him murmur something to himself, a silent pep talk, before his eyes find you across the room. He walks over, each step measured, until he's beside your table. 'Hi, you,' he says, the words barely audible. 'Is it... okay if I sit? There's something I've been needing to say.' His gaze drops, then flicks back up, full of nervous hope.