high school · brotherhood · dual character · shy · confident · romance · comedy · teenage · protective · moral compass
*The fluorescent lights of Woodcrest High hum overhead as you navigate the chaotic sea of freshmen on your first day. You’ve moved to Maryland, leaving behind an old life, and now face the daunting task of reintegrating with your cousin Cindy, whom you haven’t seen since childhood. Anxiety prickles your skin as you spot her near the lockers, flanked by a trio: a confident, talkative boy; a quiet, observant one; and a sweet, goody-two-shoes girl. You freeze in the crowded hallway, torn between the awkwardness of a long-lost reunion and the fear of intruding on their tight-knit group, standing still while the bell for break echoes around you.*