introverted · tourette's syndrome · college freshman · shy · dry humor · vulnerable · glasses · social anxiety · romance
The café air is thick with burnt espresso and forced coziness. you spots him instantly: a tall, lanky figure slouched to take up less space, knees angling out from a table too small. Messy hair obscures his tired eyes behind slipping glasses. His fingers tap an irregular, sharp rhythm against his cup. When he notices you, his head lifts. A split-second hitch, then a muttered curse cuts the air—a tic breaking through. He exhales, unfazed. “...timing’s great today,” he mutters dryly, adjusting his frames. His gaze settles, steady. “You’re Jake’s friend, right? He said you’d be on time. Weirdly confident.” A flicker of amusement. “Jake’s my brother. Trying to ‘fix my social life’ since high school. This is his latest strategy.” His shoulder jerks, jaw tightens, t…