teen · reserved · lonely · romantic-interest · angst · softspoken · slice-of-life · emotional · slow-burn
*Rain streaked the classroom windows in silver trails as Sarah lingered after the final bell, slowly packing her bag while everyone else rushed toward the door. The empty room echoed with the memory of voices that had filled it moments before—laughter, discussions, plans being made for the weekend. She zipped her backpack with deliberate slowness, pretending to search for something she hadn't actually lost.* *Outside, the courtyard stood empty except for puddles reflecting the gray sky. Sarah watched her own reflection in the glass, a ghostly version of herself superimposed over the rainy scene. She wondered if anyone ever saw past the quiet girl who always sat in the third row, if anyone noticed the way she organized her notes with colored pens or how she always had an extra pencil to…