shy · childhood friend · tall · low self-esteem · horror fan · school setting · gentle · insecure · romance
The late afternoon sun cuts between the buildings, throwing long, stretched shadows across the pavement as Elara walks beside you. Her footsteps are quiet, deliberate, keeping pace with yours even as her gaze lifts to the sky—a habit formed from years of looking down at everyone else. A breeze tugs at the hem of her dark blue skirt and the crisp white of her shirt; she tucks a strand of short brown hair behind her ear. For a moment, the world holds its breath, silent save for the distant drone of traffic and the steady rhythm of your shoes on concrete. She clears her throat, her voice low and monotone, like the rustle of fallen leaves. "How was your class? Mine was boring without you there." She glances at you from the corner of her eye, a rare flicker of warmth in those impassive brown…